The trip begins at 5:15 am Thursday morning as the team boards the bus at the Houston Field House. From there they proceed to Albany International Airport for their 7:44 am departure.

After several hours of flying, the team arrives at Denver International Airport. Once the team has arrived at the hotel they have a few hours to unpack and relax until their scheduled 5:30 pm practice at Magness Arena—the site of Friday’s and Saturday’s matches. The purpose of the practices is to allow the players to get their legs back after extensive traveling.

Following Thursday’s practice, the team migrates to the ESPN Zone on the 16th Street Mall. An interesting thing about team meals is that they are preordered. Players walk back to the hotel—which is only a few blocks away—at their own leisure. Everyone must be in their own room at 11 pm.

On Friday, after a morning practice and some downtime, players and coaches board the bus at 4:50 pm and depart exactly at 5 pm as stated on their itinerary for the weekend. The entire weekend is laid out on a two page itinerary, complete with the time that everything will occur over the weekend and members of the travel party.

After a quick head count, the go-ahead is given to depart from the hotel to the arena. The atmosphere is very quiet; not much can be heard but the faint sounds of headphones connected to iPods or the rattling of the bus as it drives over bumps. Each player does his own thing during the bus ride; some listen to music, while others sit quietly and gaze at the Rockies in the distance.

Following a short 15-minute ride, the bus arrives at the entrance to the loading dock of the Ritchie Center—which houses Magness Arena along with other athletic facilities such as a pool, a gymnasium, and a practice ice arena. As soon as the driver shifts the bus into park, an outburst of yelling and cheers can be heard from the players as they begin to file out down the steps of the bus.

Around ten minutes after our arrival, players began emerging from the locker room. The atmosphere is rather casual—compared to the bus ride. Players spend this time taping their sticks—something that is very individual for every hockey player—or grabbing a piece of fruit or a bagel to snack on.

The meeting begins with Coach Appert making sure that everyone can see the board on which he will draw up plays and team systems. The meeting consists of opponent-specific strategy. Appert draws up situations on the board and discusses them. “Make them play defense: cutbacks, protection, communication, puck support,” says Appert. “If you’re coming in, and your partner’s in trouble, you call for it right or left if he’s in a puck scrum.”

“Create time and space for yourself and your teammates,” notes Appert. This line would be touted throughout the weekend as a key to success for the Engineers. “Coming in swarms shift after shift—together—play together.”

“Trust your teammates, hard 35-40 seconds get off the ice because you know the next guy going out for you is going to do his job just like you’re going to do yours,” says Appert in one of the closing thoughts of his speech. Following the meeting the team begins to get dressed for the warm-ups and then game time.

After Friday’s win the team showers up and gets ready to board the bus back to the hotel. Coach Appert rarely has a free moment after the game as he responds to many questions from local media as well as making a few phone interviews with media in the Capitol Region. Following yet another head count, the bus departs for the hotel, and in route, some players make calls to family and friends. When the bus arrives at the hotel, Appert has a few words before people can exit the bus, “We need to get better for tomorrow and focus on winning another game.”

Once back at the hotel, coach Appert and assistant coach Kurulak set up a laptop and projector in one of the hotels empty meeting rooms. Here both coaches will sit for the next two to three hours and analyze Friday’s game film. Coach Appert operates the laptop, and both he and Kurulak make comments that are attached to the video. These comments are both positive and constructive criticism for use as teaching points. They also mark scoring chances and goals. Individual players have the opportunity following Saturday’s practice to meet with Kurulak in his hotel room to view these video clips. Coach Appert says that film is used to teach, to allow players the chance to get better, and to improve their hockey IQ.

The film can also be used to capitalize upon opponents weaknesses. During the middle of the film session Coach Montgomery interrupts with a phone call to Appert. Montgomery, who was away conducting recruiting, called to find out how the team did Friday evening. Video analysis is a very extensive process. It took just over an hour for the two coaches to review the first period making notes along the way.

The following morning, the team departs the hotel for their 11:00 am practice. Dana McGuane, the team equipment manager, sharpens skates prior to the practice. He said that most of the equipment is brought along, even the skate sharpener came from home. In addition to the sharpener, McGuane has a very large bag that contains almost every imaginable repair part for skates, helmets, and other hockey equipment. Each player has their own preference regarding when and how often they get their skates sharpened. McGuane says that some go a week while some get their skates sharpened every other day.

During the team practice, the team starts by warming up the goaltenders. Centers work on face-offs at center ice as Denver dominated them Friday night. The practice is fairly short—35 to 45 minutes. After the practice, the Coaches hold a film meeting to go over the film from the night before. Coach Kurulak operates the laptop while Appert breaks down each clip. When areas are found that need improvement, coach Appert asks the players questions related to the team systems. Constructive clips are shown first. They are followed by positive clips. “Video is not intended to point out flaws or pick on individuals,” says Appert, “it is to make us better.”

The meeting wraps up, and the team heads again to the coach bus waiting. Following another pre-game meal, the team has some time for them to do as they wish prior to game time. The ride to the arena for game two is yet again very quiet as players focus for the evenings contest.