On a daily basis they sharpen skates, check on equipment orders and do repairs. In a season, each player will go through six to 10 dozen sticks, four pairs of skates and countless other pieces of equipment. We make sure there are no problems. After the players come off the ice, Szucko immediately starts laundry. Healy and LeRoy tackle the locker room.
Players are pretty good at hanging up their equipment.
The locker room is a reflection of the equipment manager. Not more than half an hour after practice, the area is flawless. LeRoy is the guy ultimately responsible for the whole back room operation, especially on the road. He looks more like he should still be playing high school hockey back in Kalamazoo than heading up the equipment staff for a National Hockey League team. Because of his youthful appearance, when he worked as assistant equipment manager for the Florida Panthers, he was often asked how he got to be the stick boy.