UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- As Penn State heads into finals week over the next few days, many student-athletes are able to enjoy time off with their families as the holiday season approaches.
For the women's hockey team, they are off in terms of game action until Jan. 3. With women's hockey having one of the longest midseason breaks among the Division I sports, it allows players that extra time away, a big plus around the holidays. That is a special bonus for the Nittany Lions from outside the United States, as it allows players like Morgan Rolph (Mitchell, Ontario) and Amanda McLeod (Okotoks, Alberta) time to travel home.
"I get to go home the last day before finals, which is fantastic because that means I get I think 12 days at home," Rolph said. "And to me, I need a mental break around this time, as does everybody."
With the pressures of both taking classes and living up to the standards expected on the ice, student-athletes certainly can use the rest that this time of year provides.
"I find that time is like very beneficial especially because with hockey we have one of the longest seasons," McLeod said. "So, it's kind of a mental reset and then also a physical reset."
One aspect that can be tough for both players as Canadians is having a different Thanksgiving holiday (October 14 this year) that neither can travel home for.
"Thanksgiving here isn't my Thanksgiving so I don't get to spend a holiday with my family, until Christmas," Rolph said. "So that's four months before I can see my family and everything like that in kind of a relaxed, chill setting at least."
Both players have their own ways of staying in top shape when they return home. Coaches help them with workout plans and Penn State's strength and conditioning staff advise players on how to balance rest, while staying game-ready.
"I'm on the ice probably between two to five times during those 12 days I'm home. But that's not a bag skate or a full practice obviously, so it's an uplifting environment to be around," Rolph said. "It also refreshes the game and makes it more fun when we come back here and are playing at a competitive speed."
"Obviously like we're still practicing and lifting," McLeod said. "It's definitely a different kind of setup because that's where you can really take time to develop your individual skills. I would definitely say just because the season is so long. It's really beneficial to give our bodies, a little bit of a break. But still stay in shape and stay ready for games."
As far as specific advice from coaches, it can vary depending on the player. For players from Canada or Minnesota, it can be a lot easier to get ice time while back at home. As to how players try to balance time on the ice versus training off-ice, they rely on the team's support staff to advise them.
"Throughout the week at home, there's always open ice in the morning that I can take advantage of," McLeod said. "And we can do it all on our own or I can ask one of my coaches to come out and work on different skills with us too when we're here. We always have meetings at the beginning of the year and then checkpoints throughout that allow us to understand how our game can improve."
Penn State will be back on the ice at Pegula Ice Arena Jan. 3-4 when they host New Hampshire. Puck drop for both games is at 2 p.m.
