Boli's Blog #3

By Kevin Bolibruck
Sheffield Steelers defenceman

It doesn't matter if you are sick or hurt you put your gear on and go play as hard as you can. I am not sure how smart that is, but it is very much part of the culture.

Day three of the blog. We leave for France bright and early in the morning, 5am start

The travel schedule isn't too bad despite the 4.30am alarm call. We have been to Belfast twice in the last few weeks and we had to be up and on the coach at 3.30am on game day, so actually in some respects we have a bit of lie-in!

I'll get up grab my stuff and then Jonathan Phillips, our captain, who lives just near me will come and pick me up and by 5.15am we will be at the Arena on the bus ready to go to the airport. Jono and I don't say a great deal to each other in the car. We are both in a bit of a haze. I think there would be more conversation with two mannequins.

I am feeling good today, well rested and I am excited about going away for the weekend and spend the whole time fully focussed on hockey. That is one of the bonuses of this kind of competition. You can go away and immerse yourself.

Rod Sarich returned to training today. He has a broken foot but he had it frozen and I have to be honest he was moving around really well. I know he felt he wasn't 100% comfortable and I think he felt like he wasn't as smooth as he would like to be. But the rest of us thought he looked really good out there.

LISTEN ONLINE AND LIVE ON BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD

Friday, 15 January, Steelers v Grenoble 1900 GMT (FM)

Saturday, 16 January, Steelers v Salzburg Red Bull 1500 GMT (Online only)

Sunday, 17 January, Steelers v Minsk 1400 GMT (1035AM)

Just seeing him out there on the ice is a massive morale boost for us all because 50% of Rod Sarich is a big asset to the hockey club. I am pretty sure that on the first night, with a packed building against the French team, Roddy's adrenaline will kick in and I am sure he will be able to play a role for us.

Make no mistake about it, he will be in pain but, as hockey players in Canada, we are bought up with the expectation that we will play through the pain barrier. It doesn't matter if you are sick or hurt you put your gear on and go play as hard as you can. I am not sure how smart that is, but it is very much part of the culture.

I remember when I was playing my second year of junior I separated my shoulder and I carried on playing. I had it strapped up to the side, I couldn't shoot and so I ended up having to just move the puck whenever I could.

Boli drinking water at the Steelers final training session before Grenoble

Usually when you have a little knock like a sprained ankle, twisted knee or a strained groin then you just try warm it up and figure out a way to get through the games.

One of the things I always hate is leaving the family for the weekend. It is hard, but it is part of the job and they understand that. However my daughter has having a tougher time now than ever before because she is old enough to get what is going on and she has quite a personality.

I think tonight I will watch a movie with her and snuggle up with her on the couch. It is one of the nice things actually when you come back from playing on a weekend like this and have the kids jump all of you and give hugs and kisses.

Anyway better go just had a text from Jono Phillips joking about how early we have to get up in the morning, so I need to make sure I have my stuff packed up and then get to bed.

Boli

You can hear all of the games on BBC Radio Sheffield

Friday, 15 January, Steelers v Grenoble 1900 GMT (FM)

Saturday, 16 January, Steelers v Salzburg Red Bull 1500 GMT (Online)

Sunday, 17 January, Steelers v Minsk (1035AM)