Aidan McNeal is playing his rookie season of junior hockey in the EHL with the East Coast Wizards, a team based in Bedford, Mass.

A native of Aurora, Colo., McNeal is adjusting to his daily routine.

NON-GAME DAY

7:15 a.m. – Wake up in my apartment with my three other roommates who are also on the team

7:45 a.m. – Get ready and make a quick breakfast and leave to go to the rink

8 a.m. – Stop at Dunkin’ on the way to the rink

8:15 a.m. – Arrive at the rink

8:30 a.m. – Hang out/tape sticks/stretch/warmup/sewerball

9:20 a.m. – Practice

11:15 a.m. – Workout

12 p.m. – Shower/clean up/ping pong

1 p.m. – Head back to the apartment

1:30 p.m. – Lunch/chill/online classwork

4 p.m. – Hang out with roommates

6 p.m. – Dinner

7:30 p.m. – Hang out with the boys

10 p.m. – Get ready for bed

11 p.m. – Sleep

GAME DAY

The night before, I always eat teriyaki chicken with fried rice from Panda Express

8:45 a.m. – Wake up

9:45 a.m. – Get ready and make a good breakfast before I leave

10 a.m. – Get to the rink

10:15 a.m. – Change and tape sticks

10:20 a.m. – Quick shoulder work

10:25 a.m. – Sewerball

10:35 a.m. – Stretch

10:50 a.m. – Hop on the bike to get the legs going

11 a.m. – More stretching

11:15 a.m. – Start getting dressed

11:30 a.m. – On ice for pregame warmup

11:50 a.m. – Off the ice

12 p.m. – Puck drop

2:30 p.m. – Game end

3 p.m. – Head out to lunch/dinner with the boys

5:30 p.m. – Get back to the apartment

6 p.m. – Stretch/maybe take a nap

7 p.m. – Online class work

7:30 p.m. – Make a snack

7:45 p.m. – Hang out with the boys

10 p.m. – Start getting ready for bed

11 p.m. – Sleep

During his days playing youth hockey, McNeal played in Colorado for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders and then played prep school hockey for Worcester Academy in Worcester, Mass.

Photos/Casa Murray Media

— Matt Mackinder

(October 14, 2026)