Keeping it Cool

Miami hockey is less than three hours away from leaving for Big Rapids, Michigan, to face off against Ferris State in its first series of the year.

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Andy Geshan, Miami hockey’s longtime equipment manager, is the picture of serenity.

Self-assured and always calm, Andy gives off the vibe of someone who rarely makes mistakes.

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Whether it’s the product of preparation, experience, confidence or a mix of the three: he is usually right.

“I’d say we’re about 90% packed,” he says, sipping coffee and surveying his domain.

A pile of luggage has invaded the floor space next to the back door. Cases of water and Gatorade along with a box of snacks stand out amid the heap of bags and boxes. Two black sacks – each about the size of a large adult man – are waiting to be stuffed with hockey sticks. A wooden behemoth of a box, painted RedHawk scarlet, houses a “portable” skate sharpener. 

He starts back down the memorabilia-littered hallway, past a large weight room and toward his office. The hockey team’s facility is housed under Cady Arena. They have a locker room and a players’ lounge, plus a huge shower area with a steam room and ample space for storage all around. 

Photos litter the walls back in Andy’s large office. His kids are well-represented. He has a lot of friends. There’s stuff everywhere: more memorabilia, clothing on hangers, boxes filled with nuts and bolts and more drawers than any person should need. Straight ahead is a window into the locker room. A few pairs of freshly sharpened skates rest on the ledge. 

“Do you want to see something cool?” he asks, beckoning toward another door. 

The equipment room is massive, too. More drawers, these ones housing apparel, line the left side of the room. To the right, hundreds of sticks rest in boxes. Sixty jerseys, 30 white and 30 red, lay on hangers in the back. 

“What size shirt do you wear?” Andy asks. 

Then, back to his office. In about 20 minutes, Head Coach Chris Bergeron will address his team. After that, they’ll take the ice for practice. In the meantime, Andy will continue to prepare.

***

Since 1995, Andy has been the equipment manager of Miami’s hockey team. He first became interested in hockey by going to Cincinnati Stingers games in the short-lived World Hockey Association with his dad. 

He started working with Miami hockey even earlier than 1995.

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One day as a student, Andy walked into the rink and asked if there were any jobs available. He got hired as a student equipment manager and hasn’t looked back since.

After graduating from Miami with a degree in applied science, Andy quickly found work in sports administration. He spent two years directing intramural athletics at New England College, where he met his wife. After that, he put in two more years at Norwich University, where he got his Master’s of Education while working in residence life. 

Then, he got the call he’d been waiting for: Salisbury University on the eastern shore of Maryland needed an equipment manager. He spent two years there before moving on to SUNY Brockport in the same role.

While at Brockport, he was contacted by Steve Cady, Miami’s athletic director at the time. His alma mater needed an equipment manager.

Andy didn’t accept the job the first time. He had only been at Brockport for a couple of years, and things were going well. But on the second try, Cady convinced him.

Since then, he's been a fixture of Miami hockey. Through three head coaches, a conference change, spectacular highs and heartbreaking lows, Andy has been there, running the equipment room. 

All this to say: Andy’s calm attitude is a product of experience, not boredom or a lack of work. He’s been running ragged for days. And he still has a lot to do.

His job includes many responsibilities: he orders and distributes equipment; he keeps it laundered and makes repairs when needed; he sharpens skates and sews. He also handles the same work for Miami’s synchronized skating team. During tense times, he even provides the comedic relief for a stressed-out coaching staff. 

“He was always somebody that would have the one liner and make you laugh,” said Enrico Blasi, former Miami hockey head coach and a close friend of Andy’s. 

As the start of practice approaches, the locker room begins to crowd in anticipation of Bergeron’s speech.

“Hey, Gesh!” come the cheerful calls of players and coaches. Andy’s office is a hub of activity. Some guys stop by because they need something. An extra stick for the weekend or a larger pair of pants. Some just come to say hello.

“Would you remind your teammates to drop their practice jerseys in their bags when you get off the ice?” he asks one player who ventures into the equipment room.

“You got it, Gesh,” comes the response, along with an earnest smile and a nod.

Through the years, Andy has built a lot of strong relationships. Sean Kuraly, now a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, used to stop into his office nearly every day, just to talk for a few minutes. The two still keep in touch.

“I try not to bug him too often,” Andy says.

Andy’s friend Blasi, now coaching hockey at St. Thomas University, appreciates the relationship they have. Their kids grew up together, always hanging around the rink. Blasi is the godfather of Andy’s firstborn son.

“We could talk about not just what was going on at work, but about family as well.” Blasi said. “I really cherish that relationship I have with him.”

Just before the team takes the ice for practice, he texts Andy Greene, another former player now with the New York Islanders. Andy, a Boston Red Sox fan, bids Greene (a not totally sincere) congratulations on a big Yankees win the previous night.

***

After Coach Bergeron speaks and the team starts practice, Andy goes back to work. He has to pack the extra sticks — a pair of back-up twigs for each player making the trip, split up between bags to double the chance that at least one arrives at its destination (especially on plane trips). 

Packing up the sticks is a process. First, Bauer — the company whose sticks Miami players use — still hasn’t shipped product that was ordered in the summer. 

Supply chain issues caused by COVID-19 have been a nightmare for Andy. 

In addition, Andy must now use a digital inventory system to keep track of each piece of equipment he uses. 

An accounting error, unrelated to him, caused Miami to rethink its operating procedures. As he takes new sticks out, they have to be logged into a system on a computer. It’s a complicated program with small print and information strewn across the screen. And computers aren’t exactly Andy’s strong suit.

“Do you use Apple?” he asks. “I’m trying to minimize the screen here.”

A few clicks later, he’s back to work.

Next, he disappears into an undoubtedly familiar corner of the equipment room and reemerges with the team’s equipment bags. Those need to be packed. He hopes to do some laundry, too. Otherwise, it would be tasked to the Ferris State equipment team upon the RedHawks’ arrival in Big Rapids, Michigan.

“It saves the other guys the hassle,” he says.

Then, it’s onto the locker room’s white board to write down a list of things for the players to pack. It’s four items. He shakes his head as he writes, almost as if imagining the impending screw-ups.

About an hour later, practice ends. Andy goes to work collecting jerseys and joking with players. 

At times like this, it’s easy to tell that Andy loves the players, but sometimes they mystify him. 

Just this week, he put a notice on the white board. All 10 of the team’s first-year players were to see him about winter jacket sizing. Only four showed up.

He remains skeptical about the chances his four-item list will be followed.

Years ago, the team’s starting goalie left Oxford for Columbus — a date with Ohio State — without his leg pads. When they realized the pads were missing, they called an assistant who hadn’t made the trip. Eventually the pads were brought to the goalie, who took the ice for the last couple of minutes of warmups, and ended up playing the game.

A happy ending, but the forgetfulness still stuck with Andy.

He told a story about players asking him if they have their equipment, or “gitch,” as they like to call it.

“Why would I want your stuff?” Andy says laughing, still incredulous at the memory.

“They call it gitch. That’s like nails on a chalkboard.”

***

With the clock quickly approaching the team’s time of departure, Andy is starting to think about the bus trip.

Yesterday, he was out late at his son’s soccer game, so he plans to catch up on some sleep. 

“I’m just looking forward to a few hours of quiet,” Andy says.

He downloaded a documentary on Amazon Prime, All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs. Without a doubt, time will also be spent shooting the shit with his colleagues. 

Andy has the road trip down to a science. He brings his own coffee and breakfast. Coffee makes the trip because he’s a self-proclaimed “coffee snob.” He doesn’t want to be caught drinking swill on the road.

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Breakfast — some supplies for oatmeal — comes along for a more practical reason.

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“I almost never eat breakfast with the team,” he says. “Usually, I’m at the rink hours before they eat.” 

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He has to get there early to set up his sharpening stations and a stickhandling area. He’ll unpack towels and jerseys and make sure he’s stocked up with tape. He ensures that everything is in its place. 

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With Andy running the equipment room, rest assured, everything will be.