Just a couple of thoughts on some of your questions. On the whole thing of welcoming new fans to the game I agree with everything you all talked about. I would just add to that please stop mansplaining things. If someone asks you a question about what happened or why, give it to them in language they can understand. It does no good trying to tell someone that F3’s responsibility there is to do this or that. Take your time and most importantly listen to them – they ask good questions.

Second, as a former equipment manager in college and minor leagues, the broken stick is all about communication. The sticks are arranged on the rack behind the bench in a specific way so that the equipment manager can find them almost by feel. Some prefer straight numerical order, I preferred to have them split up right/left and numerical. When a player breaks or loses a stick during play guys on the bench will start yelling something like, “MacK stick right!” That tells everyone who it is and what hand he is. If he gets to the bench before the equipment guy can get his stick up front only the right handed guys will offer their sticks over the boards so that he at least has one that is the correct hand.

Back when I was working the D would still give their sticks to the goalie if he lost his, and that’s when the real chaos started for me at the stick rack because nobody held on to their own stick after that so I just started grabbing sticks for everyone on the ice so I could be ready no matter who came to the bench empty handed.