Unsung: The life of a college equipment manager

By: Kaiden Brayshaw

If you’re out before daylight you may catch a glimpse of a man wearing shorts and a hat. If you do see this figure, expect him to be carrying some form of hockey equipment.

The doors to the Markin MacPhail Centre open at 5:30 AM. For Ethan Sawatzky, the time isn't early enough.

Sawatzky, or “E-dog” as most of the team calls him, is the equipment manager for the SAIT Trojans Men's Hockey program.

“The title is equipment manager, but he does a lot more than that,” said Trojans head coach Tyler Drader.

Sawatzky arrives at the facility as the doors open. Before practice starts at 6:15, Sawatzky, wearing his signature shorts, fills 24 water bottles, sets up dry erase boards and markers and sharpens skates, among other tasks.

"I just enjoy the mobility of them (shorts) more than pants,” he said. Sawatzky believes that the one-minute walk from the car in the cold is not worth wearing pants.

Once practice begins, it’s the “easy part” for Sawatzky.

“You could just watch for an hour, sometimes the guy needs, like, skates done. Today was probably a more eventful day, just with (Zach) Cain, he needed his skate sharpened,” Sawatzky said.

In addition to practices three times a week, Sawatzky is with the team for games. 

“I do every game; I haven’t missed one yet...everything's pretty easy, just showing up, super early,” he said.

While on the road, Sawatzky schedules the meals for the team and keeps note of players equipment and item preferences so that he can accommodate each player's needs on the road.

“I'm in charge of (our) big travel trunk and skate sharpener and all the waters. They (Trojans players) bring their skates and helmets, and I'll bring the jerseys and everything else,” Sawatzky said.

Before being hired as Trojans equipment manager, Sawatzky completed a hockey GM and scouting course but had little practical experience playing or working in the sport.

“My hockey background was pretty brutal. I got a one-day training lesson from the last equipment manager, and then I was kind of just on my own. The first few months were pretty rough, but I'm pretty dedicated to learning,” he said.

Upon his hiring, Sawatzky had help from SAIT's previous equipment manager for home games, but was alone for practices.

Now, Sawatzky is midway through his second season as equipment manager.

“The first year, if the guy needs a stick on the bench, he’d (Ethan) slowly walk back to the equipment room and get him the stick. Now he knows that guy needs a stick right now, you could have a breakaway,” Coach Drader said.

Sawatsky has fed off the players patience and acceptance with him.

“The guys are so great and thankful for what I do. It's a lot different than working retail or something, where you're with customers you'll never see again... I try to work hard for them just because you're seeing them every day,” he said.

Sawatsky has become part of the Trojans team. Head coach Drader called him the “unsung hero”.

“When we lost in the playoffs and the season was over, just seeing how upset he was really stood out to me about how much he loved being a part of the team and just didn't want it to end,” Drader said.

Quotes edited for clarity.