In a locker room, the word “culture” is all-important, but sometimes difficult to define.
It’s a sports cliché to associate “culture” with wins and losses. In a bad culture, perhaps players are more selfish, and you lose more. In a good culture, perhaps players are more team-oriented, and you win more. And so on.
The San Jose Sharks lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, but you saw two significant instances of “good” culture that didn’t lead to winning today, but may in the future.
In the first period, Ryan Reaves dislocated his finger fighting Garrett Wilson. Reaves skated another shift, then went into the locker room.
Reaves joined the bench in the second period, and for the rest of the game, but never left it.
After the game, Barclay Goodrow started crying when asked about his “great, great friend.” Reaves and Goodrow previously were teammates on the New York Rangers for two seasons.
“Sorry, guys,” an overcome Goodrow said. “Even when he’s not playing, he’s there for everyone. He works his butt off every day. I think everyone in the room can learn a lot from a guy like that.”