---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have a routine before the game, I…"
description: "\"I don't have a routine before the game, I obviously think about what I've got to do. But I just always want to pride myself on being the hardest worker..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/t-j-oshie-5399_game_i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i_952846.jpg"
---

#  I don't have a routine before the game, I obviously think…

![“I don't have a routine before the game, I obviously think about what I've got to do. But I just always want to pride myself on being the hardest worker on the ice. That's my main goal.” quote by T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/t-j-oshie-5399_game_i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i_952846.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/t-j-oshie-5399_game_i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i_952846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/t-j-oshie-5399_game_i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i_952846.jpg)

> “I don't have a routine before the game, I obviously think about what I've got to do. But I just always want to pride myself on being the hardest worker on the ice. That's my main goal.”

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He emphasizes mental preparation and a strong work ethic over rigid routines, focusing on effort and pride in being the hardest worker.

**In simple terms:** Hard work and mindset matter more than a set routine.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize effort and mindset over strict pre‑game rituals.

Themes

work ethic mindset sports psychology

Mood

determined focused

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- team sports
- personal training
- competition preparation

Key Concepts

effort self‑identity performance motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance mental focus with physical preparation?
- What habits help sustain a hard‑working identity?

A Different Perspective

Routines can still benefit consistency; over‑emphasis on pride may cause burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Game Obviously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-obviously-944653/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest/) [Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice/) [Ice Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice-main-1709946/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Routine Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/routine-game-402787/) [Worker Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worker-ice-1709945/)

## Related quotes

> [I have the same routine every game day, when it comes to waking up and what I do at the hotel and stuff, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/i-have-the-same-routine-every-game-day-when-it-comes-to-waking-up-and/)

[Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/)

> [I had always had the same pre-match routine that I went through every day - get up, go down for a swim and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcgrath/i-had-always-had-the-same-pre-match-routine-that-i-went-through-every/)

[Glenn McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcgrath/)

> [I want to play every game, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lingard/i-want-to-play-every-game-obviously/)

[Jesse Lingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lingard/)

> [I would love to try to win another game. Obviously, it's more fun when you win. I'd rather try and not win than not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-maddux/i-would-love-to-try-to-win-another-game-obviously-it-s-more-fun-when/)

[Greg Maddux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-maddux/)

> [When you lose a game, there's obviously disappointment, and you want a game straight away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/when-you-lose-a-game-there-s-obviously-disappointment-and-you-want-a/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [If you ask every team, they want to win every game, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-olsen/if-you-ask-every-team-they-want-to-win-every-game-obviously/)

[Greg Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-olsen/)

> [Baseball is just a game, obviously, but it means a lot to a lot of different people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/baseball-is-just-a-game-obviously-but-it-means-a-lot-to-a-lot-of/)

[Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/)

> [When I'm flying, when I'm getting hits, I'm feeling good. I play with more confidence, and confidence is a huge thing on the ice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/when-i-m-flying-when-i-m-getting-hits-i-m-feeling-good-i-play-with/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [I'm not going on the ice to get points, I'm not going on the ice to make a highlight-reel hit or goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/i-m-not-going-on-the-ice-to-get-points-i-m-not-going-on-the-ice-to/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [Nothing says the party is over more than when you run out of ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rande-gerber/nothing-says-the-party-is-over-more-than-when-you-run-out-of-ice/)

[Rande Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rande-gerber/)

> [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/)

[Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

## More by T. J. Oshie

> [Everyone talks about the game getting faster, stronger. Well, the hits are going to get faster and stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/everyone-talks-about-the-game-getting-faster-stronger-well-the-hits/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [Just to see a kid smile brightens my day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/just-to-see-a-kid-smile-brightens-my-day/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [We had a good group of guys in St. Louis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/we-had-a-good-group-of-guys-in-st-louis/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [One thing you get from success is confidence. And confidence can go a long way for a young guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/one-thing-you-get-from-success-is-confidence-and-confidence-can-go-a/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [A hit to me is like a one-on-one battle; it's fun trying to win those, especially when the guy is bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/a-hit-to-me-is-like-a-one-on-one-battle-it-s-fun-trying-to-win-those/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [When everyone is playing the same way, maybe that doesn't matter as much. But when they're a couple of guys that are inconsistent, kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/when-everyone-is-playing-the-same-way-maybe-that-doesn-t-matter-as/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [This expansion stuff, I wouldn't want to be the guy who has to select who to protect and who not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/this-expansion-stuff-i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-the-guy-who-has-to-select/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [When I'm flying, when I'm getting hits, I'm feeling good. I play with more confidence, and confidence is a huge thing on the ice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/when-i-m-flying-when-i-m-getting-hits-i-m-feeling-good-i-play-with/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [My Uncle Henry had a rink in his backyard. I remember one night I woke up too excited to sleep. I think it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/my-uncle-henry-had-a-rink-in-his-backyard-i-remember-one-night-i-woke/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [I'm a Capital. That's where I'd like to be, that's where I'd like to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/i-m-a-capital-that-s-where-i-d-like-to-be-that-s-where-i-d-like-to/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [Being a new dad, I knew it would be hard, but I don't think you really know how tired you can get until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/being-a-new-dad-i-knew-it-would-be-hard-but-i-don-t-think-you-really/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [I don't try to put myself in one category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/i-don-t-try-to-put-myself-in-one-category/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [If I'm not going to play my style of hockey, I might as well not be playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/if-i-m-not-going-to-play-my-style-of-hockey-i-might-as-well-not-be/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [My moves aren't necessarily highlight-reel. I feel like they're just ways I can get the puck in the net.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/my-moves-aren-t-necessarily-highlight-reel-i-feel-like-they-re-just/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

> [Just to have friends away from the rink and talk about things unrelated to hockey is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/just-to-have-friends-away-from-the-rink-and-talk-about-things/)

[T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

[Explore all 101 T. J. Oshie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/)

## More Game quotes

> [Raised by game where niggas ain't phased by fame. Come to the crib, get banged, they take your chain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/raised-by-game-where-niggas-ain-t-phased-by-fame-come-to-the-crib-get/)

[Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/)

> [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/)

[Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/)

> [I've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/)

[Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/)

> [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/)

[Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/)

> [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/)

[Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/)

> [I've always been very hard on myself, and I never want to get to a point where I'm like, 'Alright, I'm kicking butt,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/i-ve-always-been-very-hard-on-myself-and-i-never-want-to-get-to-a/)

[Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/)

> [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/)

[Gene Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-scott/)

> [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/)

[Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/)

> [Often in my game as an actor, someone else pays for your travel and there's nothing like being able to lie flat on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/often-in-my-game-as-an-actor-someone-else-pays-for-your-travel-and/)

[Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/)

> [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [With the Capital One Bowl, the average fan might think whoopty do. But if you are a team member, you win that game and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/with-the-capital-one-bowl-the-average-fan-might-think-whoopty-do-but/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [I remember throughout middle school and high school how excited my mom, sister and I would be when a UNC game was on TV.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-remember-throughout-middle-school-and-high-school-how-excited-my/)

[Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/)

> [Obviously, I want to win, but at the same time, at the end of the day, it's a game and that's what I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/obviously-i-want-to-win-but-at-the-same-time-at-the-end-of-the-day-it/)

[Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/)

> [It's more than a game. It's an institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hughes/it-s-more-than-a-game-it-s-an-institution/)

[Thomas Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hughes/)

> [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/)

[Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/)

[Browse all 13,309 Game quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't have a routine before the game, I obviously think about what I've got to do. But I just always want to pride myself on being the hardest worker on the ice. That's my main goal.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "T. J. Oshie"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i-obviously-think-about-what-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Game"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i-obviously-think-about-what-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/t-j-oshie-5399_game_i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i_952846.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/t-j-oshie-5399_game_i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i_952846.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/t-j-oshie-5399_game_i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i_952846.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't have a routine before the game, I obviously think about what I've got to do. But I just always want…” — T. J. Oshie",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "T. J. Oshie",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't have a routine before...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i-obviously-think-about-what-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/i-don-t-have-a-routine-before-the-game-i-obviously-think-about-what-i/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
