Players' Corner: Derek Barach's Letter to Fans
Apr 16, 2020Hey Monsters fans, Derek Barach here just checking in!
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these truly unprecedented times we’re facing. I am sure I speak for more people than just myself when I say that I wish we were still skating out into a packed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Unfortunately, that can’t be the case at this point in time, but I hope everyone has found various ways to keep themselves busy during this quarantine.
A pandemic is something I never thought I would have to go through in my lifetime, so at first it was tough to grasp what was really going on and the severity of it. It seemed like everything happened so quickly. We had just finished up a series in Charlotte and all of a sudden, the following week I was packing my apartment after being told I could leave for the time being, which was a bit of a whirlwind for a lot of us. Let me tell you, moving out of an apartment as quickly as my roommate and I did was both impressive and stressful at the same time. So I packed my things and drove to Toronto to self-quarantine while my roommate, Trey Fix-Wolansky, started a three-day haul back to Edmonton… I was quite happy about my five-hour drive compared to his!
At first it was tough to get into a routine of what to do with all the time I now had on my hands since, during the season, practice occupies most of our mornings and afternoons. I am not someone who sleeps in too late, so I was faced with all this time that I didn’t know how to fill. However, once I got into a routine, the days started to go by quicker than they did at the start. I would say my typical day in quarantine consists of working out, stick handling and shooting, eating (as healthy as possible), reading here and there, and Netflix. It’s cool to see how various businesses have adapted to keep their companies running. For example, my trainer is now using Zoom and providing gym equipment to take home so both myself and his other clients can continue to stay in shape and still have his guidance. Since I am not living at home, Zoom has also become the way my family and brothers all stay in contact.
For all of you Netflix lovers out there, I will leave you with some suggestions: if you haven’t seen Tiger King, you are already way behind the eight ball, but other shows such as Ozark, Schitt’s Creek, and Sunderland ‘Til I Die are a must watch!
I want to end this check in by saying both myself and my entire team miss you guys. The fans are truly what makes playing in Cleveland so special! Also, I would like to thank all the medical professionals in Cleveland and around the world. They are the true heroes in all of this, and we can all make their jobs easier by following all mandated guidelines that will help slow the spread and flatten the curve. Stay safe and stay healthy!
Sincerely,
