Oliver Bunjer played his rookie season in the EHL during the 2025-26 season, lacing up for the New Jersey Bears.

Putting up 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points over 49 games with the Bears, it was a season the native of Centennial, Colo., can build on for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Away from the rink, Bunjer carved out a daily routine that helped him through the grind of the hockey season.

“On a normal day without a game, my day usually starts around 7:30 a.m.,” Bunjer said. “I’ll get up, take a quick shower, and make myself a light breakfast like a bagel with banana and honey or just like toast and fruit. I don’t like eating anything too heavy before practice, so I usually just have something simple to give me some fuel for the morning.

“I’ll arrive at the rink around 9 a.m., where we start the day by going over game film and talking about what we need to work on during practice. Once film is finished, there’s usually some time to relax and have fun with the guys before we get on the ice. We’ll play ping pong, sewer ball, or just hang out and joke around before getting ready for practice.”

Bunjer said practice usually starts around 10:30 a.m. where the team works hard and pushes each other.

“We are all trying to be the best we can be, but we also have a lot of fun as a team,” said Bunjer. “Practice normally wraps up around noon, and we’ll use the last 30 minutes or so for some extra free time. Sometimes, we’ll play games like rebound or two-puck and other times, I’ll stay on the ice and work on individual skills.

“After practice, I’ll get changed and grab a meal at the rink from Hector, who owns the restaurant there and cooks for us. He makes some of the best food, and his pasta and Philly cheesesteaks are probably my favorites. Getting a good meal in after practice is really important for me because I still have a lot to do after practice.”

After fueling up, Bunjer will head to the gym and usually spends another hour or two working out and working on mobility. That generally lasts until around 4 p.m.

“From there, I’ll head back to my billet house and make another meal for myself, usually something simple like chicken and rice,” Bunjer said. “I’ll eat, relax, and take a couple of hours to recover before having dinner with my billet family. After dinner, I’ll sometimes hang out with the guys, but most nights I’d spend some time with my girlfriend. Eventually, I’d head home, get some sleep, and do it all over again the next morning.”

Game days for Bunjer are a different story altogether.

“I have a superstition that I always get Dunkin’ on game days and I always get there two hours early,” said Bunjer. “On practice days, I play sewer with the team but rarely on game days. I like to warm up alone and just get focused and prepared for the game and I always have to be the last one out after warmups. That’s my most important superstition.”

Overall, Bunjer beamed that “it’s a pretty structured routine but I really enjoy that.”

“Between practice, workouts, recovery, spending time with my teammates, and having a life away from the rink, every day stays busy and I enjoy it a lot,” said Bunjer. “I’m living the dream. I get to play hockey full time.”

During his days playing youth hockey, Bunjer played in Colorado for the Littleton Hockey Association and Colorado Springs Tigers and then in Nebraska for the Omaha Mastery.

— Matt Mackinder

(August 12, 2026)