t wasn't that long ago that the typical player's pre-game meal was a thick steak, potatoes smothered in "condiments" and some overcooked vegetable du jour.

It was a mirror on the game, one supposes. Players were thought to be rough-and-tumble farmer boys who needed to eat a big slab of meat before doing battle.

It was also a reflection of the lack of understanding of proper nutrition at the time. No one knew about carbo-loading back then, much less simple dietary supplements. Mention them and you were liable to be burned at the stake for witchcraft.

Professional hockey players now spend a whole lot more of their focus on game-day preparation. Teams and individual players often see nutritionists and dietitians as vital resources. The basic talent level is so high, a little edge could be the difference between first and fifth for teams, between playing in Toronto or Trenton.

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