OILERS DOWN LIGHTNING

McDavid scores four in win

It just might be the toughest and most thankless job in hockey.

Show up hours before anyone else. Leave hours after everyone else is gone.

The team lands in a new city at 2 a.m., and while the players head off to their hotel rooms, you head to the rink to get the dressing room ready for the morning skate.

Long days, no sleep and virtually no recognition.

And Jeff Lang loves the job as much now as he did on his first day with the Edmonton Oilers 15 years ago.

“I was new, young, in awe of a lot of it,” said the Oilers head equipment manager, who marked his 1,000th NHL game on Monday night when the Oilers faced the Tampa Bay Lightning. “You watch these guys playing on TV, and next thing you know, you’re standing in front of them in the room. It was nerve wracking.”

Now he’s a 44-year-old veteran at the heart of the Oilers machine.

“It’s a huge milestone for him. We’re all happy for him,” said goaltender Cam Talbot, who marvels at the hours Lang and the training staff put in. “It’s crazy. He gets here at 5:30 or six in the morning and doesn’t leave until the last guy is out of here and the stuff is done (after the game).

“He probably puts in 18-hour

shifts on every game day. You can’t say enough about our training staff and what they do. It’s not an easy job. Late nights on the road, getting up early, packing and unpacking. The amount of work they put in usually goes overlooked, so it’s nice when they get recognition like tonight.”

The players gathered before the morning skate on Monday to pay tribute to the Lang ’s longevity and contributions.

“Langer is the best,” said defenceman Darnell Nurse. “We’re very fortunate to have him here in Edmonton. He’s a great presence around the room. ... I’m very happy that I can be a part of his 1,000th game.”

Lang worked with Hockey Canada before coming to the Oilers in 2003. He was the equipment manager for the 2002 gold medalwinning team at the Salt Lake City Olympics. He also won gold at the 2002 Spengler Cup and was part of three world championship teams from 2012-14.

“That position, all the training staff, that’s the backbone of your team,” said head coach Todd McLellan. “They put more hours in than the players, coaches, anybody who’s involved with the team.”

Lang’s routine usually beings and ends in the dark. He’s up at 5 a.m. and off to the rink to set up for the morning skate. When fans and players are driving home, he’s still hard at work.

Sleep deprivation and fatigue are just part of the territory.

“You have to have dedication, you have to work hard,” he said. “Sometimes its an ungrateful job. You do things that guys think just happened (on their own). They say, ‘Look what the elves did last night, unpacked all the gear.’ ”