For four months this summer, I was home without my teammates. These people are in my life every day for eight months of the year. They are my family away from home, and the most fun people to be around. Here are 5 reasons why being back at school with your teammates is the best:

1. It means the season is about to start

Every athlete knows the pain of their season ending. The excitement that surrounds the season is something that can never be created, and feeling it with your 22 best friends is an unreal experience.

2. You can be crazy in social settings without feeling judged

Nothing's worse than having to hide your true self when you're ready to have fun, but surrounding yourself with these girls means that you can let loose without feeling like all eyes are on you.

3. You are always entertained

You are surrounded by people at all times. With so many different personalities on the team, everyone contributes to the conversation, but there is always those one or two teammates who are always the life of the party.

4. You always have a support system

No matter what is going on in your life, on or off the ice, there are always people there supporting you. You have finally found the people that you can go to with anything, and that bond is something that cannot be broken.

5. You have your best friends back

That's all I have to say. Nothing is better than being part of a team.