"I'm a bit mental. I always have a bit of fun, dance around and make jokes to try and get the spirit up."

I must admit, these weren't the words I expected to come out of a professional hockey player, who'd just landed in a rainy Glasgow from Holland at 9am when I quizzed him on his pre-game ritual.

But it was good to know that after being in the hockey business for 20 years, Kenny Bain didn't take himself too seriously.

The Glasgow native said: "I used to go through a phase [before each match] thinking I need to listen to my iPod for five minutes and that it had to be a certain song, but I've grown out of that.

"Although it's my job I need to keep the fun factor in it as was my hobby as a kid and I'd imagine a lot of others feel the same about their job."

Bain got started in the hockey world at just four years old and received his first cap at 16. He started playing for Holland, where hockey is the third most popular sport after speed skating and football, in 2010.

The 24-year-old said: "It's different in Scotland just now because of the Commie Games but hockey over there is out of this world.

"Players are like celebrities the way footballers are over here. Everywhere you go see kids cycling down the street with a stick attached to their bike.

"There's more clubs and facilities for Hockey in Scotland but one of the main goals of Scottish hockey is to use the Games to raise the sport's profile and try to get the younger generation involved."

Traditionally, school pupils are assigned to the sport they play according to gender; the boys play rugby and the girls are handed a hockey stick which has lead to some to thinking that the game is a sport for girls.

"That's kinda grown out now," said Bain.

"But there is a notion that it's a "feminine" sport, but from the broken noses and hands that I've had from it, it's definitely not.

"The speed of the game is insane and you have to be mentally and physically fit to play it."

The squad is up against some of the highest ranks team in the world, with Australia being one to watch out for.

"I've played against Australia before and I'm not intimated by them. I fully respect them and I'll be excited to step onto the field with them.

"We won't be going into any game with negativity and we're just taking each day as it comes, playing the best we can play."

Outside of hockey, Bain's a big football fan and as a Rangers supporter he's seen many a Scottish crowd.

"I've witnessed Ibrox, Hampden and Celtic Park and I don't think any crowd could beat a Scottish crowd.

"I can't really compare the hockey crowds here with crowds in Holland because they're so different, but I am looking forward to playing the Commonwealth Games at home."