Olympic Insights: Living in the Loop
The Olympic sites and villages have been affected heavily by Covid. The sites are in a loop which is essentially a series of bubbles connected by strict and official transportation. Each site is enclosed and the only way in or out is by private bus or car. I am...
Olympic Insights: How did I get here?
So how did I end up at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China? I ask myself the same question all the time. I started helping with US Figure Skating a few years ago assisting with camp and covering competitions. During this time, I worked together with the US...
Long Term Athletic Development
The implementation of long–term athletic development (LTAD) aims to improve the health, physical activity, and performance of all youth. USA Hockey refers to long-term athletic development as the ADM (American Development Model), while Hockey Canada uses the mantra...
Sport Specialized vs Multisport Athletes
As many young athletes near the end of their season they will be faced with different options on what to do during the off season. Some athletes will choose to take this time to prepare for the next season while others will continue to play their sport as a part of a...
Using virtual reality (VR) as one of the training platforms
As I have watched the game of hockey has evolve over the course of my career, I too have had to evolve as well. There are all kinds of new methodologies and platforms to train hockey athletes that were never available just a couple of years ago. NHL franchises have...
Groin Injuries in Hockey
Groin strains are common injuries in the game of ice hockey. Previous reports in the NHL have shown that up to 10% of all injuries sustained have been due to strains of the groin or adductor muscle group. In today’s NHL, it is a little tougher to note since these...
Foot Speed in Hockey
Quickness and foot speed are two major criteria that truly separate the better players from the rest of the pack when it comes to skating. The players who possess quickness and foot speed outshine their opponents at all levels of play. So, what do you think “foot...
Keeping Fit During the Holidays
During this time of year, we find that life becomes even more hectic with holiday shopping, parties, and gatherings with family. All of these activities can disrupt our exercise habits and lead to a health decline that can include increased bodyweight and decreased...
Recovering Faster for the Next Game
As the hockey season begins to wind down, every game becomes more and more important. The tail end of the season can include tournaments, showcases and playoffs where teams may have to play multiple games on the same day or weekend. These busy weekends can take a toll...
Avoiding Burnout During the Season
The demands placed on athletes today in any given sport has increased immensely over the last ten years. It is not uncommon for California hockey players to play on a club and high school team at the same time. This means three to four practices a week and two to...
Communication is Vital for Success in Injury Prevention
Athletic Trainers are skilled and trained in everything from injury prevention, emergency medical response, and rehabilitation. However, despite years of education, extensive and diverse clinical hours, all culminating in a grueling certification exam, none of us have...
Is Exhaustion an Injury? Benefits of a Rest Day
The Benefits of a Rest Day There is no doubt that competitive sports are back. The Covid epidemic may have slowed things down for a bit, but athletes have taken back to their respective playing fields in a big way. Club sports, school sports, private lessons, and...