Through a new partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado and Okanagan Hockey Colorado, competitive national and international youth hockey players will now have access to dedicated Sports Medicine Center athletic trainers to support elite athletes, both on and off the ice.

Through this partnership, players ranging in age from 13-18 will be able to take advantage of two Children’s Colorado athletic trainers dedicated to Okanagan Hockey Colorado, supporting athletes at practices and games, as well as at off-season training, camps and travel. Through this direct integration, athletic trainers can diagnose and treat an athlete’s injury immediately onsite, as well as continue streamlined care across all Children’s Colorado locations.

“Ensuring young Colorado athletes stay healthy while playing the sports they love is at the heart of everything we do at the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Colorado,” said Children’s Colorado VP of board and community relations Christy Dobson. “With access to top-tier athletic trainers to improve performance, heal from injury and learn about their health, Children’s Colorado is thrilled to partner with Okanagan Hockey Colorado to provide their elite players with what they need to thrive and compete at the highest level.”

Specifically trained to treat youth and teen athletes, Children’s Colorado athletic trainers can provide first aid and emergency response, monitor and assess injuries, illnesses and conditions, implement strength and conditioning training to promote healing and function, and much more. This ensures athletes have a medical professional they can rely on to help get them back to doing what they love as safely and quickly as possible.

Beyond that, families can also hear from athletic trainers at parent and coaches’ meetings on topics like mental health, nutrition, hydration, concussion, injury prevention and more. Helpful educational content will also be available digitally, shared via newsletters, social media and on the Okanagan Hockey Colorado website.

“At Okanagan Hockey Colorado, we are dedicated to raising the standard of care for youth athletes in elite hockey,” said Brooke Wilfley, managing director of Okanagan Hockey Colorado. “We believe strongly that experienced, consistent and dedicated trainers within a program can not only assist players with injuries and recovery but can prevent injury as well. This partnership with Children’s Colorado and their dedicated Sports Medicine Center athletic trainers will provide our youth athletes access to world-class care on a daily basis, access to monthly education for our families, and care for our players when we travel.”

Photo/Okanagan Hockey Colorado

— Matt Mackinder

(August 23, 2025)