Category Archives: Columns
From the Trainer’s Room: Hypomobility vs. Hypermobility
July 10th, 2023Mobility is often a buzzword that is thrown around in training, rehab, and sports performance settings. Here, we are going to look at what it means when an athlete is hypomobile (less mobility) and what it means when an athlete is hypermobile (more mobility), and if one is better than the other. First, it’s important…
From the Trainer’s Room: Common hockey injuries, how to prevent them
July 6th, 2023In a high-velocity contact sport such as ice hockey, injuries are bound to occur. NHL players can reach speeds of over 20 mph on the ice and a puck can be shot at over 100 mph. With players ranging in size, the amount of force created in a check or simply skating or shooting can…
From the Trainer’s Room: Running for hockey
June 21st, 2023“But I hate running! Why are we running? I skate, I don’t run!” I hear this from almost every hockey player this time of year. But guess what? We still run as part of our offseason training. There are quite a few variables that go into the prescription of the proper amount of running that…
From the Trainer’s Room: Shoulder injury prevention
June 15th, 2023The shoulder: all sports use them (some more than others), and they tend to be prone to injury. The shoulder is a very mobile joint, and it has the ability to move in multiple directions. While the increased mobility is necessary for the shoulder to function, it comes with a higher injury risk. As the…
From the Trainer’s Room: The Bauer Bump
June 7th, 2023If you play hockey, you’ve probably heard the term “Bauer Bump” at some point, which refers to a bony prominence that can form at the back of a player’s heel. But what exactly is that? Is it a problem? How do you get rid of it? The clinical term for the condition is Haglund’s Deformity,…
From the Trainer’s Room: Recovering faster for the next game
May 25th, 2023As the summer tournament season begins to heat up, the frequency of games in a short period of time can become a concern. Athletes may play multiple games on the same day or weekend, which can take a toll on a player’s body, causing fatigue and soreness, leading to decreased performance and increased injury risk….
From the Trainer’s Room: Choosing the best strength training plan for you
May 18th, 2023Summer is here, and focus should be shifting to preparing for the next season, addressing any aches and pains, shoring up weaknesses, and bolstering strengths. A big part of that process includes a proper strength training program. There are many different theories on strength training, but one key is knowing why you are lifting weights….
From the Trainer’s Room: Rotational power, how it applies to hockey
May 9th, 2023The ability to produce rotational power is critical in nearly all sports, including ice hockey. You need rotational power to shoot, take faceoffs, change direction, and manage body contact of all types. There are many modalities that can be used to train “core” strength such as cables and bands. One of my favorite methods is…
From the Trainer’s Room: It’s all in the hips
April 27th, 2023I once heard a world-famous sports coach tell his pupil, “It’s all in the hips.” Of course, this was fictional golf legend Chubbs Peterson during the movie “Happy Gilmore” in 1996. Although a comedy about golf, these are wise words when it comes to hockey skating performance. The hockey player’s hips are their engine, but…
From the Trainer’s Room: Balancing your offseason
April 18th, 2023We have reached an exciting time of year. The NCAA Frozen Four produced wonderful games. Major inline tournament circuits are in full swing. The NHL playoffs are just beginning, and the draft is just around the corner. Unless you are living under a rock, every hockey fan probably knows who is expected to be drafted…