Spring 2016 Newsletter - PHATS

IN THIS ISSUE
Click on the links below to go
directly to the articles!
Spring 2016
2016 Meeting Preview 1
Sponsorship Package
Information & Pricing
Welcome to Music City!
8
Thank you to the Contributors
& Editors
8
PHATS/SPHEM Brings Back
Mobile App
9
PHATS President’s Message
9
PHATS/SPHEM 2016 Annual Meeting
June 24-29th 2016
Gaylord Opryland Resort and
Convention Center
Nashville, Tennessee
SPHEM President’s Message
10
Members Trending in the News 10
2015-16 Milestone Recipients 11
PowerBar Member Spotlights
12
Alumni Update
14
PHATS/SPHEM Newsletter
Advertising Opportunities 21
League Updates
26
FEATURE ARTICLES
Tony Da Costa Takes Us Inside
the Outdoor Stadium Series
15
A Closer Look at Hydrotherapy
with SwimEx 16
Battling Fatigue And The
Heavy Legs Syndrome
17
Reunited Again in Nashville
18
Penguins Equipment Staff
goes to Nashville
19
A Look at the 2016 AHL
All-Star Classic
24
Mononucleosis and
Hockey Athletes
25
We are so excited to welcome everyone to Nashville and the
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conference Center for the 20th
Anniversary PHATS/SPHEM Annual Conference, June 2429, 2016. We are thrilled to be in Nashville for this milestone
year. The joining together of PHATS/SPHEM would not
have been possible without the hard work and dedication of
our members, leagues and vendors, from our founders through
today.
This year, while you are attending the education sessions,
exhibition, receptions or the hall of fame dinner, take
a moment to reflect on the great partnerships and
accomplishments that we have achieved and are continuing to develop as we grow both
PHATS and SPHEM.
Live music can be seen and heard every day and night of the week in Nashville. The worldfamous honky tonks, located on Broadway, offer free live music 365 days a year. And with
more than 130 music venues around town ranging from large arenas and concert halls to small
clubs and featuring nearly every genre of music, it’s easy to see why this is the city that music
calls home.
Nashville is authentic, accessible, accommodating and affordable. Experience the finest
in Southern hospitality when staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conference
Center. Explore the nine acres of lush, indoor gardens and cascading waterfalls. Enjoy the
17 desirable restaurants with all types of cuisines and price points to appeal to the masses.
Minutes away, tour the Grand Ole Opry Museum and Grand Ole Opry. To complete your
experience in Music City, don’t forget your cowboy boots and hat for a night on the town in
downtown Nashville…line dancing and all!
Hotel & Location Highlights
• Minutes from the Nashville
International Airport
• Complimentary Fitness Center for
PHATS/SPHEM guests
• 2 outdoor pools, 1 indoor pool &
whirlpool
• Scottish links-style, par-72, 18-hole
Golf Course
• Relâche Spa & Salon
• Some of Nashville’s finest shopping
at distinctive boutiques, fashion stores
and retail shops in the resort.
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• 17 restaurants including: Old
Hickory Steakhouse, Solario
Cantina (Mexican), Ravello (Italian),
Conservatory Wine Bar, Fuse
Sports Bar, Findley’s Irish Pub, Stax
(American, Burgers), Wasabi’s Sushi
( Japanese) and the Library Lounge at
Old Hickory Steakhouse (American),
just to name a few
• Famed attractions such as the The
Grand Ole Opry, the legendary
Ryman Auditorium, The Wildhorse
Saloon and General Jackson Showboat
are a shuttle ride away.
• Walking distance from the Opry
Mills Shopping Center, an outlet and
value retail destination with 200+
stores, dining options including Dave
& Busters, Rainforest Cafe, Johnny
Rockets and Subway. As well as a
Regal Cinema 20 and IMAX Theater.
• Complimentary in-resort shuttle
• Downtown shuttle ($20 round trip)
• Airport Shuttle ($30 per way)
• Complimentary in room high speed
internet access
Hotel Accommodations
ROOM BLOCK DATES: June 24-29, 2016
ROOM RATE - PHATS/SPHEM, SCAPH, EXHIBITORS,
SPEAKERS, GUESTS, ALUMNI:
$189 single/double occupancy (resort fee is included in the room rate)
Make a reservation
ROOM RATE - NHLTPS: $225 single/double occupancy (resort fee
included in the room rate) Make a reservation
TAX: 9.25 sales tax, 6% occupancy tax and $2.50 city tax per room per
night
CUT-OFF DATE: All reservations must be made by June 2nd, 2016 to guarantee the group rate.
RESERVATION #: 800-429-5673. Ask for the PHATS/SPHEM group rate or if NHLTPS,
the NHLTPS group rate.
CANCELLATION POLICY: You must cancel 3 days prior to your arrival date to avoid any penalties.
CHECK-IN TIME: 3:00PM CHECK-OUT TIME: 11:00AM
Attire
ATTIRE: Business Casual
Transportation
TRANSPORTATION: Gaylord Opryland resort is a 10-minute drive from Nashville’s International Airport.
Gaylord Opryland offers daily round-trip shuttle service from the Nashville International Airport to the hotel. Look
for the Gaylord Opryland Welcome Desk on the lower level of the airport between the two escalators. An agent can
assist with your travel needs and ticket purchase, or use our kiosk by the welcome desk.
Meeting Registration
Registration is now open and you can register at the PHATS/SPHEM website, www.phats-sphem.com or the direct
Registration Link.
Exhibitor Information
Meeting At A Glance
EXHIBIT BOOTH: The two-day show for all
Equipment Vendors and Medical Vendors is $1300:
Thursday, June 23:
All booths are 10 x 10’ (depth x width) of Exhibit Space.
Includes: All pipe and drape, carpet, exhibitor
identification sign, 6’ skirted table, 2 chairs and one
wastebasket.
EXHIBIT SHOW HOURS: Monday, 6/27, 1:006:00pm and Tuesday, 6/28, 1:00-5:30pm
SUNDAY, 6/26
11:00-6:00pm Exhibitor Registration
2:00-6:30pmMember/Vendor Golf Tournament
(optional)
6:30pmGolf Reception
3:00-6:00pm Exhibitor Set Up
Evening
Shuttles to Downtown Nashville
MONDAY, 6/27
8:00-1:00pm Exhibitor Registration Continued
8:00-1:00pm Exhibitor Set Up Continued
1:00-6:00pm EXHIBIT HALL OPEN
6:00-8:00pm Networking Reception for all PHATS/
SPHEM Members and the Exhibitors
immediately following the close of the
exhibit hall (optional)
TUESDAY, 6/28
1:00-5:30pm EXHIBIT HALL OPEN
5:30-8:30pm Exhibit Hall Breakdown
7:00-10:00pm PHATS/SPHEM Hall of Fame Reception
and Dinner (0ptional)
8:00-5:00pm: Postural Respiration Course
Friday, June 24:
8:00-5:00pm: Postural Respiration Course Continued
1:00-9:00pm: NHLTPS Executive Committee Member Meeting
6:00-9:00pm: PHATS/SPHEM Executive Committee Meetings
Saturday, June 25:
7:30-5:30pm: NHLTPS and NHL/AHL PHATS Emergency Medical
Course and Educational sessions
5:30-7:00pm: CPR/CCR/AED Re-certification
7:30-9:30pm: NHL PHATS/SPHEM
Gatorade Reception
Sunday, June 26:
8:00-1:00pm:
1:00pm:
2:00-6:30pm:
PHATS/SPHEM/NHLTPS Educational Sessions
Free Afternoon and Evening
PHATS/SPHEM/Exhibitor Golf Tournament
PHATS/SPHEM members,
guests, vendors, SCAPH and
speakers are all welcome to play
in a shotgun tournament at the
Gaylord Springs Golf Links located just five
minutes from the Gaylord Opryland Resort. The
course was designed by US Open and PGA
champion Larry Nelson and offers challenges for
golfers of any skill level. $100 for Golfers, $45 for
club rentals.
3:00-6:00pm: Exhibitor Set Up
6:30pm:
Golf Reception
Evening:
Night Out in Downtown Nashville
PHATS/SPHEM Welcomes the NHL Team Physicians Society (NHLTPS) & Strength and Conditioning
Association of Professional Hockey (SCAPH) to Nashville and the Annual Meeting!
Approximately 80 NHL Team Physicians will hold their annual meeting in conjunction
with the PHATS Conference this June and into future years. We hope to create a strong
partnership with the trainers and doctors with formalized emergency medical training
as well as educational sessions. Working closely together will help elevate the level of
service provided to the athletes and individual teams.
SCAPH is returning to the PHATS/SPHEM Annual meeting for their second year. Athletic Trainers and Strength
Coaches work closely together throughout the season. Bringing the two groups together for education, networking
and the exhibit hall is key to developing a stronger alliance and understanding of the two societies.
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PHATS/SPHEM 2016 Annual Meeting Sponsors
®
Advanced Odor Control Protection
®
FAIRLY GROUP
Reshaping Paradigms
The appearance of advertisements is not a warranty,
endorsement, or approval of the products or services
advertised or of their effectiveness, quality, or safety.
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If your company would like to be a sponsor at the PHATS/SPHEM Annual meeting, please
contact the administrative office at 888-460-9003. Many opportunities still exist.
Meeting At A Glance Continued
Monday, June 27:
8:00-12:00pm: PHATS/SPHEM Educational Sessions
8:00-12:00pm: SCAPH Educational Session
8:00-1:00pm: Exhibitor Set up continued
1:00-6:00pm: Exhibit Hall Open
6:00-8:00pm:PHATS/SPHEM/Exhibitor
Networking Reception:
sponsored by the NHL
& NHLPA: A great
networking opportunity
for all to socialize in a
casual environment.
Entertainment brought
to you by Team Canada and CoachMePlus
by the The Railers,
a classically trained
foursome who bring a bit of
string-band traditionalism to pop
country constructions. The group
melts their energetic songs with
classic groundbreaking styles of the Eagles,
Fleetwood Mac, Dixie Chicks, Nickel Creek
and Bonnie Raitt, leaving audiences with
an undeniable sound and unforgettable
live show. Fans of the Zach Brown Band
and Little Big Town will love them! $75 for
vendors and guests.
Tuesday, June 28:
8:00-12:00pm: PHATS/SPHEM Educational Sessions
8:00-12:00pm: SCAPH Educational Session
1:00-5:30pm: Exhibit Hall Open
5:30-8:30pm: Exhibit Hall Break Down
7:00-10:00pm: PHATS/SPHEM Hall of Fame Reception and
Dinner Celebrate SPHEM honoree,
Mark O’Neill, former
Equipment
Manager
with the
Anaheim Ducks
and Los Angeles Kings as he is
inducted into the PHATS/SPHEM
Wall of Honor at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Wednesday, June 29:
9:00-12:00pm: PHATS Educational Session and SPHEM
Locker Room Tours of Bridgeport Arena and
Nissan Stadium
Phats/Sphem Hall Of Fame Dinner Highlights
PHATS/SPHEM is thrilled
to honor Mark O’Neill, former
equipment manager with the Los
Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks
as he is inducted into the PHATS/
SPHEM Wall of Honor at the
Hockey Hall of Fame.
Mark O’Neill is the youngest son of former NBA Los
Angeles Lakers trainer Frank and mother Jean O’Neill.
Mark started his professional career as an assistant to
his father with the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North
American Soccer League prior to joining the National
Hockey League Los Angeles Kings in 1979.
Mark served as a “trainer” in 1979 and equipment
manager from 1980-1993 with the NHL Los Angeles
Kings hockey club sharing duties coordinating hockey
equipment, supplies, maintenance, repairs and inventory
used by the players.
During his time in Los Angeles, Mark also served as
a basketball trainer at practice sites during the 1984
Summer Olympics at the Forum in Inglewood. In 1986,
Mark traveled to the Soviet Union to work as equipment
manager for team Canada during the World Ice Hockey
Championships tournament at the CSKA Ice Palace in
Moscow.
In 1981, Mark was a technical advisor for the factbased film “Miracle on Ice” and provided wardrobe
and equipment expertise for the 1984 HBO cable TV
network American comedy series “1st and Ten”.
Congratulations goes out to Brad
Janson, a long term exhibitor at our
show. Brad was formerly with Easton
Hockey and is now with True Temper
Hockey. He will be honored with the
2016 Frank & Vi Rowe Ambassadors
Award at this year’s Conference in Nashville.
The Frank & Vi Rowe Ambassadors Award was created
to recognize and honor those vendors who have assisted
us through the years to do our jobs. Each recipient
demonstrates reliability, dedication and cooperation in
working with the players, trainers, teams and the league
for the betterment of the game. e award recognizes
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In 1993, Mark left the Los Angeles Kings to become the
first Head Equipment Manager of the Anaheim Mighty
Ducks during the inaugural 1993-1994 season.
In 1998, Mark worked as equipment manager at the
NHL All-Star game in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In 1998, Mark also worked as the equipment manager
for USA Hockey in Switzerland at the IIHF World
Championships. In 2002, Mark worked at the Easton
service center at the Salt Lake City Olympics and in
2010 he also worked the service center at the Vancouver
Olympics maintaining gear for the hockey athletes
competing in Canada.
Mark retired from the National Hockey League in 2007
after the Western Conference Anaheim Ducks won their
first Stanley Cup Championship defeating the Ottawa
Senators in five games at the Honda Center in Southern
California.
Mark O’Neill completed 29 seasons and 2,250 games in
the National Hockey League.
Mark is still working in hockey today as a PHATSSPHEM vendor with Jan-Al Cases, currently in his 8th
year as sports manger. Jan-Al manufactures road cases,
flight cases, wardrobe cases, etc… for the NHL, MLB,
NFL, NCAA. He also provides cases for professional
musicians such as Imagine Dragons, Fleetwood Mac,
KISS and others.
Mark currently resides in Placentia, California. He has
two sons, Daniel and Aidan, daughter, Audrey and two
grandchildren Raya & Nessa O’Neill.
them for their work in product development, advancing
service and otherwise making a contribution to the
game.
Brad Janson has been a long time supporter of PHATS/
SPHEM and the sport of hockey in general. He has
been attending the PHATS/SPHEM annual meeting
for many years and has represented Bauer Hockey,
CCM, Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, TPS
Sports, Easton and most recently, True Temper Hockey.
His strong background in sales and customer service
has served him well in building relationships with the
equipment managers, athletic trainers, players and
management throughout hockey.
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Sponsorship Package Information & Pricing
Should you sponsor an event with PHATS/SPHEM your company will be
featured in the following:
• Registration Brochure
• Registration Website
• Annual Meeting Program
• Spring Newsletter
• PHATS/SPHEM Website Homepage
• On-site signage with your company name/logo for all the participants to see
In addition, you will have the opportunity to select the location of your exhibit
booth prior to general registration.
Below are all the possible ways you can sponsor an event or item with PHATS/SPHEM. Please be aware these are only
estimated costs for each event.
FUNCTIONSESTIMATED COST FOR EVENT
PHATS/SPHEM Coffee Breaks
$1,500
Exhibit Hall Coffee Breaks (up to 8 sponsors)
$2,500 per sponsor
PHATS/SPHEM Continental Breakfast
$3,000
Networking Reception Entertainment $5,000
PHATS Lunch* (4 lunches available)
$6,000-$7,000 (co-sponsors welcome/$3,000 per sponsor)
SPHEM Lunch* (3 lunches available)
$7,000-$8,000 (co-sponsors welcome/$4,000 per sponsor)
*If your company sponsors a lunch, you have the option of speaking for 20
minutes at the lunch.
Golf Awards Reception $5000 per sponsor
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
On-Site Brochure Ad
Welcome Gifts
Welcome Bags with company logo
Welcome Bag Company Giveaways
Lanyards (PHATS Members)
Lanyards (SPHEM Members)
On-Site Mobile App Splash Screen
On-Site Mobile App Rotating Banner
SPHEM Enhanced Education Sessions
PHATS Vendor Sessions
ESTIMATED COST
Full Page $500
Half Page $250
Quantity: 700-800 items
$1,000
$250 per item
$1,500
$1,500
$4,000 (includes complimentary banner)
$250 per banner
15 minute session: $2,500
30 minute session: $5,000
45 minute session: $7,500
15 minute session: $2,500
30 minute session: $5,000
EDITORS
A Big Thank You to our Contributing Newsletter Editors:
Mark Depasquale, Calgary Flames (NHL)
Brad Chavis, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)
Dana
Heinze, Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Ben Laing, Rochester Americans (AHL)
Andy Hosler, Nashville Predators (NHL)
Scott Allison, Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)
Kent Kobelka, Calgary Flames (NHL)
Nate LaPoint, University of Wisconsin Men’s Hockey (NCAA)
Mark Nemish, Washington Capitals (NHL)
Kevin Ricks, University of Notre Dame (NCAA)
Ben Reisz, Washington Capitals (NHL)
DJ Amadio, Nashville Predators (NHL)
David “DK” Kelly, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Tony Da Costa, Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Brian St-Louis, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Bryan A. Boyes, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Jim Chesnut, Mississippi RiverKings (SPHL)
Todd Klein, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Jason Smits, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Mark Brennan, Portland WinterHawks (WHL)
John Doolan, Alumni Co-Chairperson
Thank you to our Presidents, Jim Ramsay, PHATS & Pete Rogers, SPHEM.
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PHATS President’s Message
Spring! It’s that time of year when some
of us are gearing up for hopefully a long
journey into the playoffs and some of
us are packing bags, performing exit
medicals, doing inventory and planning
our trip to Nashville in June. Either way
it has been another hockey season from
the best seat in the house. This year’s meeting marks the 20th
Anniversary of our societies, once known as just PHATS. I
have been lucky enough to have been part of each and every
meeting. What was a group of motivated members putting
together an education and business meeting has now grown
into a premiere hockey event, with membership spanning
the world. We can thank the previous leaders such as, Larry
Ashley, Pete Demers, Mark Brennan, Ray Barile, Doug
Shearer and Ray Tufts and countless others for helping forge
the way for our groups to stand strong today.
I want to welcome the NHLTPS to this years meeting. As we
all know this is a team effort to keep the players going on a
daily basis and now we have one of our most trusted partners
joining us. This partnership stands to grow stronger than ever
with team physicians participating at all levels of the meetings.
I also would like to thank the NHL and the NHLPA for their
continued support of our meetings. Thank you must also go
out to the long standing vendors who have been here since
day one. We are not only a group of professionals but we are
all friends with a common interest in the game of hockey.
Thank you to all of our vendors and sponsors who make this
incredible meeting happen.
Congratulations to Mark O’Neill for your selection into the
PHATS-SPHEM Hall of Fame. You continue to this day to
be a strong supporter of our membership. The Hall of Fame
dinner will be a highlight of our meeting, celebrating the
career of Mark.
The PHATS-SPHEM Annual Meeting is always a highlight
of the season and would not be possible without the amazing
job of Anita Ramsay and Natalie Grant. Thank you for all
you do in keeping our societies moving forward with a smile!
Thank you to all committee members for their thankless work
behind the scenes. If you are not involved, get up in the play
and get involved! We are always looking for ideas, suggestions
and partnerships, so let us know how you can help.
See you in June in Nashville.
Cheers,
Rammer
Jim Ramsay, PHATS President
Head Athletic Trainer
New York Rangers
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PHATS/SPHEM Brings Back Mobile
App Powered by CrowdCompass for
2016 Annual Conference
PHATS/SPHEM is excited to announce that the
CrowdCompass Mobile app will be available once again
this year courtesy of Renfrew. Our mobile app will bring
the experience at the 2016 Annual Conference to a new
level. Attendees will be able to see more, do more, and
get more value out of the event—right from their mobile
device.
Features of the app include:
•
The full up-to-date event schedule sorted by day,
speaker, and/or track
•
Connect and exchange contact details with other
attendees
•
Share your event experiences on Facebook, Twitter,
and LinkedIn
•
Follow the event on Twitter at #PHATSSPHEM2016
•
Find session and exhibitor locations with maps of
exhibit halls and session rooms
•
See details about all of the exhibitors and sponsors
•
Information on near by restaurants and attractions
This app performs
optimally whether or
not there’s an Internet
connection. When
connected, the app
downloads updates
(like a schedule or
room change). Once
downloaded, all of the
data is stored locally
on the device so it’s
accessible even if
there’s no Wi-Fi.
Members Trending In the News
SPHEM President’s Message
Gilly’ begins last ride
As we wind down the 20152016 season and begin
to hopefully get ready for
playoffs, its time to start
thinking about our annual
meetings. Plans have been
underway since the end of
our meetings in San Antonio
last June. We come to Nashville for the first time.
Nashville will be a great destination and a fabulous
property for our members to honor those who have
reached milestones, a vendor from the group that
continues to support our society, have a beer and
share experiences, tell stories and explore educational
opportunities. Many thanks to Anita Ramsay in
seeking out this property.
Go behind the scenes of
Scottrade Center with
Burt Godin & Joel
Farnsworth
Our educational committee led by Jason McMaster
and Dave Williams is again strong. Many thanks
for their continued efforts to keep our group
educated with the latest and greatest technology
in our field. Many thanks go out for the SPHEM
Executive Committee.
Behind the scenes traveling
with the Calgary Flames
With our schedules getting busier and busier each
year, I appreciate the dedication that these guys have
to continue to move our group forward.
Kitchener Rangers
Honor Dan Lebold
Kitts Keeps the Mallards
Flying High
Behind the Bench… Like Father Like Son
Congratulations go out to Mark O’Neill on his
selection to the Hall of Fame. Mark is a very
deserving candidate who was on the Executive
Board serving as treasurer for many years. The
evening promises to be a great one honoring Mark.
We have some great speakers coming in to honor
him. Also congratulations to Brad Janson as the
recipient of the Ambassador Award for his years of
service to SPHEM members.
We are trying something different this year at our
Networking Reception. We will have The Railers
performing at the event. We decided to give the
meetings a real taste of Nashville. Should be a
memorable event.
Lastly, I would like to thank Anita Ramsay and
Natalie Grant for the work they do in running our
society and for putting on a fantastic event. They
continue to push our group in a great direction and
provide us the support behind the scenes that no
one knows about.
Please take the time to register for the meetings in
Nashville from June 24th to the 29th.
Good luck down the stretch,
Pete Rogers, SPHEM President
Head Equipment Manager
Nashville Predators
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2015/16 Milestones Recipients for Games Worked!
2,000 Games
Harry Bricker
Serge Haché
Jim Ramsay
Asst. Equipment Manager
Equipment Manager
Head Athletic Trainer
Philadelphia Flyers
Gatineau Olympiques
New York Rangers
Head Equipment Manager
Head Equipment Manager
Asst. Equipment Manager
Head Athletic Trainer
Head Athletic Trainer
Head Athletic Trainer
Rapid City Rush
New York Islanders
Columbus Blue Jackets
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
San Jose Sharks
Asst. Athletic Trainer
Head Equipment Manager
Strength / Conditioning
Athletic Trainer
Athletic Therapist
Head Athletic Trainer
AT & EM
Asst. Athletic Trainer
Asst. Athletic Trainer
Asst. Equipment Manager
Head Athletic Trainer
Head Athletic Trainer
Detroit Red Wings
Mississippi RiverKings
New York Rangers
Medicine Hat Tigers
Toronto Marlies
Winnipeg Jets
Omaha Lancers
St. Louis Blues
Philadelphia Flyers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Ottawa Senators
Columbus Blue Jackets
Athletic Trainer
Athletic Trainer
Western Michigan University
Princeton University
1,500 Games
Eric Bechtol
Scott Boggs
Jamie Healy
Tim Macre
Chris Stewart
Ray Tufts
1,000 Games
Russ Baumann
Jim Chesnut
Reg Grant
Mikki Lanuk
Luc LeBlanc
Rob Milette
Bill Nervig
Chris Palmer
Sal Raffa
Jason Stypinski
Gerry Townend
Mike Vogt
500 NCAA Games
Brian Bauer
*John Furtado
PHATS Member Spotlight
Kent Kobelka
Head Therapist
Calgary Flames
PHATS: This is your first season as the full-time Head
Therapist for the Calgary Flames. What is the biggest
difference between working for Team Canada and the Flames?
PHATS: What got you started in the
athletic training profession?
KK: Learning all of the NHL protocols and the increase in the
importance of communication at all levels of the organization.
KK: Started working with the University of British Columbia
hockey team and enjoyed working with the guys. I also enjoyed
the experience of being a part of a team.
PHATS: Regardless of the league you work in, what skill set
should all hockey athletic trainers bring to the table to benefit
the players and management alike?
PHATS: You’ve worked with Team Canada for the past 9
years. How has that experience benefited you and helped you
with your position at the Flames?
KK: Communication is very important, establishing strong
relationships with the people you work with and always be
open to learn something new.
KK: It has allowed me to work with wide variety of therapists
and equipment managers and continually allowed me to learn
and develop relationships with them. Hockey Canada enabled
me to be a part of many tournaments and many amazing
experiences.
PHATS: What is your biggest satisfaction of the job?
KK: Working with a great staff and team that makes going
into work a lot of fun.
PHATS: What is your biggest challenge of the job?
Continued on next page
Member Spotlights
SPHEM Member Spotlight
Mark Depasquale
Head Equipment Manager
Calgary Flames
SPHEM: What made you want a career in
the equipment management profession and
how did you get your start?
MD: I started as a stickboy for the Blackhawks in 1988.
I never thought of it being a career, I just thought it was
really cool. I went to school during the seasons to become an
Athletic Therapist.
SPHEM: You have worked with the Chicago Blackhawks
and the Chicago Wolves prior to that. What would you say
is the biggest benefit to having exposure to these different
leagues?
MD: The biggest benefit was being able to see different
budgets and outfitting players. In the IHL we had to fix gear
every day, which I really enjoyed. I taught myself to sew, but
throughout my career I learned methods on gear repair from
two of the best in the business-Craig Kogut and Gus Thorson.
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Today’s NHL guys don’t wear gear long enough to have to fix
or repalm-they get new ones.
SPHEM: What advice can you give to an equipment manager
aspiring to one-day work in the NHL?
MD: Work hard, do everything extra that you can. You never
know who will notice. If it was easy, then everyone would do it.
SPHEM: You are working at the World Cup & the World
Championships this year. What excites you most about those
events and how will you prepare for them?
MD: I have never been to Russia before. We had quite a few
Russian players come thru Chicago, so after hearing their
stories, I am really looking forward to seeing some of the
places. It is an honor to work for USA Hockey. With the
World Cup of hockey, it will be an unbelievable experience
working with the future of the NHL. Much different than
an Olympics where you know what guys are currently
using, sticks, and steel that has been rockered etc. With the
tournament starting in September, Troy Parchman and I will
have to communicate often with the players to see what is
Continued on nex page
Spotlight, Kent Kobelka Continued
KK: Being the first year with an entirely new staff the biggest
challenge has been establishing everyone’s roles, routines and
protocols in working with the team on a daily basis.
PHATS: How has being a member of PHATS helped you in
your career?
KK: Being a member of PHATS has enabled me to get to
know and become friends with many of the people working
in the profession. It has allowed me to continually see what
is new and innovative, as well as being able to have people to
contact for support when difficult situations arise during the
season. The experience of members in the league has been
instrumental in helping to learn the processes and procedures
of the NHL.
PHATS: What other Athletic Trainers do you admire? Why?
KK: I have had the opportunity of working with some
great trainers at the World Junior, World Championships
and Olympics. They have all been helpful and have taught
me a lot along the way as everyone has different skills and
strengths that they have brought to the staffs. Ken Lowe was
the first person to give me a chance at the NHL level and it
has opened the door to develop the relationships with other
PHATS members going forward.
PHATS: What do you want your peers to know about you
that they don’t already know?
KK: Most people know that I have worked with Hockey
Canada for the past two Olympics, but I was also involved
with Alpine Canada ski teams for 10 years, attending two
Olympics with them as well.
Kent lives in Calgary with his wife Wendy and 2 children
Christopher (13) and Charley Kate (11). In the summer Kent
and his family enjoy spending time on Shuswap lake boating
and water skiing.
Spotlight, Mark Depasquale Continued
constantly changing. It will be a great experience-and will
create some bonds with players and staff that I may never get
to work with otherwise.
SPHEM: You have been involved in International Hockey
with Team Canada. What would you say are the benefits of
getting involved with International Hockey?
MD: International hockey gives you a chance to see other
countries that you may never visit in your lifetime. This will
be my 2nd World Championship with Team USA. The time
spent together overseas really is something special. I find
players and staff that you share this experience with seek
you out when you or they are in town. Something that only
our group had. Working the Olympics in Vancouver was
something that words could not describe.
SPHEM: How has belonging to SPHEM and attending the
annual meeting helped you professionally?
MD: The meetings have grown so much over the years. I think
it is so beneficial to be on top of innovative ideas. If it weren’t
for the meetings and forums, I may not have had shot blockers
or everyone in the very popular edge holders. You get to see
your colleagues outside a hockey rink and discuss ideas or
family life.
13
SPHEM: What is your biggest challenge of the job?
MD: We all have long hours, but I think trying to keep
up with the ever-changing needs of the players is always a
challenge.
SPHEM: What is your biggest satisfaction of the job?
MD: The guys. The relationships you build. Seeing the smiles
whether you saw a player/staff yesterday or not for 15 years.
The jokes and pranks are always a treat too.
SPHEM: What was your most memorable professional
moment as an equipment manager?
MD: My first road trip with the Blackhawks for the 1991
playoffs against the Minnesota North Stars.
SPHEM: What do you look forward to in the off-season?
MD: Spending time with my family. They sacrifice quite a bit
so I don’t mind buttering them up. I’ve been known to sneak
in a few golf games too.
Alumni Update
By John Doolan, Alumni Co-Chairperson
Gone Too Soon
February was not a good month for
the Alumni and the two Societies.
Unfortunately we lost two great guys.
First we lost long time equipment
manager Jim Pickard to a heart attack at his home in
Tampa. Only a week or so later I got a call that “Big Brad”
Sklover had passed of natural causes at his home in New
Jersey. Many of you may not know Brad’s name and I will
fill you in as we go along.
The outpouring for both gentlemen on social media was
astounding with people sharing tales of exploits they had
had with both.
trucking for the Islanders, he asked me
“you know how to get to the Coliseum
I hope” and we had a good laugh.
Alumni member Kevin Cady shares
the story of his first encounter
with Jimmy. As a newly
promoted EM with the Flyers (at
19) back in 1983 I was enamored
by the Islanders and their Stanley
Cup Dynasty. Our first trip to the Island Pic was hovering
and chatting with us while we hung-up the gear. Pic asked
me a million questions about Portland (AHL) where I
spent my first six seasons working with Sudsy Settlemyre,
Kurt Mundt and Bert Godin. Pic left for a while and
returned with more beer. He
also had an Islander’s jersey.
He asked me if I wanted a
Trottier jersey. I thought hell,
Bryan Trottier will be a sure bet
HoFamer. He tossed me the
jersey. It was Trottier’s alright...
but it was Monte’s. Pic said it
was never worn in a game and
“The way that kid plays he won’t
need it. It’s all yours kid.” About
10 years ago I threw it on Ebay
to see if there was interest. Just
as Pic thought...no one wanted
it!
Big Brad was the original truck
driver for the Rangers, Islanders
and Devils. He and his two
buddies Tony and Neil made
sure that any incoming team got
to and from the airports or city
nearby. My favorite memory of
Brad was that on occasion our
flight from Pittsburgh to the
City was delayed due to weather.
We landed around 5 pm and
loaded up. The Port Authority
Police escorted the bus and van
off the tarmac at Newark. Upon
exiting, NJ state police picked
us up and took us to the tunnel.
Jim Pickard and Big Brad Sklover Speaking with Ron Waske,
From there NYPD blocked the
Photos courtesy of Shelly Castellano, SCPIX Jim’s partner for 10 years on the
intersections to the MSG. Brad
Island, said that he would do
was going crazy that he had an
anything for the players whether it was at the rink or away
escort, but “PO’d” he had to pay the tunnel toll. Up the
and that the players loved him. For myself, we first met in
ramp we went and game on...
the fall of 1969. Later, we created a great relationship and
It is ironic that Brad joined Pic just a little over a week
later. Brad posted the following upon hearing of Pic’s
passing, shared this story. The very first trip that Tony and
me had were the California Seals, Pic was the equipment
manager. They flew into the old Newark Airport and after
we loaded the gear we started driving to what we thought
was NYC. After about 15 minutes of driving South on the
NJ Turnpike, Pic said to me “I know you’re new at this, but
we’re going to play the Rangers, not the Flyers” I was going
in the wrong direction... When Pic called me to do the
14
on many occasions while I was with the Penguins would
visit his home for dinner while on the Island. Pic always
had that quick wit with the one-liners or pranks. He never
seemed down and lifted the spirits of those who came to
know him. Five Stanley Cups, Canada Cup appearances
and All-Star game recognition were part of his Hall of
Fame Career.
All in all, two super individuals who were friend and
colleagues to many of us that have left us stronger people,
emptier in our hearts and a twinkle in our eyes.
Tony Da Costa Takes Us Inside the Outdoor Stadium Series
With the weather finally warming up in a lot of places, let’s
take a look back at one of the greatest traditions in hockey –
the outdoor game. Tony Da Costa, Head Equipment Manager
for the Minnesota Wild has given us a behind-the-scenes look
at the 2016 Coors Light Stadium Series.
Preparation for the event started months prior as Tony
worked alongside other members of the Wild locker room
staff, creating check lists—talking with players and coaches
and utilizing the league resources to make sure nothing was
forgotten.
Tony was excited to work his first outdoor game of his career
when the Wild faced the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2016
Coors Light Stadium Series game held at TCF Bank Stadium
on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis, Minn.
on February 21.
Overall the experience was somewhat surreal as snow started
to fall during the first period, stretching into the second. “We
really lucked out on weather, looking back to the date last
year, it was minus-20 so anything could have happen,” said Da
Costa. “Game day was close to 40 degrees with overcast skies
which made ice and working conditions ideal.”
The weekend began late Thursday night as the team arrived
home from a five day Western Canada road trip. Arriving at
3:30 am, Tony and his staff went right to work transferring the
gear and equipment into TCF Bank, working until roughly
5:00 am that night/morning and returning to the stadium by
10:00 am.
“That [late arrival] was really the only obstacle we faced
throughout the weekend,” Da Costa said. “Luckily we had
staff working throughout the week transforming the Gophers’
football locker room into a NHL room.”
15
Tony gave praise to the league, stating that they were always
available and when questions were asked, answers were given.
After working the event, Tony advises counter parts who might
get the opportunity to work similar games to “have plenty of
staff on site as you don’t know what issues will arise throughout
the weekend.”
Excited to hopefully work another outdoor game, Da Costa
jokes by saying “I’d prefer to be on the visiting side—arrive,
play and leave.” (All photos are courtesy of Tony Da Costa,
Minnesota Wild)
A Closer Look at Hydrotherapy with SwimEx
HYDROTHERAPY
An injured player can change the outcome of a game – or
possibly an entire season – if their injury is not handled
properly. Sports medicine professionals know this. That’s
why so many choose hydrotherapy for rehab, training and
recovery.
4 ADVANTAGES OF USING WATER OVER LAND
An injury causes pain, yet pain is often the exact thing
that interferes with a successful recovery. Hydrotherapy
diminishes pain during rehab and training, making athletes
more motivated to participate in and complete a treatment
plan or exercise regimen.
1. Water Delivers a Jump on Recovery: An athlete in the
acute stages of injury can begin hydrotherapy treatments
much earlier in water than on land with less pain and
more support. This equates to earlier recovery to help
athletes get back in the game faster.
2. Water Helps Maintain Momentum: During recovery,
athletes can continue to train. Water supports muscles
and joints. It takes stress off the injured and sore areas,
allowing athletes the ability to train without further
injury. When they’re ready to get back in the game,
they’re still in shape to win.
3. Hydrotherapy Amplifies a Workout Without Risk:
Water is a safe environment to work-out and rehabilitate.
Running or exercising against a water current is as
good, and typically better, than land-based training. In
addition, there’s no risk of falling or putting additional
stress on joints and muscles. Athletes can ramp up their
workouts without risking injury.
4. Varying water temperatures amplify results: The heat in
a hydrotherapy pool or hot plunge relaxes muscles during
rehabilitation and before practice for more effective
outcomes. Alternatively, a cold water plunge is great for
fast muscle recovery after strenuous practices or training
routines.
WHY HYDROTHERAPY WORKS:
THE BASIC PRINCIPLES BEHIND IT
The fundamental properties of water – support, resistance,
and assistance – are based on simple rules of physics. Here’s
the science behind
the success:
•Hydrostatic
pressure:
The weight
of a fluid
–
in this case
water – against
16
an object. When an athlete gets in water, hydrostatic
pressure creates a uniform support system for all
immersed body parts. The deeper an athlete goes into
the water, the greater the support. The benefits of this
support include reduced swelling, improved circulation,
less joint stress and cardiovascular strain, and diminished
soreness due to a reduction in lactic acid.
• Buoyancy: The ability or
tendency to float in water.
Based on the principles
of buoyancy, a patient
immersed in water up to
their neck bears 10% of their
body weight on their legs. If
the water is chest high, their
bearing 25% on their legs,
and if the water is at their
hips or pelvis, the weight is
at 50%. An athlete literally
feels lighter, providing relief to any pain or discomfort
they may be experiencing. This lightness gives them a
mechanical advantage to perform rehabilitation and
recovery exercises correctly without the inhibition of
pain.
• Viscosity: The level of a fluid (in this case water), its
movement based on its thickness, and the speed and
surface area of an object in the water. The larger the
object, the greater the resistance or drag against the
water. In other words, an athlete moving against the
water – swimming, running, performing upper and lower
body exercises – will experience more resistance based on
their size or if they are using pool accessories.
A hydrotherapy
pool with a
water current is a
complete fitness
machine capable
of accomplishing
rehabilitation,
conditioning and
recovery goals within one small footprint of space.
www.swimex.com
Paid Advertisement
Battling Fatigue And The Heavy Legs Syndrome.
Practical Advice That Works!
By Mark Nemish
Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Washington Capitals
Eighty two games a year is a lot of hockey to play especially if
you log twenty plus minutes per game. We must be ready to
physically compete in 11 games in first 21 days of March and
be ready for the grind of playoff rounds in April and beyond.
Having said all this, the need to be recovered from now until
the end of the playoffs is paramount in order for us to go all the
way. Taking measures now to prevent future physical fatigue
pitfalls is imperative.
Fatigue Defined:
The biggest in-season complaint I have heard over my 8 years
in the league has been the “heavy legs” players encounter at
certain times during the year. More specifically, the feeling
as though you have no jump in your legs, especially at the
beginning of the game. This type of fatigue has been identified
in the scientific literature as “low frequency fatigue”. Without
getting into too much detail, low frequency fatigue occurs
because of the muscles’ inability to release calcium. The
proper release of calcium is essential for effective muscle fiber
contraction and thus performance on the ice.
Mechanisms of Fatigue:
There are a number of things that can contribute to “heavy
legs”. First of all, your muscles are contracting every day when
you step on the ice to play or practice. Added to this is the fact
that your equipment does not promote heat dissipation. As
your muscles contract, heat is built up in them. Constant heat
built up in the legs can contribute to muscle damage and as a
result, feelings of fatigue (Febbraio, 2000 – research study).
Secondly, as you sit on the bench between shifts your oxygen
or O2 system is strongly activated to aid in the removal of
waste products. What can occur with the activation of the
O2 system is the build up of “free radicals” within contracting
muscle. Free radicals have been shown to impair muscle
function due to the damage they cause to cells (Armstrong
et al., 1991). The end result is further contribution to low
frequency fatigue or heavy legs.
A third damaging physiological condition occurs with the build
up of calcium in muscles’ cells. With repeated muscular use,
as evident in practicing and playing day in day out, excessive
amounts of calcium can build up in the cells (don’t confuse
17
this calcium with the type that is required in your diet). The
build up calcium can have damaging effects on muscle cells
and impair normal muscular contraction. If your muscles don’t
contract properly, they won’t produce the force and power you
need each game on a consistent basis.
How to Combat Fatigue?:
The first step in combating the heavy legs syndrome is to
identify when it may occur before it hits. The one identifiable
marker is vertical jump. If your vertical jump is reduced
significantly (1 inch or higher) over a couple week stretch then
you may be susceptible to reduced jump on the ice.
The other thing you must do is to sit in the cold tub for at least
5-10 minutes after every game and hard practice. The cold
bath will do a number of things to help prevent on-ice power
outages due to fatigue. First of all, the cold bath will limit
the amount of swelling and stiffness in the muscles (Eston &
Peters, 1999). Secondly, your increased muscle temperature
as a result of playing/practicing will also be reduced at a faster
rate when taking a cold bath. Remember repeated increases in
muscle temperature beyond a certain point can cause damage
to the muscle cells. And finally, free radical damage may also
be reduced with a cold bath. Since metabolism is elevated
for some time after a game or practice, the degree to which
dependent on how hard and how many minutes you play, the
cold bath reduces your metabolism and thus opportunity for
free radicals to build up.
Some may also suggest the use of antioxidants such as high
doses of vitamin C and E however the research regarding the
effectiveness of this is not positively conclusive.
Practically Speaking:
Not everyone needs to jump into the cold tub following each
game. If you are playing less than 10 minutes, then the cold
tubs will have less of an effect because you are not fatiguing the
muscles as much. If you play 20+ minutes/game you need to
jump in the cold tub on a regular basis.
If we happen to be lifting after a game, make sure you lift
before you take a cold tub. If you are cooling down on the bike
after the game, take your cold tub after the bike. The cold tub
should be the last thing you do. Also, don’t confuse the cold
Continued on page 29
Reunited Again in Nashville
It’s been another good year and so many good things are
happening, starting with Kraft Hockeyville USA coming to
Johnstown in the preseason. We were fortunate to take part
in a preseason game at the Cambria County War Memorial
Arena against Tampa Bay and it was a lot of fun.
Another great experience happened when I was given
the honor of working the 2016 NHL All-Star Game in
Nashville. When I found out I was selected to work that
event, immediately I was taken aback thinking how cool
it would be to have the opportunity to work the All-Star
Game with Nashville’s Pete Rogers. It brought me back
to the beginning of my career, and Pete and I have a story
together and how we got to that weekend in Nashville.
Here it is:
It all started in the 198889 season, which was
the East Coast Hockey
League’s inaugural
campaign. The league was
looking to expand from
five teams the next season.
I was working for the
Johnstown Chiefs and we
were in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina, for a
game against the Carolina
Thunderbirds. It was
an old, dark, small little
coliseum.
By Dana Heinze, Head Equipment Manager, Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres guys because Rochester was their farm team.
One day, he said, “Hey there’s this trainer’s society. They are
holding a conference in Kansas City and we should go.” So,
Pete and I talked about it. We asked our teams and we got
the company line that was too expensive and they had never
heard of this conference. So, Pete and I decided we were
going to go, no matter what. We paid our own way.
Back then, the trainer meetings were a lot different than
the big show that is put on today. That has really come a
long way. Well, we were in a little hotel conference room
with maybe 15-20 round tables with all the respected NHL,
American League and IHL trainers sitting there.
They started having meetings and people spoke. Later on,
something came up and this gentleman stands up in the
room and he looks right
over at Pete and me and
says, out of nowhere,
“This cannot happen!
We cannot allow these
minor league teams to
come into our society and
infiltrate our group. We
can’t have this. They are
here for our jobs and they
don’t belong here.”
We’re sitting there with
the Rochester Americans
guys and the Buffalo
Sabres equipment and
Dana
&
Pete
–
Photo
courtesy
of
Dana
Heinze
medical guys and I am
I remember one day, in the
almost in tears, trying to
middle of the afternoon,
sink down in my chair. I was just shocked. There was some
one of the referees (Frank Vicaretti), came walking in with
type of discussion among the group.
this young guy. It turned, his out his name was Pete Rogers
and he was from Rochester as well and was travelling
Pete and I, our only intention on going there, was to be
around with Frank to see what this East Coast Hockey
among the guys that we looked up to. We were both happy
League was all about. He was interested in maybe becoming working in the East Coast Hockey League. Yes, at that
a head trainer/equipment manager.
time, it was the lowest form of professional hockey there
I spent probably 40 minutes talking with Pete about what
I did and what the league was like and things like that.
We kept in touch. When Hampton Roads was given an
expansion team the next season, John Brophy hired Pete as
their trainer/equipment manager.
Pete and I became pretty good buddies. At one of his first
games, I was with Johnstown when we played Hampton
Admirals in Richmond. That was our first game working
together, basically. The season went on and we had some
good laughs about some of the battles between Hampton
and Johnstown. There were some great stories there.
Pete, who got his start as a stick boy with the Rochester
Americans, knew the guys from that team and he knew the
was. It was the bottom feeder. We did not go there to try
to take someone’s job. We admired those guys. I’d see Steve
Latin from the Pittsburgh Penguins on TV. I’d see Jim
Pickard from the New York Islanders on TV. So, I knew
who those guys were. It was very disappointing. I was
embarrassed and I couldn’t believe it. I wanted to leave.
After the meeting concluded, a group of guys I knew of and
who I looked up to, like Steve Latin, Doug Shearer from
Washington, Jim Pickard, NY Islanders, Rip Simonick from
Buffalo and I believe there were a few other guys, walked up
to us and patted us on the back and said, “Hey listen, we’re
glad you’re here.” That meant the world to me and I am sure
it did to Pete, too.
Continued on next page
18
Reunited Again in Nashville Continued
The meeting had another day and, after the last day we were
there, a group of the members came up to Pete and me and gave
us each envelopes, basically paying for our flights and hotel. That
meant a lot.
Equipment managers and trainers, we’re a small group of people
who do what we do at those levels. Regardless if you’re in the
lowest of minor leagues or you’re in the NHL, at the end of
the day, you’re still a trainer or an equipment manager and you
should respect everybody. Some guys haven’t had to start in the
lowest form of the minors. Some guys have had the luxury of
starting at a higher level and don’t know what it’s like to have
to ride a bus or work with a budget that’s virtually nothing and
make something out of it. We’re still equipment managers and
trainers and that is what this whole society is about. I think
we should respect each other and try to help and root for one
another.
For me, personally, I have made it a point to try not to ever
miss a meeting because I’d feel like a hypocrite because I was
there on the ground floor with Pete. We were there for a reason
and I think it is very important that people do show up to the
meetings. It’s a good thing for us, as trainers and equipment
managers.
Since that experience in 1990, each year, teams have come and
gone, and leagues have gotten bigger. The society has opened up
and it got so big where it branched into separate entities – you
have a medical side and an equipment side.
Jump to 2013 and Pete Rogers is nominated to be president of
the society and he wins. To me, it’s just absolutely awesome to
see that come full circle. To see Pete become the president of the
entire equipment managers’ society is a great thing in my eyes.
Now, there we were that January weekend, working the same
NHL All-Star Game in Nashville – two guys who became
friends at the lowest level of pro hockey and who were told they
didn’t belong. Well, Pete has belonged as the Predators’ Head
Equipment Manager for 18 years and I have been in the NHL
for 17 years – the last 11 as the Penguins’ Head Equipment
Manager.
It just goes to show hard work, dedication and persistence pay
off – even after nearly three decades.
Penguins Equipment Staff Goes to Nashville
This year, I was elected to work the
for me and I looked forward it.
the Penguins’ equipment staff because
here and I thought it was important
So, whenever I found out I was
Rutherford and asked about taking
By Dana Heinze, Head Equipment Manager
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL All-Star Game. It’s a nice honor
However, I wanted to include the rest of
we operate like a little mini family around
to share that experience with those guys.
selected, I went to Penguins GM Jim
the rest of the equipment staff.
The Penguins agreed, so Teddy
as opponents. Overall, our responsibility
Richards, Danny Kroll, Jon
was for the Eastern Conference, so we
Taglianetti and I got to go to
handled the Metropolitan and Atlantic
Nashville and experience something
divisions and we were in the visiting
Left to Right - Jon Taglianetti, Teddy Richards, Kris
like an All-Star weekend that we had Letang, Evgeni Malkin, Danny Kroll, Dana Heinze
locker room, while Pete and his staff
never gone through before as a staff. It
handled the Western Conference and were
was an eye-opener, to say the least.
in the home room.
One of the best parts about it was
I briefed our guys when we went there that the whole
the fact that we have such a great
environment would be a lot different. In Pittsburgh, we’re
relationship with the Nashville
used to doing things a certain way with a certain setup. We
staff, so we felt like we were at
still had the luxury of doing it the way we wanted to for the
home working with Pete Rogers
All-Star Game. The game is run by the NHL and they do a
and his staff of Jeff Camelio, Brad
wonderful job at these events. But, there were some unique
Peterson and Craig Baugh.
aspects – like 900 miles of camera cable and TV monitors and
The first day we were there, we
cameramen around the locker room at all times. There were
helped move in Eastern and
people coming in and out of the room frequently as well. It’s
Western Conference players. It
something we’re not used to for a regular season game. It was
Dana Heinze
was really neat to see all these
quite different in that respect.
All-Star players you get to watch every night from the bench
19
Continued on next page
Penguins Equipment Staff goes to Nashville Continued
But, getting to
meet all these
All-Stars from
the Eastern
Conference was
great. We really
didn’t know
many of these
players on a
personal level.
Teddy Richards, Danny Kroll, Dana Heinze, Jon Taglianetti
You stand on the
bench and watch them as opponents all the time and you’re
rooting for your team, obviously, but getting to work with them
on a personal basis was an honor. Even though we were with
the Penguins and we had two of our guys in Evgeni Malkin
and Kris Letang there, it was cool seeing all the guys in our
own division and conference that we battle against and they
were so great. Every guy was awesome to work with. What
a class act all these guys are. It just shows you how awesome
hockey players are. It was a really neat experience for us. “
Danny Kroll & Don DelNegro
People always see us and always compliment us on working
hard, but we had a chance to get away for some free time,
too, as a group. Nashville is an unbelievable city and we got a
chance to check out the surroundings there. Hat’s off to the
city and the Nashville Predators for what they did for this AllStar Game because it was absolutely amazing. Everything was
so centered and within walking distance. Plus, it’s Nashville –
the Music City – and we got a chance to go out and experience
some of the tremendous atmosphere. It was a good time for
everybody.
Two of the guys on our equipment staff – Teddy Richards and
Danny Kroll – had their own All-Star experiences before this,
but not at the NHL level.
“Quite a few years ago, when I was with Wilkes-Barre/
Scranton in the AHL, I worked an AHL All-Star Game,
I believe in 2007 on Toronto. Our coach at the time, Todd
Richards, was selected to coach in the game. Back then,
20
the entire staff went for the
American league,” Richards
said. “This All-Star Game
was a lot different. I based my
expectations off everything we
did in Toronto back then. It was
a lot different this time. There
was a lot of free time. With
Nashville being such a great city
and lots to do, I felt that was a
lot better. We had more time
to do what we wanted. It was a
nice experience.”
Teddy Richards
“Don DelNegro from Boston was the medical trainer for the
Eastern Conference team in Nashville and this was his second
NHL All-Star Game in 23 years. With this being only my
third year in Pittsburgh, the one thing I came to realize by
seeing something like that is
that getting to work an AllStar Game is not something
that’s very common. It’s done
by a seniority basis and I know
Dana was selected by most
man games worked as a head
equipment manager and I know
it was quite an honor for him.
For him to bring his whole staff
speaks volumes about what he
thinks about his staff. It was
very nice.”
Jon Taglianetti
Kroll worked a professional allstar game, too, but his first one involved baseballs.
“I had the opportunity to work the MLB Midsummer Classic
in 2006 so it was really special to work the NHL All-Star
Game 10 years later,” he said. “Nashville was an ideal city to
work the game in and Pete Rogers and his staff were very
welcoming and it was great working with them. Working this
game and seeing all these players from different teams interact
in a setting that wasn’t as serious as a typical game night was
neat to experience as well.”
“Also, it was special to work the game this year with the new
3-on-3 format and the whole John Scott story. I think it’s an
All-Star Game that will be remembered for a long time as a big
success.”
We certainly look forward to getting a chance to experience
another NHL All-Star Game as a staff.
All photos courtesy of Dana Heinze, Pittsburgh Penguins.
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A Look Behind the Scenes at this Year’s NHL All-Star Game
Take a look behind the scenes with the Nashville Training Staff
Row 1- Ryan Lux, Brad Peterson, Jeff Camelio, Don DelNegro, Darryl Amadio, Dana Heinze, Pete Rogers, Danny
Krall
Row 2--Bryan Mahoney, Jon Taglienetti, Jeff Biddle, Dave Good, Andy Hosler, Malik Johnson, Teddy Richards,
Craig Partner Baugh
Photo courtesy of Pete Rogers, -” It was an honor to work with these guys at the 2016 All Star
Game.”
21
All-Star Photos Continued
Photos courtesy of Andy Hosler,
Nashville Predators
22
All-Star Photos Continued
Photos courtesy DJ Amadio, Nashville Predators
– “What a great time seeing the greatest hockey players in
the world. I also enjoyed working and spending time with
my colleagues. We normally don’t have the opportunity
to do during the regular season.”
•
23
A Look At The 2016 AHL All-Star Classic By Brad Chavis, Head Athletic Trainer, Syracuse Crunch
The 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star
score of 19-14. This was an amazing
Classic was held in Syracuse on
opportunity for my son, who also
January 31st and February 1st. It
plays hockey, to see what it takes to
is always an honor to represent not
play at such a high level.
only the Syracuse Crunch and the
The next day was full of excitement
Tampa Bay Lightning, but also the
as well. JW Aiken (Syracuse),
American Hockey league at this
Damien Parmelee (Utica), Dustin
grand event. The event had a unique
Flynn (Utica), and myself were the
format. Instead of a traditional
staff members asked to handle the
60-minute game, the league’s allduties of the game. Every one of
stars were divided into four teams
us has worked an all-star game in
(one team representing each of the
With Kristers Gudleveskis, Matt Taormina, and Mike
the past few years, so we had an
Angelidis
league’s divisions: Atlantic, North,
idea of what needed to be done. It
Central, Pacific). The teams then played a round-robin
was a very different atmosphere than that of a normal game
tournament featuring six games that were nine minutes
day. There were many members of the American Hockey
each; the first half of each game was played at 4-on-4, and
League staff, media,
the second half at 3-on-3. The two teams with the best
and various visitors
records at the end of the round-robin tournament played for
wandering in and out
the championship in a six-minute game played at 3-on-3.
of the locker room
The weekend also included an amazing performance from
and training room. It
Grammy nominated musical act Five for Fighting.
made for a little bit of
The best part of the
a chaotic environment,
weekend for me was
but everyone seemed
the opportunity to
to just “go with the
bring my son into
flow”. In the end,
the locker room to
the Central Division
“help out”. I really
won the All-Star
enjoyed being able to
Challenge.
have Cameron with
The night wrapped
me over the course of
Passing out goalie helmets
up with JW, Damien,
the two days. Having
Dustin, and myself taking a few photos and sitting in the
him join me on the
equipment room sharing a few stories, laughs, and beers. It
bench during the
is nice to get a chance
skills competition is
during the course of such
a memory that I will
a busy season, and heated
cherish forever. We
rivalries to take a breath,
started the first day
Watching the accuracy competition
work and simply enjoy
off by hanging around
the company of such
the training room and doing treatments on the few guys
great people. We as a
that needed anything. We then moved out to the ice for the
PHATS-SPHEM society
AHL Skills Competition, where my son helped work the
have such a great group of
bench by handing out goalie masks and posing for pictures
members and peers. These
with some of his favorite Syracuse Crunch and AHL players.
days at the Toyota AllWe both were amazed by the skill level of the players on the
Star Classic are days that I
ice, and enjoyed watching the Western Conference win by a
will never forget.
24
Working the bench
Mononucleosis and Hockey Athletes
Infectious mononucleosis (IM) affects thousands of athletes
every year. It is especially common in the 18-24 year old
population which touches all of our locker rooms and for some
of us our entire rosters. This is a brief review of the current
best practices for recognition, diagnosis, care, and return to
play of IM.
effects. Returning to contact is a bit more disputed with
some aggressively pushing that around the 3 week mark when
the risk of spleen damage is decreased. This should be done
on an individual basis with careful correlation of all clinical
symptoms and with proper communication to the athlete
about the risks involved.
Recognition
The most common clinic findings that should prompt further
exploration are a combination of fever, sore throat, and
potentially tender posterior cervical lymph nodes. Tenderness
in the upper left abdominal quadrant may also be present
depending on how long the infection has been lingering.
Reports of general fatigue, headaches, and even skin rash on
the trunk and upper body are also common.
Complications
Returning an athlete too early can result in delayed full
recovery and a decrease in performance. There is some
thought that extreme cases can take up to a year to return to
full energy and performance levels. An enlarged spleen or
splenomegaly is usually the most concerning risk due to the
chance of injury to the organ. MRI and CT will give great
detailed pictures of the spleen and are best used for suspected
lacerations or ruptures. Their use in evaluating spleen size
is limited due to lack of baselines. Use of ultrasound is
controversial for many of the same reasons however ultrasound
does provide much easier logistics for repeat exams due to its
in-office availability and reduced radiation exposure compared
to MRI or CT. Repeat or serial imaging can be useful for
determining return to play as an enlarged spleen begins to heal
and reduce back to normal size.
Diagnosis
While no single test can for certain identify a case of IM
a blood test looking for developing antibodies as well as
CBC lab are commonly performed. IM will likely show an
increased lymphocyte count and presence of atypical white
blood cells. However the heterophile antibodies test may
not be positive for some time after the initial infection. For
this reason an IM diagnosis is still largely a clinical diagnosis.
With the combined symptoms of fever, sore throat, tender
cervical lymph nodes, and elevated lymphocyte count one can
make the reasonable diagnosis and begin care accordingly.
Many patients will show abdominal pain however physical
exam with palpation and percussion have been shown to be
only partially reliable in diagnosis. In athletes who regularly
have well developed abdominal musculature this becomes even
more difficult. Imaging of the spleen is often done however
research has shown that without individual healthy baselines
using a one-time image alone is not reliable for diagnosis due
to the varying sizes of spleen across the population.
Care
Treatment usually includes rest until fever and symptoms
resolve. Maintaining hydration levels are equally important.
Acetaminophen for comfort is regularly used. Anti-viral
meds and corticosteroids may help with initial symptoms
briefly especially in the finding of streptococcal pharyngitis
but have not been shown to reduce the return to play timeline.
Transmission of the virus is generally quite low so isolation
is not needed. Avoiding aspirin and alcohol should also be
recommended.
Return to Play
Most athletes will self-limit themselves for a week or two
due to symptoms. It is generally thought a minimum of 3
weeks is needed before returning to activity. There is some
current research showing a return to light cardio activity as
soon as they are without fever to be tolerated without negative
25
Kevin Ricks M.S., ATC/L
Associate Athletic Trainer
University of Notre Dame
Ruptures and lacerations in the literature are reported to only
be a .1-.5% risk however in our setting of contact sports this
risk is inherently higher. There are numerous reports and case
studies of spleen injury in hockey. Some of those are from too
aggressive of a return after a diagnosis of IM. However there
are also plenty of reports of spleen injuries reported where the
IM was not previously diagnosed either by lack of symptoms
or a misdiagnosis.
These rare cases of spleen injury usually present following
direct trauma to the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. It
is usually accompanied with severe pain in the abdomen.
Prompt recognition of these signs as well as immediate
follow-up care including proper imaging is critical. This is
often an emergency surgical situation due to bleeding into the
abdominal cavity.
Information compiled primarily from the American Medical
Society for Sports Medicine’s Position Statement published
in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine 2008; 18: 309-315.
Special thanks as well to Dr. Kevin McAward, Team Physician
University of Notre Dame
League Updates
The 2015-2016 American Hockey league
season has been an exciting one. With the
addition of the Pacific Division, the Toyota
All-Star Classic, and the upcoming Calder
Cup Playoffs this season has been one of
non-stop action. I would also like to give special mention to
Luc LeBlanc who worked his 1,000th professional game this
season. His dedication and commitment to our profession as
well as our organization shouldn’t go without notice. In other
exciting news, the 2017 All-Start game will be hosted by the
Lehigh Valley Phantoms, good luck to their staffs as they
prepare for this event. Best of luck to those competing in the
2016 Calder Cup playoffs. Finally, don’t forget to register for
the 2016 PHATS/SPHEM Annual Conference in beautiful
Nashville, I am sure that a good time will be had by all in
attendance. Enjoy the off-season and stay healthy!!
Brad Chavis, Head Athletic Trainer
Syracuse Crunch
It’s that time of year again. Some of us are
fighting for post season spots while others are
settling in for a post season run. Everyone is
tired and sore, but what better time of year to
do
what we do. This is when we spend the extra time
and pull out the old tricks to help get our teams to where
they need to be to hoist a cup. To all of you in the playoffs,
best of luck and safe journeys. Enjoy each moment.
Speaking of moments, there are two that hit close to home
this season. First was the opportunity for the city of Kalamazoo to host the ECHL’s Hockey Heritage Week. This
event was a great opportunity for our city and the ECHL to
stand together and showcase the league and give the fans in
Kalamazoo a great opportunity to witness some of hockey’s
greatest trophies and also see some of it’s great history.
Much appreciation to the ECHL in allowing an experience
like this to be held in a city that has been home to professional hockey for the past 43 years. Thank you.
I would like to send out a huge thank you to the entire
hockey world for their support of the city of Kalamazoo
in the aftermath of the mass shootings that occurred on
February 20th of this year. Kalamazoo lost six people in this
shooting and two others were injured in this senseless event.
Our team left for a road trip to Toledo the next day and we
were shown nothing but support from the Walleye “family”
and fans. Both teams stood as one for that game and the Toledo organization donated $10,000 from their jersey auction
to the “Help Now” fund in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.
26
Kalamazoo Wings Silent Auction.
The “Help Now” fund is assisting the families of all the
Kalamazoo shooting victims. The outpouring support from
the Hockey world did not end there. We hosted our next
home game in honor of the families involved in the shooting
and received an outpouring of support in the form of donations from a number of NHL, AHL, and ECHL teams.
These donated items were raffled off during the game and all
proceeds went to the “Help Now” fund. Over $40,000 was
raised at the event and Kalamazoo was again raised up by
the “family” of this great game.
To all of the “Family” out there best of luck in the post season and safe travels.
What a great game we work in!
Scott Allison AT, ATC, Kalamazoo Wings
League Updates Continued
Well, another season has come to an end. At
my age, they seem to be long and go quick or go
quick and are long. Either way, congratulations
to everyone for another season in the books.
And congratulations to the League on their
celebration of the 50th Season of the Western Hockey League.
For all of those who are going forward to the playoffs, good luck
and safe travels. Congrats to the Division Champions this season.
To Brandon in the East Division, Lethbridge in the Central
Division, Victoria in the B.C. Division and Seattle in the U.S.
Division.
Finally, to all the families, who are there at the home games and
at home to greet us after those long road trips, thanks for always
being there. You let us do what we love and could not do it
without your support.
Safe travels to you all and good luck in the playoffs. Have a safe
and healthy off season as well.
Good luck to Radar, Jordan and the rest of the crew in Red Deer
as they host the Memorial Cup this year. First time back in
Alberta in many, many years.
Cheers to all,
Mark “Peaches” Brennan HHOF 2010
Portland Winterhawks
The second half of our season is underway as
the playoff push begins for the top eight spots.
Peoria has done very well once again this year,
holding a comfortable lead in points at the
moment.
27
As the regular season
nears a close we have seen
an incredibly tight race
again for the final playoff
spots. Congratulations to all those teams who
clinch a playoff berth and good luck on your road
to the Memorial Cup.
It is definitely time to start making your travel
plans so you can attend this year’s PHATS/
SPHEM meetings in Nashville. Please note that
any members who attend from the Canadian
Hockey League are eligible to attain CEU’s for
their respective associations. (NATA, CATA,
AEMA). Our goal is to have as many Athletic
Trainers/Equipment Managers from the Canadian
Hockey League as possible in Nashville this year.
We had an excellent representation in San Antonio
again last year and are looking to maintain that.
Hope to see you all in Nashville!!
Bryan A. Boyes
Head Athletic Trainer/Equipment Manager
Oshawa Generals
Since the acquisition of Easton Hockey by the same holding
corporation that own Bauer, rumors about our equipment
supply pool have been rampant to say the least. We’re all
awaiting official word from the league as to the details of the
agreement.
I would like to take the opportunity to wish Fayetteville
equipment manager and longtime friend, Rusty Aldridge
a speedy recovery from heart surgery as a result of a heart
attack he suffered early in the season. He has been recovering
quickly and is back to being the same Rusty we all know.
Glad you decided to stick around buddy!!
Good luck to all of the teams and peers in the last part of our
season. Looking forward to seeing you guys in the playoffs.
Here in the NCAA we have just wrapped
up our league play and are heading into the
conference tournaments. We would like
to congratulate Robert Morris, Quinnipiac,
Boston College, North Dakota, Michigan Tech, Minnesota
State Mankato, and Minnesota on winning regular season
conference titles. Best of luck to everyone as we move into
the NCAA tournament.
congratulations to Ben Mumah on his retirement. Ben
worked 33 years as the equipment manager for Ferris State
University. Not only did he service the hockey team but also
took care of all the other sports. Best wishes to Ben on this
retirement.
We would like to congratulate all members who
have reached milestones this season. Also, a special
Jim Chesnut, Head Equipment Manager
Mississippi RiverKings
Best of luck to everyone as the season wraps up. See
you all in Nashville.
Nate LaPoint
Head Equipment Manager
University of Wisconsin Men’s Hockey
League Updates Continued
WOW, another playoff season is upon us here in the
Q. Want to wish everybody best of luck and safe
travels in your quest for the President’s Cup.
Also congratulations to the staff in RouynNoranda on capturing the Jean Rougeau regular
season championship.
A special shout out for a job well done to Chris MacDonald
of the Halifax Mooseheads whom was part of the support
staff of Canada’s U20 team at this year’s World Junior Hockey
Championship in Finland. Although he didn’t come home
with the gold medal he wanted, he did our League and
country proud!
Serge Hache of the Gatineau Olympiques had a huge
milestone this season passing his 2000th game of his QMJHL
career. Always a true professional and a great ambassador for
our league, on behalf of our entire group, congratulations on
your achievement.
Many thanks to PHATS/SPHEM for their ongoing support
and hoping to meet some new faces and greeting old friends at
this year’s conference in Nashville.
David DK Kelly Equipment Manager, St-John Sea Dogs and
Brian St-Louis Equipment Manager, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
28
From all of us here in the USHL, we
hope everyone has had a good and
safe 2015-2016 season. I would like
to congratulate ATC/EM Bill Nervig on his 1,000 game
with the Omaha Lancers this spring! Bill was personally a
big help to me when I started in Muskegon and an overall
great person. He also was a big part of the NHL Prospects
game in Omaha this season. Another staff that has been
busy this year has been the guys over at the USA NTDP.
Team USA moved into a new arena and renovations
have been an everyday occurrence. By season’s end they
will finally be in their beautiful, new facilities. At time of
publish most teams have 10 games to go or less and the
playoff picture is starting to become more clear. Good luck
to all in their quest for a championship and we hope to see
you all this summer in Nashville.
Todd Klein, ATC, Waterloo Black Hawks and
Jason Smits, Equipment Manager, Muskegon Lumberjacks
Battling Fatigue Continued
tub with massage…they are 2 entirely different methods
of recovery. Whatever you do, if you are playing a lot of
minutes don’t jump into the hot tub after games! We are
trying to reduce heat in your muscles not create more!
No Jump in the 1ST Period?:
Some players over the years have commented to me that
it takes until the second or third period to finally get their
legs going. That is, they experience very little jump in the
first period. This could be due to a couple of things.
First of all, you may not be activating your legs enough
prior to the game. That is, your warm up may not be
sufficient enough to get your legs firing prior to the start of
the game and as a result, you don’t get your legs until the
2nd or 3rd periods. The way to combat this is to up the
intensity in your off-ice warm up. I did an evaluation of 3
warm up protocols with Kimmo Timonen when with the
Predators prior to the start of the 2000 season in an effort
to determine what protocol is most effective in getting
jump out of the legs. We tested vertical jump before and
after the warm up protocols on 3 separate days. What we
found was that performing explosive heavy squatting (3 sets
of 2 reps with 265lbs), was the best protocol in improving
vertical jump from pre to post testing.
Scientific literature also supports the use of heavy, lowrep lifting as a means to activate muscles. It is known as
“potentiation” and is geared towards getting the nervous
system firing. Remember that this is just an option to be
used and may not fit with your own preferences. Through
our investigation, we also found that performing a number
of bike sprints improved vertical jump pre to post. The
mechanisms for this are different than those for the heavy
squats, however, the sprints did warm the muscles up
effectively.
The other reason why you may be experiencing power
outages in the first period could be due to the caloric
amount and content of your pre-game meals. When the
amount of calories ingested at a 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. pre-game
meal is too high and filled with refined pasta, for example,
you may experience a large insulin rush thus leading to
feelings of fatigue and tiredness. Your blood sugar may not
normalize until the 2nd period; hence, better on-ice jump.
29
If this scenario seems to be indicative of what you are doing
before the game and feeling during the first period, then
you must do a couple of things. First, reduce the amount
of calories ingested during the pre-game meal to no more
than 800. Secondly, have a second meal between 4:00 –
5:00 p.m. This will aid in leveling out your blood sugar and
avoiding the huge insulin spikes indicative of a single, large
feeding.
If you are drinking your shake after the game and eating
another high-carb meal an hour or so later, then this should
suffice for replenishing your glycogen/energy stores. As a
result, there is no need to eat so much at pre-game meal.
Summary:
If you have experienced power outages in the past, evaluate
what you are doing before the game to warm yourself up
and what you are eating at pre-game meal. In addition, if
you are playing 20+ minutes game in game out, start taking
10 minute cold tubs after each game and hard practices.
If you don’t like cold tubs, you’ve to suck it up and do
something you don’t enjoy doing…it will benefit you!
Recovery is going to be extremely important in March and
especially as we hit our playoff stride. Be prepared, for what
you do off the ice will definitely have an impact on what
happens on the ice!
References:
Armstrong, R.B. et al. (1991). Mechanisms of exerciseinduced muscle fibre injury. Sports Medicine, 12, 184-207.
Bruton, J. et al. (1998). Mechanisms underlying the slow
recovery of force after fatigue: importance of intracellular
calcium. Acta Physiologica Scandinavia, 162, 285-293.
Easton, R & Peters, D. (1999). Effects of cold water
immersion on the symptoms of exercise-induced muscle
damage. Journal of Sports Sciences, 17, 231-238.
Febbraio, M. (2000). Does muscle function and
metabolism affect exercise performance in the heat?
Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 28, 171-176.
Fowels, J. (2001). Personal Conversation.