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Adult Players Dive in On All-Star Fun
Editor, USA Hockey Magazine
USA Hockey Adult Staff Join NHL in Creating Adult Festivities
NASHVILLE -- Like most boys growing up in the heart of SEC country, Cody Howard was a diehard football fan. That was until a friend gave him a ticket to see the Nashville Predators play.
It was a day that not only changed his life, it changed out he looked at sports.
"Once I saw hockey I said, 'So this is what loving a sport is supposed to be about,'" said Howard, who grew up in Sevierville, Tenn., the hometown of country music icon Dolly Parton.
Bitten by the hockey bug, Howard taught himself to skate and two years later he was the captain of an adult team that skates out of the Ford Ice Arena in suburban Nashville.
Growing up in Tennessee, Howard never thought he would play hockey, let alone do it outdoors in downtown Nashville. But here he was, on a chamber of commerce type of Saturday morning, cruising around a makeshift ice rink with a number of adult players for a little shinny as part of the festivities surrounding the 2016 NHL All-Star Weekend.
"It's great to have the All-Star Game here," Howard said. "It's been nothing but a big party, and as anyone who lives here will tell you, nobody throws a party like Nashville."
Throughout the week, the Predators and USA Hockey have teamed up to encourage more kids to get out and play. From street hockey clinics inside the NHL Fan Fest to try hockey for free events, there is no shortage of opportunities for kids to get in the game.
But Saturday morning was a chance for local adult players to join the festivities.
"The Predators do so much to grow the game, not only among youth hockey but also adults," said Katie Holmgren, the manager of USA Hockey's Adult Hockey department.
"We appreciate the ability to be involved in this event and showcase adult hockey. Not only have we been able to expose more adults to the game, but we were able to thank the captains of local adult teams by letting them be a part of the festivities."
Hockey in the Music City continues to ride a crest of momentum that began when the Predators come to town in 1998. Since the puck first dropped, the Predators have worked tirelessly to turn a region better known for its affinity for NASCAR into a passionate hockey community.
They've done so by building a fan base from the ground up. From its G.O.A.L. (Get Out And Learn) program that encourages kids ages 5 to 8 to try hockey for free, to the support of its Junior Predators program, the organization has created a grassroots juggernaut. And bringing the NHL All-Star Game to town is likely to create a new legion of fans.
"Bringing the All-Star Game to Nashville is a great way to introduce the sport to people who didn't think it was possible to play hockey in Tennessee," said Peter Danner, who started playing hockey shortly after moving to the area from New Jersey eight years ago.
Over that time he has seen the game grow at all levels.
"There are not just more players involved in the game, but there are also some really good players coming out of the area," Danner said before shedding his hockey gear to heading across the street for the Fan Fest. "Hockey is center stage here this week, and that will get more kids and adults excited about that game."
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Playing hockey can play a big role in staying healthy as an adult
Adult hockey not only promotes a healthy and active lifestyle, it requires it. As adults get older, they increasingly need to emphasize regular exercise and a nutritious diet. There’s no easy way to go about it—but there is a fun, challenging and rewarding option that sticks with you for life:
Hockey.
That’s right. Hockey is part of the perfect prescription for an adults’ health regiment. Just ask Olympian and former NHL player Steve Jensen.
“Physical fitness is something we should all be thinking about as we get older,” says Jensen, a longtime certified USA Hockey coach/official. “There’s no better activity than hockey to stay in shape.”
Dr. Michael Stuart, chief medical officer for USA Hockey, says the positives of playing hockey are contagious.
“Participation in ice hockey provides all the benefits of exercise while building friendships and ensuring a fun time,” says Stuart, who is also the vice-chair of Orthopedic Surgery and the co-director of the Sports Medicine Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Dr. Stuart and colleague Dr. Edward Laskowski of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center sketch out specific benefits for hockey players:
- Prevents excess weight gain and/or maintain weight loss.
- Boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, and decreases unhealthy triglycerides, a cominbination that lowers your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.
- Improves muscle strength and boosts your endurance.
- Relieves stress by helping you have fun and unwind, connect with friends and family, and be part of a team.
- Involves physical activity that can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.
“Playing adult hockey is a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun,” says Stuart, who also emphasizes maintaining a balanced diet. As for safety concerns, he adds: “The risk of injury is small in no-check, adult hockey games, but players should wear high-quality, well-fitting equipment, including a helmet and facial protection.”
The Minnesota-based Adult Hockey Association is starting to see employers embrace hockey as a health and performance benefit for its workforce. Some businesses are beginning to subsidize hockey registration fees for employees because they feel the activity fits the policy of their wellness programs.
“It’s not a lot, but we’re starting to see more and more trickle in,” says Dave Swenson, the AHA’s secretary treasurer who also serves on USA Hockey’s Adult Council and Minnesota Hockey’s Board of Directors.
Swenson wants this trend to continue growing, not just to see the number of players rise, but to reward players for committing to a healthy lifestyle.
“I’m hoping employers think about that a little more,” Swenson adds. “It’s not just softball leagues anymore. There are recreational hockey opportunities out there for adults.”
Hilary McNeish, a longtime player, ambassador, and current executive director of the Women’s Association of Colorado Hockey, says she sees the positive results in women’s hockey every day.
“There are so many benefits,” says McNeish, “but the quote I hear most from ladies is: ‘It’s like working out a lot, but it’s so fun, it doesn’t feel like working out!’”
Aside from the physical health gains, there’s also a mental side to the story that’s special to hockey players.
“There are so many positive experiences that come with it,” adds McNeish. “Being able to play a sport that so many deem difficult is also great for the mind and wonderful for your personal attitude.
“It’s great to see the looks from people when you can say, ‘I play hockey’”
