CARHA Hockey

There are two main reasons you should participate in the Program. They are:

1) Participate because you want to be prepared in case someone goes down on the ice.

During any given hockey game, there could be 12- 40 people on the ice or on the bench. At any point during that game, someone could possibly go down and suffer from a serious medical emergency. This has happened more than anyone would like to admit, and more likely than not, most people won’t know how to handle the situation. Think about it in whatever role you play during a game:

• Teammate – You may have your best friend playing on the same team as you, and if he collapses suddenly, do you know how you will respond to save him? You don’t want to lose him, so you should probably be trained on how to use an AED machine.
• Team Rep – You are the leader of this group of players, and you have all the power to set a plan in place! Why not learn the signs of an emergency, and train some people on your team how to handle it through a team emergency plan. Everyone will look up to you when this happens, so you may as well be prepared.
• Referee and Timekeeper – Let’s face it, there is usually a referee and timekeeper at every game played. Do you want to be that ref or timekeeper who didn’t know what to do or how to respond if someone had a heart attack during your game?

Looking at these reasons, it is pretty obvious to see that there is no harm in taking this program! You are looking out for others, and making the game we love more safe to play!

2) Participate because you want to learn more about yourself.

We all like to deny that anything could happen to us. We all feel that we are either in perfect shape, not old enough, or eat right so there is no way we can suffer an injury or a medical emergency. Let’s give our heads a shake and realize, that as we get older (everyone is getting older!) we become at a greater risk of suffering an injury or having a heart attack/stroke. Do it for yourself, find your limits, learn how to better prepare before a game to avoid suffering from anything! Let me ask you a few questions:

• Would you let your child play hockey without stretching or warming up properly?
• Why do you take your child to the hospital or doctor when he has a pain that is not normal, yet you won’t do it for yourself?
• If you need to buy your child the safest equipment on the market, why don’t you do the same for yourself?

See where I am getting at? Why can’t you do the same thing for yourself as you would do for your own child? Ego? Machismo? Let me ask you one final question:

• How much fun do you think your child will have with you if you can’t jump on the ice due to a preventable injury, or even worse, how do you think they will feel when they have to play at the outdoor rink alone, because due to the neglect of their own health, the parent is no longer with us?

For every Fit for Hockey Program CARHA Hockey operates, we break it down into two sections:

Off Ice Portion

Wellness Fair
The Wellness Fair is new to the Program and is open to the public. The goal is to give information out to anyone in attendance through the use of guest speakers, and booths where local companies can set up and demonstrate what they are doing to make hockey a safer sport.

The fair normally runs for approximately 3 hours, and includes demonstrations at booths by participating companies and organizations, a key note speaker discussing the importance of health in hockey, a panel of speakers discussing the same topic and answering questions, and plenty of handouts and prizes. The goal is to get as much information out as possible in a fun and interactive way. This may include proper stretching, proper nutrition, how to use an AED, new equipment safety, health assessment tests etc...

The Fit for Hockey Website
Also free for the public, vast amounts of information will be posted here as we receive it. A website redesign is already in progress, and will hopefully launch by the end of August. On this website you will find information on nutrition and recipes, proper training and stretching techniques, the Team Emergency Action Plan, helpful videos, and more information on how to run a Fit for Hockey Program and where they are running!

On Ice Portion

The on ice portion is where you can see how your body is actually going to react in certain situations. Depending on the municipality, the cost will vary, as well as what is included. Currently with the City of Ottawa’s Program, we are offering this for the paid portion of the program:

• 4 hours on ice training with a certified coach while wearing a heart rate monitor. This will allow you to track how your body reacts in certain game situations. You will also be taught how to warm up effectively in that 3 minute warm up you get before a game. Tips will be given on how to continue to go at full speed while putting less pressure on your body.
• 1 month gym membership at any City of Ottawa facility.
• Exclusive binder with information from all companies at the Wellness Fair, as well as extra information on how to properly put together a Team Emergency Action Plan and a First Aid Kit.
• Exclusive prize opportunities for anyone that registers, as well as possible products from any sponsors!
  • This list continues to grow as we move closer to.

On-Ice Times

Saturday    04-07-2012  8:00PM - 9:00PM   Arena-Sandy Hill Arena

Sunday      04-15-2012  8:00PM - 9:00PM   Arena-John G. Mlacak Centre

Sunday      04-22-2012  8:30PM - 9:30PM   Arena B-Kanata Recreation Complex

Sunday      04-29-2012  7:00PM - 8:00PM   Arena-Sandy Hill Arena

The partners that we have all are sharing the same concerns we do, and that is the health of adults. Some partners are on just as a local arrangement, and others are willing to help wherever we set up a program. Some of these are:

• University of Ottawa Heart Institute
• Heart and Stroke Foundation
• Prostate Cancer Canada
• Foodthought
• Ottawa Sports Performance Center

Keep checking back here for more upcoming Fit for Hockey Programs!

Coming up: 

Ottawa Fit for Hockey Wellness Fair

Times and location TBD

Key note speaker to be announced soon as well as panel. Current groups that will be in attendance are: Ottawa Sport Performance Centre, Prostate Cancer Canada, Ottawa Public Health, Ottawa Paramedics, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Heart and Stroke Foundation.

If you would like more information, or are interested in participating in the program as a participant or partner, please contact Mike Ostrom at mostrom@carhahockey.ca.

It is always good to be prepared, and what better way than by filling out our simple Team Emergency Action Plan. You can download the document here (PDF).

CARHA Hockey is working together with Korey Kealey from Foodthought and Enerjive to deliver many delicious recipes and meal plans to ensure you are eating properly. They will be focused on hockey players and would look at what meals would be good before games to ensure you are as prepared as possible, and what meals post game will let you recover the best. Please see some great recipes below, and keep checking back for more!

Apple Pie Smoothie

Apple Sauce Energy Bars

Apricot Apple Muffins

Berry Creamy Smoothie

Carrot Pineapple Muffins

Crock-Pot Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

Low Fat Banana Bread

Natural Sports Drink

Peanut Butter and Banana Treats

Rainbow Muffins

Tropical Smoothie

If you have any questions, ideas, partnership requests, or would like to run a Fit for Hockey program in your community, please contact Mike Ostrom at mostrom@carhahockey.ca.