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PacificSport Northern BC had always wanted to work with the Prince George Cougars. In 2008, they got their chance. 

PacificSport Northern BC is one of eight regional centers across BC. They are the leading high performance delivery agency in British Columbia and knowing that the Cougars were among the highest-level athletes in the region made the match appealing.

Off-ice training for hockey players has certainly changed over the years. Gone are the days when players would spend an entire summer relaxing at the beach and hanging out with family and friends. “The Cougars today have it much different than the Cougars of say, 10 years ago” says Kimberly Robinson the Regional Coordinator of PacificSport Northern BC. “The athlete has evolved.  A lot of that has to do with the research that has gone into being an athlete.”  Robinson says “when you get to the level of hockey that Cougars are at, you need to be training 365 days a year in order to be at your top performance when you go into training camp. You have to be in your top physical state when you get to training camp in order to focus on technique and skills, and that will carry you through the year.”

In other words, gone are the days when training camp was a tool to get you in shape.

Cougars Head Coach Drew Schoneck admits that his generation had it a little easier than the current crop of junior hockey players. “I finished in 89, and only then were players really starting to get into skating all year round. You just can’t get away with that anymore, if you tried pulling what we did, you would get left behind really fast.”

The Cougars know that hard work this summer will pay dividends next season. “We need to be stronger. As a younger team we lost some of the one-on-one battles last season. Being stronger will help us win more of the battles in the corner” said Schoneck.

Schoneck and General Manager Dallas Thompson made it known to the players that they will be competing for roster spots this coming season and that there is a level of fitness that will be expected when the players report to training camp in late August.

“By coming to camp in shape, it really allows us as a staff to get the most out of training camp. There will be a certain focus on conditioning, but for the most part it really allows us to get right into it and make the most of the time we have in camp.”

The players are expected to submit results to Cougars management every two weeks over the summer. When the players return to Prince George in August, PacificSport Northern BC will put those results to the test. Robinson said “knowing that they will be tested upon their return will keep them motivated for their training.”

The goal for Robinson and the rest of the PacificSport Northern BC team is to work with the entire Cougars performance enhancing team including the trainers, the physio group, coaching staff and management.  Together, the group will follow a plan to assist and motivate the players to ensure they continue to improve their technical skills and reach the highest fitness level possible. 

Robinson realizes the Cougars are at a level where winning matters.  Ultimately, this program will help the team where it matters most, the win column in 2008-2009 season, and beyond.