Wolves’ trainer sets off for U-17 Hockey Challenge

For any young hockey player, getting the call to play for the provincial team is a coveted honour. And for those who have helped those players get there.

Dan Buckland, athletic therapist for the Sudbury Wolves, is joining rookies Brody Silk and Mathew Campagna at the 2011 U-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg, Man., from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4.

This is Buckland’s second trip to the world competition. Last year, he accompanied Wolves defenseman Justin Sefton to the same event, where Team Ontario took the silver medal in Timmins.

Much like the players, Buckland said he has a gold medal in his sights this year.

“(I’m looking forward to) a chance to go back and win it this year rather than coming in second. It’s still the same feeling, as a trainer or coach, I’m sure as what the players go through, where you’re that close, and you’re hoping there’s a chance to walk away with a gold medal, but you get that opportunity taken away.”

Over the past few seasons, Buckland has been a familiar face amongst the bench staff for elite junior hockey events.

When the Subway Super Series made its way to Sudbury in November, he was behind the bench — his second Super Series event. He’s also been the athletic therapist for an OHL All-Star Classic.

He said being a part of these events is a whole new experience.

“It’s just a different atmosphere in the change room,” he said.

“You have 20 guys coming in and they’re all competing, trying to make Team Canada’s World Junior team. They’re all very professional about it. We’re only here if they absolutely need something.”

While he was completing his degree in athletic therapy at McMaster University, the Guelph native worked with the school’s football and wrestling programs for two years. He also helped out the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats for training camp.

After graduating from Sheridan College’s massage therapy program, Buckland took a post with the OHL’s Guelph Storm. The 31-year-old trainer joined the Wolves in the 2007-2008 season, when an opportunity arose to work full time in the OHL.

“I got into athletic therapy with the idea that I wanted to work with athletes in general,” he said. “Through placements at school, it sort of steered me in this direction.”

As part of his job, Buckland is at the arena each morning before the team arrives, getting everything set up for the “breakfast club,” or morning training session. After practice, he takes care of the laundry and gets set up for the afternoon session.

His schooling comes into play when one of the players sustains an injury.
“(My job) encompasses everything from the initial injury on the ice straight through to having that player return to a game or competitive situation,” he said.

He also deals with every day “aches and pains,” helps the players get stretched out, and does massage therapy as well.

When a player goes down on the ice, Buckland is the first person to rush to the player’s side. “It’s one of those positions where your adrenaline kicks up, but you can’t show that.If somebody is on the ice and they’re severely hurt and see me starting to panic, they get more panicked. You have to be relaxed about it and realize that blood’s just blood.

“I always joke with the guys, if there wasn’t an injury or there wasn’t somebody going down on the ice every so often, there would be no reason for me to have a job,” he added with a laugh.

During his three years with the Wolves, Buckland said the team has been relatively lucky in terms of major injuries.

“We had one spinal boarding since I’ve been here and it actually wasn’t one of our players,” he said.

He said one of the most interesting parts of the job is that the injuries he deals with from season to season are different.

Dealing with players who are eager to return to action after an injury, Buckland said he has to keep it realistic for them.

“It’s as simple as telling them they can’t do it, or you put them in a specific scenario where they all of a sudden realize, ‘No, I can’t do this, and if I can’t do this, I’m not functional to the team.’”

Team Ontario takes on Slovakia tonight at 7:30 p.m.