Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Training Camps Have Changed

09/14/2018 at 8:06am EDT

from Joe McDonals of The Athletic,

NHL training​ camps have drastically​ changed​ over​ the years.

When​ he​ reported​ for​ training​​ camp, Hall of Fame goalie and one-time Bruin Rogie Vachon would run a couple of miles and then sit in the locker room and enjoy a cigar and beer. He wasn’t the only player from his era — he retired after the 1982 season — to swear by this type of regimen....

Imagine current goalie Tuukka Rask smoking and drinking after the performance testing?

“Maybe not the cigar, but maybe having a beer,” teammate Torey Krug said with a laugh. “It’s a different time. You hear war stories about the guys showing up in training camp just to get in shape and that’s not the way it goes anymore.”

When today’s players return to their respective teams in late August and early September, they’re already in outstanding physical shape after an offseason of relentless workouts on and off the ice. As a result, the actual training camp portion of the preseason is much shorter than it once was, and exhibition games begin almost immediately. Teams now have nutritionists on staff, as well as skating and skill coaches.

Puke buckets, a onetime staple, are no longer needed on the ice.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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