Welcome to Episode 24 of True North Strong: A Sports Performance Podcast. Join me this episode as I catch up with Jennifer, Love who is the Head Athletic Therapist of the Sarnia Sting Hockey Club in the Ontario Hockey League.

We dig into Jennifer's journey into the Athletic Therapy field and her role with the Sting. We discuss some of the performance gaps that she has seen in her 3 years with the Sting as young players enter the Ontario Hockey League and how performance coaches can help them prepare for the physical and emotional side of playing in the OHL. We chat about some of the performance testing they do, as well as how she works with the Strength and Conditioning Coach during the return to play process when injuries occur. We also have fun with some of the things she didn't expect to be part of the role, like assisting with equipment, laundry and even being a part of player's pre-game rituals!

This is such a great discussion for those working with hockey players with aspirations of playing in the OHL/CHL as well as practitioners who are working towards a career in high-level hockey. Make sure to check out Jennifer on Instagram @lovefitnesstrainingat as she shares a ton of insights into her role with the Sting.