5 Cool Facts to Keep in Mind While Watching the NHL Playoffs
Hockey fans, we are down the final four teams! Every player is keenly aware that his moves on the ice could make or break his chances to hoist the Stanley Cup high into the air. As you settle in with your beverage of choice and watch the countdown to the ultimate winner of the 2016 NHL playoffs, we thought you might be interested in reading these 5 facts about hockey and the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Fact #1: Die-hard hockey fans may not like this fact, but hockey is only the sixth most popular sport in the United States, at least if you believe the results of a Harris study from 2014. Take heart, though. Hockey has been steadily climbing in popularity over the past three decades. The same can’t be said for men’s and women’s golf, or baseball.
Fact #2: You’ll often see your favorite NHL players flipping their mouthguards out of frustration, intensity or just plain habit. Interestingly, the mouthguards aren’t just there to protect the teeth. They are also shock absorbers to prevent concussions and/or lessen a concussion-causing force. Concussions are a serious reality for hockey players who are in such a notably high-collision sport.
Fact #3: His real name was Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston, Earl of Derby, but he is just called “Lord Stanley” to hockey fans. Born in 1841, he bought a trophy in 1892 for about $50, stating that it was to be passed along to hockey teams that won, but never kept permanently by any team. His dream was achieved, but the cup you see today isn’t the original model. That’s kept under lock and key because it’s become too fragile. The Stanley Cup we know and love is really called the Presentation Cup behind the scenes. Oh, and there’s a third Stanley Cup, an exact replica of the Presentation Cup. It sits in the Hockey Hall of Fame when the Presentation Cup isn’t available.
Fact #4: Half of the final four NHL playoff teams are HydroWorx customers: The Lightning and the Pens. This means they have at least one advanced therapy pool to use for rehab, cross-training, or recovery. Could this be a secret weapon? After all, this pro hockey player from Bloomington, MN, swears by his off-season conditioning workouts in ACCUA PT’s HydroWorx.
Fact #5: Speaking of getting hurt, it happens regularly to pro hockey players. The most common body parts that are injured, according to a four-year study of a Swiss Professional Hockey Team, are the knees and shoulders. Contusions, sprains and strains were among the highest incidents of moderate to severe injury. This isn’t a shocker for anyone who understands that hockey players commonly hit speeds that would get them ticketed in a residential neighborhood. Again, innovative rehab techniques, such as aquatic therapy modalities, can return a player to the ice sooner.
There you have it – some hockey facts that will help you start conversations or at least add to the banter during the next game. Enjoy the playoffs as we see which team can bring home the Cup!
To learn more about how aquatic therapy impacts rehabilitation, download this tip sheet>>
