With hockey season quickly approaching, the team’s pre-season training has taken off in full swing, but this year, new head coach Chad Berman has put a spin on how he plans to get the hockey team back in shape. From now on, the entire hockey team will endure a vigorous spin class once a week at the Student Recreation center.
“I wanted to add variety to our workouts to avoid things feeling stale,” Berman said.
Due to the Tucson Convention Center being under construction, the Wildcats have to overcome the limited amount of ice time they normally have early in the season. Berman has created workouts to compensate for the time that is missed. The team has participated in an assortment of off-the-ice workouts from sprints on the soccer field to one-hour spin classes.
“Spin class is a great hockey-specific work out, especially because it can be done in a way that simulates a typical hockey shift in a game, which typically… lasts 45 seconds,” Berman said. “So a good way to train for hockey is in short sprint burst[s], which can be accomplished on the bikes. Hockey is all about strength and endurance in your legs and spin class improves that.”
The hockey team enjoys Berman’s wide variety of workouts because it keeps things fresh. No one likes conditioning, but it has to be done.
“With coach Berman adding a spin class to our workout regimen, it will definitely benefit us when the season starts,” forward Dylan Carter said. “Spinning is a tremendous workout for hockey. It’s great for conditioning the legs and simulating a shift on the ice.”
Berman wants team building to be a big emphasis for this year. Besides getting the team back into shape, Berman has ulterior motives in making the players participate in spin class.
“Spin class brings a unique way to work out together and it forces them to go through the pain together,” Berman said. “Team building is a big emphasis for us this year. We also intend to do a ropes course together, as well as plan a trip to go on a hike together somewhere in Tucson.”
Berman wanted to narrow down the team to a group of guys who really wanted to be a part of the Arizona hockey program. He wants things to feel new and different this season, and Berman believes he has found a squad that can give him what he need. The team already has positive feedback about the “Berman Workouts.”
“Spin class was difficult, specifically when we had to maintain the rotations per minute at the correct resistance on the bike pedals,” junior right wing Jake Campbell said. “But having your team there makes it easier and a better environment, especially ‘cause we have been pushing each other since we first came together.”
—Follow Zoe Wolkowitz @zowolko
