Jan. 10, 2007

Western Michigan sophomore forward Jeff LoVecchio has been exposed to what it takes to be conditioned to play hockey at a high level since second grade when he appeared in GMC truck commercials with New York Rangers Brendan Shanahan. The Chesterfield, Missouri, native is considered one of the best-conditioned athletes on the Broncos team. To learn how LoVecchio trains both on and off the ice, read his story "Training to be a Champion."

Training to be a Champion
By Jeff LoVecchio

Playing Division I college hockey is not as easy as it looks.

It may come as a surprise to many the discipline and commitment required to be at the top of our game. There are many different sacrifices involved in keeping our bodies in top shape to compete at this level. To get the most out of your body you have to train extremely hard and feed it the right fuel. The body needs to recover as fast as possible, because often you have to turn around and train even harder the next day.

While other students on campus make it a habit to stay out late during the week, we call it an early night because of a morning workout the next day. While other people our age indulge in their favorite beverages, we are drinking protein shakes, sports drinks, and water trying to re-hydrate and refuel our bodies for the next day of intense training.

Every summer since I was seventeen years old, I have worked out six days a week. Not entirely because I want to, although I do enjoy it, but because I know that every other player I'm competing against is doing it too. I try to live by the motto: "If you're not getting better each day, then you're getting worse." The fear of falling behind and the confidence garnered from the hours of intense training, push us to work harder in the weight room, on the track, or on the ice.

I train as hard as my body will allow me to during the summer. This involves lifting weights, riding the stationary bike, climbing ladders, taking part in agility drills, balance work, short sprints, long sprints, running hills, rollerblading, plyometrics, hitting the speed treadmill and other exercises assigned by our trainers. I am probably at the gym, along with my teammates, for at least two hours a day lifting, doing some sort of cardiovascular exercise or stretching. As soon as I'm finished, I go home and cook up a massive amount of food to replenish the calories lost during the workout. This helps in the area of muscle building and weight gain.

I room with some of my teammates, so we will work together cooking up an assortment of proteins, carbohydrates and vegetables. I've learned that the sooner you get those calories into your body after a workout, the more you benefit from it. Typically after cooking and working out, everyone is tired, so we'll relax for a few hours watching a movie or napping.

On some days my work still is not done. I usually try and skate three to four times a week during the summer, because as every hockey player knows, there is no substitute for being on the ice. I'll round up as many guys as I can for a scrimmage or if need be, go to the rink alone and shoot pucks until my hands hurt.

After an on-ice workout, it's time for a healthy meal for dinner. We take turns splitting up the cooking chores. A couple hours later, we have a healthy snack or a meal replacement shake and then it's off to bed to begin the whole process over again the next day.