Hockey players take to the ice for game one in the Athletes Fuel Cup Series. It's team Schaafsma vs team Griffith. August 2, 2016. Hockey players take to the ice for game one in the Athletes Fuel Cup Series. It's team Schaafsma vs team Griffith. August 2, 2016.
Chatham

NHLers Shift Gears For Season

Summer is drawing to a close, and that means local NHLers are making final preparations for the coming season.

TJ Brodie of the Calgary Flames, and Boston Bruins forward Seth Griffith have been training with Athletes Fuel Strength and Conditioning in Chatham. Athletes Fuel Owner Colin Roeszler says they've moved past mass building, and are now preparing to get back on the ice.

"We're now conditioning for the sport. So we'll do interval-based things on a slideboard or the bike," says Roeszler. "Condition the legs for the sport, and for the quad fatigue they'll get in their preseason. That way their legs will be ready to go."

Roeszler also addressed the changing landscape of the NHL, the move from strong bruisers to faster and more skilled athletes. While the game is getting faster, Roeszler adds a larger player like Griffith, is actually one of the more explosive players he's seen.

"Seth has come along way. He's kind of a bigger, bolder type of guy. He's not necessarily slimmed down, but he's become more athletic over the last three or four weeks. He's very explosive and has a quick change of directions," says Roeszler.

Brodie and Griffith will head to training camp in mid-September, while Roeszler says his OHL pupils will wrap up training at the end of next month.

RELATED: Brodie, Griffith, And Schaafsma Are Back Home

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