Stretching routine helps keep Havlat from injury bug_StarTrib

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/61941317.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUBP7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Quote :

Martin Havlat, known for being injury-prone early in his career, has had a healthy first training camp with the Wild.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

So far in training camp, the Wild has been hit by a pandemic.

The dreaded groin injury seems to be circulating from player to player, with defenseman Kim Johnsson appearing as if he was the latest to be struck by the contagious ailment Friday in Chicago.

But one player who has avoided the injury thus far is Martin Havlat.

As Havlat says, "Knock on wood."

After problems earlier in Havlat's career, he seems to have solved the issue. Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach John Torchetti said he thinks he knows why.

"Nobody prepares before a game or a practice more than 'Grizzly,'" Torchetti said of Havlat. "His prepractice and pregame stretch is one of the most intense things I've ever seen. Forty minutes, and it's more rigorous than most people's workouts."

While some players do some quick stretching and then hop on the ice, Havlat commits himself to showing up well before practices and games. In an attempt to survive practices or games injury-free, Havlat then puts himself through his sweat-filled regimen.

"It's a warmup, to make sure I'm warm," Havlat said. "Basically, I'm doing everything I can not to get hurt. Some injuries are unfortunate. The impact injuries, you can't avoid. But I believe the small ones, you can avoid if you're warm."

After warming up, though, Havlat said it's important he hits the ice right away. For that reason, Wild coach Todd Richards likely will hold most meetings well before practices or games, or after practices.

"If you cool down, you can get hurt, so if possible, I like to practice or play right away," Havlat said. "I just do a lot of movement exercises. My body has to do some stuff to get ready for the ice. Everybody's different. I have my routine. Others have other routines. Everybody knows what they need to do to get ready."

Asked if Torchetti's claim of 40 minutes of the toughest pregame routine imaginable is accurate, Havlat said, "Noooooooooo."

He then smiled: "Twenty-five minutes."

I need the details on his stretching routing, I've been pretty banged up from hockey lately.

We heard stuff like this on Gabby, such as his groin masseuse...

Use the Ovechkin routine it loosens you up and helps you play better.

TaLoN wrote:

We heard stuff like this on Gabby, such as his groin masseuse...

Notice when his masseuse err i mean Demetra is gone he gets injured.

I don't know why this is such a big deal. Stretching helps prevent injury? OMG, what a shocker!?!?

KillerCarlson wrote:

I don't know why this is such a big deal. Stretching helps prevent injury? OMG, what a shocker!?!?

From what I got from that he takes it to a whole nother level just to be on par (injury resistant-wise) with the rest of the players. Not a big deal but perhaps a good reason as to why he has remained relatively healthy over the last 18 months