Strength and conditioning coach Anthony Morando watches sophomore Nick Roberto hitting the weights
College
hockey season begin in early October and, if a team manages to reach the Frozen
Four, doesn’t conclude until mid-April. When the games are over, the “other
season” begins, when the emphasis shifts to the training room where the goals
are to build strength, speed and endurance.
At BU, those
efforts are directed by strength and conditioning coach Anthony Morando, a
disciple of legendary BU strength and conditioning coach and innovator Mike Boyle. And they’re conducted in BU’s 12,000
square-foot, state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility, built with contributions from
numerous ex-Terriers including Jay Pandolfo, Chris Drury, Keith Tkachuk, Rick
DiPietro, Ryan Whitney and Tom Poti.
Last week,
Morando’s “other season” regimen for the Terriers was the subject of a USCHO feature article, in which Morando explains that “Our
goal is to get down to an individual level and make sure nobody ever outworks
us.” He also discusses his recent opportunity to work with his counterparts from the San Jose Sharks.
Q. Is there a single area that most
freshmen need to address when they arrive at BU?
A. The one
area as a whole that the freshmen need to know is that their role on this team
is just as important as a senior’s role is. We all work together to accomplish
one goal, and that is a championship. Every freshman immediately knows when
they arrive that in order to accomplish the ultimate goal (championship), they
need to excel not only in hockey, but in school, the dining hall, the weight
room, and outside of school. Everything has a purpose. They eat with a purpose,
study with a purpose, train with a purpose, and play with a purpose.
Q. Over the years we've seen some
skilled players make significant improvements in skating speed that helped them
become standouts. Mike Grier, Jay Pandolfo and Nick Bonino, to name a few. How
do you help them improve that part of their game (assuming you don’t use the
catch-the-chicken method from Rocky 2)?
A. Well,
unfortunately in the city of Boston you won’t find too many live chickens
running around. Mickey said in Rocky 2,
“Rock you need greasy lightning fast speed.” We don’t chase the chickens. The
boys squat, they deadlift, pull sleds, push sleds, and then they sprint. The whole
purpose of incorporating resistance training is to create more force
production. The more forceful an athlete can be, the more speed he is capable
of having. There any several opinions and exercises out there that are always
compared on which is better, what idea is better etc. If speed is the goal for
an athlete, then they need to lift hard with fundamental approaches and
excellent technique, as the same for their conditioning program. We sprint on
the field, we run on the treadmills, we sprint up hills, and we sprint short
distances. Hockey is a fast game. It possess several different types of
movements, and places demands upon several energy systems within the human body; we train it all!
Q. Adding bulk is another issue some
players face. What are some of the techniques for helping them achieve that?
A. It is
certain that some players need to gain weight. The term “bulk” can be taken in
more than one context. This kid needs to “bulk up” is usually how it is said.
The word bulk, to me as a strength and conditioning coach, means “he needs to
put weight on.” Gaining weight requires three things: lifting, eating, and more
eating. Not only does the athlete need to train, but nutrition will be 90% of
what he does. If the athlete needs to gain weight the correct way, he will have
to work just as hard as an athlete who needs to lose weight. Quality foods,
quality carbohydrates, fats, and proteins all have to be consumed. So, when we
need to add “bulk,” our goal is to add muscle, not fat. A small amount of body
fat will be added; sure, it always does when it comes to gaining weight. We want to make sure the athlete has a quality weight gain, which will not compromise speed or skill.
Q. In Scott Weighart’s book, Burn the
Boats , he described how the Terriers regularly went for a 5-Mile run along the
Charles. Is that something still done or would you like to implement it?
A. To answer
the question I will first begin by saying that “I am all about tradition, and
when I was a kid, BU not only won consistently, but they hammered teams
for all three periods of a game”. In order to bring this back, and in order to
have a team that outworks everyone, and anyone they need to be healthy. The 5-mile
river run does not fit into our program for a few reasons. We do run, but not
for that duration. The longest we will run will be for a 3-mile run around
campus and a portion of the river. Long distance running for a lot of these
athletes on the men’s ice hockey team will compromise their ability to perform
on the ice. Some athletes can’t handle the friction of ground impact. Some have
shin splints that reoccur. Some have a past knee issue, or a hip issue. Some
have low back pain and if they run a long distance, they become symptomatic. The
team is healthy; but they are healthy because their programs are
individualized, and there is great attention to detail. I always seek a purpose that
will benefit within the translation to the ice. Team building is something we do--in and out of the weight room. I
incorporate team-building in several other different ways, and incorporate
specific long bouts of conditioning that will not compromise their joints, and
will sustain their positive affect on the ice. In order to win, we need all
hands on deck and we need to be healthy.
“He’d be fun
to coach for a long period of time. He’s so talented, a great kid. I think he’s
developed some leadership skills. High-level skater; he’d probably be a top-10
skater in the NHL right now. His skating is effortless. He’s fun to watch and a
fun kid to be around.”
Eichel skated
for Team USA in the 2014 World Junior Championships as an under-ager, scoring a
goal and four assists.
● NBC Sports
report
● Eichel video highlights
from 2014 WJCs.
ESPN’s Corey
Pronman reviewed the evaluation camp performances of Eichel and uncommitted U18
forward Auston Matthews in an Insider
Report.
Looking back
In four
varsity seasons, the left-shot center score 138 points (61G, 77A) and captained
the 1989-90 squad that reached the NCAA Final Four in a dramatic
post-season run. He went on to tally 136 points in an 11-year NHL
career.
● Video:
Sullivan scores
shorthanded to tie Northeastern with 3 minutes remaining in regulation in
the Beanpot semifinal. BU would win in overtime.
● Video:
Sullivan and Tony Amonte score third-period goals to
lead BU past Michigan State in the NCAA quarterfinals.
Former Terrier captain and U.S. Olympian Kevin Shattenkirk discussed his disappointment at the Blues' playoff exit and his optimism that team chemistry and added talent will have St. Louis back in the hunt for the Stanley Cup.
Former Terrier captain and U.S. Olympian Kevin Shattenkirk discussed his disappointment at the Blues' playoff exit and his optimism that team chemistry and added talent will have St. Louis back in the hunt for the Stanley Cup.
Looking ahead
SB Nation’s
Jeff Cox reports that BU 2015 recruit Liam Coughlin, a left-wing from South
Boston and Catholic Memorial, is expected to return to the BCHL's Vernon Vipers for a
second season. The former All-Scholastic at Catholic Memorial scored 45 points
(18G, 27A) in 53 games with the Vipers. Cox tweeted: “Per two sources the USHL
is still a possibility for Liam Coughlin but as of now he has been added to the
Vernon roster and is expected to play in the BCHL.”
● Vipers Blog
report
2015 recruit
Maxim Letunov chats with Youngstown coach Anthony Noreen at the Phantoms summer
golf outing. The 6-2, left-shot center
from Moscow was selected in the second round--#52 overall—by St. Louis in the
2014 NHL Entry Draft. Letunov, who rang up 43 points in his first USHL season,
will be joined on the Phantoms next season by 2016 recruit Vas Kolias.
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