PHATS/SPHEM sat down with Kevin Morley, Head Athletic Trainer for the Nashville Predators serving as Athletic Trainer for Team USA, and Domenic Nicoletta, Head Athletic Therapist for the Ottawa Senators, serving as Head Athletic Therapist for Hockey Canada.  They’ve given us a behind the scenes look at the first ever Four Nations Tournament.

How much preparation did you have to do prior to the tournament?

KM: We started talking to the players directly, immediately after the team was announced.  We wanted to ensure we could continue to offer the medical treatments they were accustomed to, so that meant talking to the players and their club medical staffs to unpack exactly what each player needed. 

DN: Planning started after world championships in May. Throughout the upcoming months, we communicated with each other, the NHL and the Hockey Canada Staff about schedules, logistics, tournament rules/protocols, rosters and supplies.

What are some of the things that you had to think about ahead of time?

KM: Everything from emergency contacts, dietary allergies, medication allergies, food preferences, pre-game, in-game and post-game supplements, treatment expectations, relevant medical history and any up-to-date bumps and bruises they brought with them to the Tournament

DN: The priority was making sure the incoming athletes’ transition from their club teams to Hockey Canada was as seamless as possible. We made sure to touch base with their training, equipment and conditioning staffs so we would be prepared to help the athletes with their daily routines. We also wanted to make sure the athletes came with any supplies unique to routines. We tried to organize:

• Taping/bracing needs
• Drink/supplementation needs
• Individual therapy/treatment needs
• Warm/recovery needs
• Equipment/sharpening needs
• Apparel needs
• Individual medical needs
• Travel trunk set up
• Equipment transfer needs
• Clinic set up for the rink and hotel

Kevin, why was it important for you to work this tournament and with USA Hockey?

KM: It was the ultimate honor to be invited to represent the USA, PHATS, and the Preds on that stage.  I don’t remember the exact numbers, but I know it was something like 15+ million people watched the Final between USA and Canada. 

Dom, why was it important for you to work this tournament and with Hockey Canada?

DN:  I cannot and will not ever say no to Hockey Canada. I can say this for two reasons. The first is having the chance to work with world class athletes, coaches, management and Hockey Canada staff from all parts of Canada. They are all motivated and driven to realize the childhood dream of watching the Canadian flag rise at the end of a tournament. These relationships will last a lifetime.

The second is the experiences Hockey Canada has cultivated for my family. I will forever be in debt to Hockey Canada for how they have treated my wife and family. They have been able to see new countries, meet new people and immerse themselves into the fanfare of international hockey. The look on their faces during these tournaments is priceless.

What was your interaction with the NHL and host cities, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, to make sure the tournament would be a success?

KM: Jim Ramsay really outdid himself in Montreal. He gave his staff one simple rule: only speak French and under no circumstances help us. Oh, and let’s not forget the pièce de résistance – cold hot dogs. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to forgive him… or maybe I’ll just remember it as the best Montreal experience ever.

DN: I cannot say enough about the staffs of the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins. They were integral in the success of this tournament. Their professionalism and willingness to help with any and all tasks allowed these tournament games to run as seamlessly as regular NHL games. Their help with the equipment transfer and emergency planning alone deserves great recognition!

What were you most looking forward to?

KM: Having the best seat in the house to the fastest, and most exciting hockey games I’ve ever seen.

DN: Best on best hockey and with a great group of trainers, coaches and Hockey Canada staff!

What surprised you most about the event?

KM: The speed and execution of the games

DN: The palpable intensity and the patriotism during every shift, every battle and every anthem. The atmosphere in the Bell Centre and the TD Garden was unbelievable.

Any special memories created for you and your family?

DN: I was excited for my uncle and my son to be a part of the Canada vs. USA game in Montreal. The atmosphere in the Bell Centre was incredible and the start of the game outrageous. I am really happy they were in the building to witness the spectacle. My son said it was the best game he had ever seen.

Kevin, what did you gain from working an international tournament and working for Team USA?

KM: Relationships with staff, coaches, players I may or may not ever have interacted with otherwise. 

Dom, what did you gain from working an international tournament and working for Hockey Canada?

DN: I gained a realization of the effort and sacrifice it takes to win. The players, staff and families all share in the responsibility. Representing your country is like nothing else.

Representing Canada at the Men’s World Hockey Championships and the 4 Nations has been some of the best experiences of my life. The sense of pride I felt standing in my first completed Team Canada dressing room, surrounded by the men’s jerseys crested with the iconic maple leaf, Canadian flag overhead was overwhelming. A surreal moment I will cherish forever. A moment exceeded only by the experience of singing your national anthem arm in arm with the players, coaches, management, and training staff you have grown to admire.

Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?

DN: I would make sure my family made the entire trip. My uncle and my son were able to attend the Canada vs. USA game in Montreal. I wish my entire family was able to be in Boston to experience the final.

Any fun facts or places to visit in Boston or Montreal that you did not know before?

KM: Bill Zito took us to Roberto Luongo’s brother’s Italian restaurant outside Montreal.  I ate more that night than I have in the weeks since.  The food was amazing, and the family was so welcoming to us it was a really great experience! 

DN:  In Boston:
Gigi, a fantastic Italian restaurant. A, small rustic spot in Boston. I highly recommend.
Also, two coffee shops, George Howell and Gracenote.

In Montreal:
We had unreal seafood at Ferreira Café.
Also, some great steaks and seafood at Grinder.

Do you think we should have more international tournaments like this?

KM: I guess it depends on who you ask.  We had a great experience, despite the loss, but the players ended up with no break at all. For those in Playoff races, or in contention for the Cup, this may end up having been a missed opportunity for some R&R.  There were a bunch of injuries reported in the media, and quite a few illnesses, so I don’t think this was without risk. 

DN: Yes, absolutely.

What is the biggest difference from working daily with your NHL team to working with your country’s team for an international event?

KM: The only difference is the gravity of representing your country versus your club.  Players and staff get to represent their club for 82 (or more) games each season, versus only a handful of games every year or every few years.  I think my approach to working with a team is the same; with a focus on the player as a person first, and as a hockey player second. 

DN: The biggest difference is the weight of importance on each game because of the shortened schedule.

What were you looking forward to most about getting back to the regular NHL season?

KM: Seeing my family, my dogs, and getting some sleep!

DN: I was most looking forward to being a part of meaningful games down the stretch. Hopefully, enroute to the playoffs!

Photos courtesy of Kevin Morley & Dom Nicoletta