Featuring John Worley, Head Athletic Trainer, Minnesota Wild
John Worley is in his 17th season as an Athletic Trainer with the Minnesota Wild. Prior to joining Minnesota, he spent five years as Manager of Sports Medicine Services at Rothman Institute Orthopedics in Philadelphia and 16 years with the Philadelphia Flyers, including 10 seasons as Head Athletic Trainer. He most recently served as Athletic Trainer for the Gold Medal winning U.S. Men’s National Team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina and helped Team USA earn a Silver Medal at the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament.
PHATS: Athletic trainers spend a lot of time solving problems on the fly. What’s something the job has taught you about staying calm or adapting in high-pressure situations?
JW: I’m fortunate that this is part of my DNA and my demeanor. In this role, you need confidence, composure, and a strong support system to help guide you through the difficult decision-making process.
PHATS: Over the years, the profession has evolved quite a bit. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in athletic training in the NHL?
JW: One of the biggest changes I’ve seen is how much more proactive and collaborative our approach has become within our staffs. This includes continued communication with physicians, performance staff and the coaching and management staff. Overall, the role has expanded beyond treating injuries to being an integral part of optimizing player health, performance, and longevity.
PHATS: This year, you reached the 2,000-game milestone! After being part of 2,000 NHL games, what is something about the game of hockey that you still appreciate every time you step into the rink?
JW: THE PLAYERS!!
PHATS: Looking back over your career, is there something about the profession that you appreciate more now than you did earlier on?
JW: What I appreciate most now is the relationships and the opportunity to be something bigger than oneself. Earlier in my career, the focus was on the day-to-day demands of the job, but over time I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the people, the players, the staff, peers, support system, and the trust that’s built over years of working together. Being a part of a team, traveling internationally, and contributing to both individual careers and collective success has been meaningful as time has gone on.
PHATS: For those just starting out as athletic trainers in professional hockey, what is the best piece of advice you were given early in your career?
JW: One of the best pieces of advice I was given early on was to be a great people person, passionate, and an advocate for your players. Build trust by being consistent, prepared and honest with players, staff and understand that relationships are as important as clinical skills.
PHATS: What year did you first attend the PHATS/SPHEM Conference? For someone attending the Hockey Summit for the first time, what would you encourage them to take advantage of?
JW: My first PHATS/SPHEM Conference was 1993. I would recommend taking advantage of all the education opportunities that are extended to you, building relationships among your peers at all levels, also engaging with the exhibitors as a way to continually advance our profession, and grow as ice hockey athletic trainers.
PHATS: The exhibit hall is always a big part of the conference. Over the years, have you discovered any products, tools, or ideas there that ended up becoming staples in your day-to-day work?
JW: Over the years, I’ve found the exhibit hall to be extremely impactful because it provides the opportunity to see new products, devices, and equipment that we can add to our player-care toolbox.
PHATS: Congratulations on Team USA’s Gold Medal! You’ve spent most of your career in the NHL environment. Does working at the Olympics change the way you view the game, your profession, or high-performance sport in general?
JW: Working at the Olympics absolutely gives you a different perspective. While the foundation of it remains the same, the scale, intensity and pride associated with representing your country elevates everything. Working with world-class athletes in a condensed time frame which reinforces the importance of preparation, collaboration, and adaptability. This is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do!
PHATS: Can you describe the feeling of hearing the National Anthem and watching the American Flag raised for Team USA?
JW: SURREAL!!!
PHATS: Tell us a little about yourself outside of hockey — your family, hobbies, and what you enjoy doing when you’re not at the rink.
JW: Family is everything!! My career has become part of our family, and this profession has made it work for us. Our summers together are the best!!
All photos courtesy of John Worley.
Tony Da Costa, Head Equipment Manager, Minnesota Wild
SPHEM: What got you started in the equipment profession and how did you get your start in Professional Hockey.
TD: When I was 13 the Winnipeg Jets practices were open to the public. I would go all the time and I met Pat O?Neil who was the Assistant Equipment Manager for the Jets. I would ask him if I could help and I just started going to as many practices and games that I could. I never would?ve thought that I would be doing this for a living. I wanted to play in the NHL like every other Canadian kid. I just kept working my way up from dressing room attendant and then becoming one of the Assistants for the Jets.
SPHEM: Tell us about your time with Winnipeg when the team moved to Phoenix. What was something you learned being part of that transition that has helped you since.
TD: I was fortunate to be part of the staff from Winnipeg to move with the team to Phoenix. We weren?t an expansion team but it was a new NHL team start up. This definitely helped me when I got the Head Equipment job in Minnesota.
SPHEM: You?ll reach 2,000 games this year, congratulations! What does this accomplishment mean to you?
TD: The biggest thing in reaching 2000 games is that you have to love doing what you do. I have a real passion for hockey and I still love doing what I do.
SPHEM: You gave us a tour of your new practice facility last year. After some time in the new space what improvements have you found the most beneficial?
TD: The biggest benefit is now having a place to go to everyday rather that hitting different local rinks to practice at. We move enough equipment on the road and it has been great not having to do it at home anymore.
SPHEM: Travel is such a huge part of this profession. What is one of your favorite hockey cities to visit and why?
TD: I love going to Vancouver and Montreal. They are great cities and the environment at the games is unreal.
SPHEM: What skills do you think a young equipment manager would need in today?s fast changing world of professional hockey?
TD: I think the biggest skill is to be able to be open to change and manage the different personalities of the players and management. Players need a lot more these days and that adds more pressure to the job.
SPHEM: What advice would you give your younger self if you were just starting in professional hockey?
TD: I think that if I knew earlier that this s a great career to be in I would?ve taken this job more serious earlier.
SPHEM: Do you have a professional mentor or Equipment Manager you admire?
TD: Yes I have 3 people that I look up to. Pat O?Neil because he got me into this.
Craig (Zinger) Heizinger for allowing me to grow in my job and Stan Wilson for teaching me so much and getting me ready to be a Head guy in the NHL. I learned different things from all of them.
SPHEM: What is one thing other Members would be surprised to know about you?
TD: I think that I am a hockey nerd. I watch a lot of hockey and I always know what?s going on in the league. I can?t get enough. I am also into cars ? anything that I am driving is always for sale.
Tell us about yourself, your family and your hobbies.
I think that I am an easy going person and I love to have fun. I love the pranks that go on daily and a lot of the time I am part of them.
I have been married for 22 years and with my wife June for 30 years. We have 2 daughters, Summer is in her second year of college and Rylee is in 8th grade.
I enjoy working out, golfing and riding motorcycles.
Photos courtesy of Tony Da Costa