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AHL Utica Comets

Comet Tales: Meet Dustin Flynn

January 10, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


Comets' trainer Dustin Flynn is an important member of the the American Hockey League club operating at The AUD.  If you have any questions on just how important Dustin is to the players off the ice, go ahead, ask the players and coaching staff - they'll tell you.

Flynn is seen by many but remembered by few, during any Comets game.  It is the Lancaster, New Hampshire native's sole responsibility to keep the players in the best possible competing condition, medically speaking.  When hired by the Vancouver Canucks, after spending last season as the head athletic trainer with the Peoria Rivermen (then AHL affiliate for the St. Louis Blues), they knew what a well experienced, one-man medic they were getting.

Although his daily work assignments have become routine, Flynn's work and care administered to Comets players is anything but typical.  "I'm usually in (The AUD) by 6:30- 7:00am.  I set up the equipment I'll use, and the room.  The whirlpool gets filled up with ice for the players set for treatments," says Flynn, who as the trainer for the 2011-12 ECHL Florida Everblades collected a championship ring, as the team won the Kelly Cup.

The more Flynn talks about the responsibilities of being an AHL trainer, the more you want to ask  if you could lend a hand.  Along with keeping the team in top playing condition, the less attractive requirements have to be mastered by Flynn.  When individuals are summoned for advanced testing such as undergoing an MRI, there's the all important paperwork to be completed, properly and promptly.  "The required doctor, x-ray, and New York State workers compensation forms have to be taken care of."

From his computer, Flynn records injury notes and insurance information, and passes along these vital trainer's statistics to the Vancouver Canucks' medical staff, as well as to the Canucks General Manager Michael D. Gillis.  "There's quite a bit to do.  The ice and bandages are the easy things; the nicks here and there.  The injury tracking are what we went over real well in college," Flynn said.

Credentials  Flynn has: First came the Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training from Springfield (MA) College, followed with a Master's earned in Exercise & Sports Science at Ithaca College.  Then, there was the experience gained as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at RPI in Troy, NY.

Flynn tells, when those looking for a future with a professional sports franchise in a position such as his, the minimum requirement are a certification as an athletic trainer.  "Today, the field is leaning towards a master's degree, as a minimum."

As busy as Flynn is, and does an admirable job is minimizing how much of a busy one-man team he is, he labels his system as "pretty simple".  Dustin must keep the Comets' coaching staff and Canucks hierarchy up-to-date on an injury status, and the player's progression.  "It definitely keeps me busy," Flynn tells of his job title.  "In the NHL, you have two, sometimes three guys working with the players.  Here the guys understand and wait their time."

Why hockey and not baseball or another sport to work behind-the-scenes in for Flynn?  "I grew up playing hockey.  When I was five years-old, hockey was the first sport I played.  When I was a senior in college (Springfield), I did an internship with the Springfield Falcons (AHL) and really enjoyed it," Flynn, who splits half of his year living in Los Angeles with his wife Nancy, explains.

After having a rewarding time learning the trainer's creed in Western Massachusetts, landing a position with the Florida Everblades located between Naples and Ft. Myers, really was enjoyable.  "I wasn't used to getting up at 6am and going to the rink in shorts, in January," Flynn states.  Oh, and the Kelly Cup ring that he earned, it's here in Central New York with Flynn.  "It's in a dresser drawer in my apartment," confesses Flynn.  At the time of capturing the Kelly Cup, Florida had a duel affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning.

As far as there being any difference in working as a head athletic trainer in the ECHL and AHL prior to coming to Utica, Flynn rates his responsibilities as much the same.  "In the AHL, things are a little more stable, team-wise.  Occasionally guys would get called up to St. Louis.  In the ECHL, with a duel affiliation, there was more player movement," Flynn recalls.

As for Flynn's wife Nancy, the two can easily talk shop, or bring their work home and fully understand challenges brought up.  For the past five years, since January 2009, Nancy Flynn has been the assistant athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  At the dinner table, it may well be common that names such as (arguably Major League Baseball's best pitcher) Clayton Kershaw, (Dodgers Head Coach) Don Mattingly, Darren Archibald and Colin Stuart all come up.  In February, when the hockey season is in mid-season form, Nancy Flynn heads to spring training.

How does an east coast-west coast marriage work for the Flynns?  "It's a challenge. Our seasons overlap a little.  Nancy will go back in less than a month.  When our (Comets) season is over, I'll go to LA.  This is all we have known.  We're passionate about what we do.  I watch a lot of baseball from Dodger Stadium," Flynn said.

For now, Dustin and Nancy are living in Clinton, a place they have really grown to appreciate.  " I like the small town feel and it's fairly quiet," Dustin states.

From working with the football team and women's ice hockey squads at RPI before entering grad school, to mending and taping Comets in Utica, Dustin Flynn continues to improve his resume, and his march to the NHL .  So, when you see Flynn on the Comets' bench or coming to an injured player on the ice, remember, he's the guy who has been up and at work way before most of the fans looking on had their breakfast.

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