NAHL Springfield Jr. Blues

Volunteer Spotlight: Strength Coach Wayne Carrels

Published on December 12, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Springfield Jr. Blues News Release


When you talk about a committed Volunteer, Jr. Blues strength coach Wayne Carrels is one of the first to come to mind. Wayne's goal is to get the players in such good shape that they never "feel tired". Every Tuesday and Thursday, Jr. Blues players enthusiastically spend some quality time with Wayne at his new gym on 3430 Constitution Drive in Springfield called H.I.P.E, which stands for High Intensity Pr! actical Exercise. He trains with a variety of home-made training devices-some of which were designed specifically with hockey players in mind-.Wayne also teaches the players to think differently about their training style, equipment, nutritional habits and attitude. The training has paid off. The Jr. Blues are currently in second place in the Central Division and have a chance to do something no other North American Hockey League team has ever done. That is, go from being a last place team to a first place team in one year!

"These guys keep me young", says Wayne. "They challenge and stretch me to be a better trainer. They are so much more focused than most of my other students because their only reason to be here is to play hockey. My workouts have to satisfy those who want more speed as well as others who want more strength". When asked if he could see the results, Carrels states, "I can see them maturing on the ice. The "puppy" faces are gone and they are totally committed to lay it all on the line for the team".

Coach Chris Wyler is another that is impressed with Wayne. " Wayne's helping our team and program tremendously, states Wyler. " His enthusiasm is contagious, but more importantly we can see his efforts in the players show up in the late stages of games. Our players are staying stronger physically and mentally until the final whistle blows". Assistant coach Eric Ballard agrees. "Wayne is as dedicated and goal-driven as anyone I've ever met. He's a true asset to our program and one of the most loyal people you'll ever meet".

When you ask veteran players like Jon Gaffney, Corey Patterson and Phil Cooke about Wayne, you get the same one-word reactions like "awesome, super and hard-but really fun"

At 39 years old, Wayne is in better shape now than he was in high school or college. An amateur kick boxer, a former professional water skier and a lifelong baseball player, he earned a bachelor's degree in recreation management from the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse and went on to earn numerous fitness training certifications. He is a U.S. Navy veteran of the Gulf War. In 2006, Wayne was voted Best Personal Trainer in Springfield by readers of the Illinois Times, and in 2007, he was named as one of the Springfield Business Journal's Forty Under 40 young leaders.

He is honing his skills on the ice also. He plays whenever he can and, of course, gets tips from his students when they get on the ice together.

Wayne's passion is helping his clients reach their maximum potential. He focuses on functional exercises to strengthen core muscles. He vows that no two group exercise classes will ever be the same. He lives and teaches his personal motto of "Never Quit!" and is most fulfilled when his clients get results. You can reach Wayne at 217-741-GOAL(4625) or go to his web site at: http://www.hipeneverquit.com/

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2007


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