Wildcats add renowned educational psychologist to staff
December 3, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
Taking a revolutionary step for the NAHL and for U.S. Junior A hockey, the Wichita Falls Wildcats have added renowned educational psychologist Dr. Robert (Max) Offenberger to their staff.
Dr. Offenberger, who is a Harvard graduate, brings a wealth of hockey knowledge to the Wildcats' organization. His mission is to improve the players' life skills outside of hockey, and to help them deal with the strengths and pressures of playing hockey at this level and prepare them for the levels ahead.
Based in the Boston area, Dr. Offenberger has been involved with a number of famous athletes and hockey teams throughout his career. Away from hockey, he has worked with Russian figure skater Oksana Baiul and professional skier Johnny Mosely.
In hockey, he's worked with Boston Bruins All-Star Cam Neely, the great Czech and NHL goaltender Dominick Hasek, Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Nikoli Khabibulin, Hall of Fame NHL goaltender Grant Fuhr and two-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Mike Vernon.
He has also worked with the Calgary Flames for 10 years, the Toronto Maple Leafs for 10 years and currently works for the Lightning and the Ottawa Senators.
With the Leafs, he helped counsel the players after teammate Bryan Berard suffered a career-threatening eye injury, as well as helping Berard regain his emotional strength to resume his career.
Dr. Offenberger started his career in 1982 working with the Edmonton Oilers, prior to their becoming a legendary pro hockey dynasty, helping prepare their players for the great success they enjoyed as a five-time Stanley Cup championship team. He has been presented with Stanley Cup rings from the Oilers, the Flames, and, most recently the Lightning.
These NHL experiences and successes which he now brings to the Wildcats' organization are considered a very important asset in the development of the Wildcat players.
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our players to work with a professional like Dr. Offenberger," says Wildcats general manager and head coach Brian Meisner. "We've always believed in Wichita Falls that our players are just as important to us off the ice as on the ice and by having Dr. Offenberger work with us only solidifies this commitment."
Clearly happy to be a part of the Wildcats staff and looking forward to working with the players at Wichita Falls, Dr. Offenberger said, "I feel with an organization like the Wichita Falls Wildcats, we have the right people, right philosophy, and the right approach for our players, and that no matter what the score is at the end of the game, we will come out on top.
"For me, this is about creating some awareness with families and people that are affiliated with the game or are fans of the game that we -- the people in management at this team -- care about the players, not just on the ice but before and after they are on the ice, that there is more to life than learning how to work on the power play. They have to learn how to work with others, how to be leaders, how to use hockey as a stepping stone to their life after hockey. You help these kids keep things in perspective and tell them it's all about balance."
Dr. Offenberger believes the messages he delivers to the Wildcats players are universal and can be applied in everyday business as well as athletics. He believes that hockey is a great stepping stone and symbol for living the rest of a person's life. Dr. Offenberger feels that once an athlete's personal life is in order away from the game, things fall into place on the rink and his or her performance improves.
No greater example of this can be found than with Khabibulin in his march to the Stanley Cup last spring. Khabibulin had the reputation of being rather moody, but speaking with Dr. Offenberger helped the goaltender put his life and career in focus. Khabibulin told the St. Petersburg Times last spring that his conversations with Offenberger aren't about hockey. Sometimes they are about cars, one of his passions. "I can't describe it," the goalie said. "He just talks to me and makes me feel good. I don't know why."
Dr. Offenberger told the paper he wanted players "to focus on how important balance is in their life. With what we have today in the arena of sports and business, with the money involved, the whole thing is out of perspective. Guys tend to put pressure on themselves when they lose sight of where it is in reality. In the end, they are who they are. They've got their families and whatever they're going to do with the rest of their lives. So hopefully, they have that balance and perspective, and the pressure can come off so they can focus on their talent and skill."
Dr. Offenberger's experience is not limited to professional players. After beginning with the Oilers, he was hired by the entire Canadian major junior Western Hockey League in the mid-â80s. That is where he met Wildcats owner Rick Brodsky, who owned the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL at that time.
Offenberger has also lectured at Boston University's summer boarding camp for AAA midget players nationwide, helping teach them at an early age how to hone their mental toughness and maximize their confidence on and off the ice. He has also worked with athletes at top prep schools like Thayer Academy in Massachusetts
"For me," he says, "itâs not about the money. I find it is rejuvenating to work with young players. I'm not hockey guy; I don't know anything about hockey. To me they are all Wayne Gretzky. But they are also young men and they have lives outside of the rink. They know they can come to me if they have questions about their lives. If a parent gets sick, if they have girlfriend problems, I can point them in the right way to understand what this is all about it. I can't tell you how many parents have phoned me who are grateful to the league and team that we could help their son."
Athough he has vast experience in Canadian junior hockey, U.S. junior hockey is new to him. "I didn't understand the workings of the NAHL, that the league aims to get its players into colleges. When I met with the Wildcats players recently, I found these guys are very enthusiastic about playing and equally enthusiastic about going to school and furthering their careers and education. I think that's fantastic. And I think the NAHL is definitely a league on the upswing. Iâm really enthused about being with the Wildcats."
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