Froese named Muskegon skating coach

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced Thursday that Dr. Kurt Froese has been added to their hockey operations staff as skating coach.

“We are committed to provide the best development program anywhere so our players can reach their fullest potential,” said Lumberjacks CEO-GM Josh Mervis. “We believe we can help our athletes gain an advantage by really pushing the development of their skating skills.”

Froese, who focused his doctoral thesis on the development of hockey players, will conduct on-ice sessions once a week with Lumberjacks players and will also prescribe off-ice exercises to improve their skating strength, coordination and speed.

“Repetition can lead to mastery or misery, depending on how you train,” said Froese, who played high-level hockey in the Canadian junior ranks and also as a professional. “What’s important is the nervous system, which triggers the muscles. You need to treat the cause of a deficiency, not the symptoms.”

After studying as an undergraduate at the University of Manitoba, Froese attended Life College in Atlanta where he completed a four-year program to receive his Doctorate in Chiropractic.

“I’m a proponent of age-appropriate skill development,” Froese said. “Anything good takes time but players will pay the price if they know the payoff is coming. As we go along, they will be more solid on their skates and comfortable in tight spaces.

“As they build good habits, the players will experience more explosive speed and more control of their bodies.”

A native of Winnipeg, Froese currently resides in Traverse City where he and his wife, Laura, operate Lighthouse Chiropractic & Wellness Center (www.lcwctc.com), a renowned and innovative practice.

“What I love about coaching is giving people something I wish I had when I was playing,” Froese said. “Working with a team like this on a long-term basis is very exciting for me.”