It’s early on a chilly Friday morning at the Ontario Tech University rink in late November. As the Ridgebacks men’s hockey team prepares to hit the ice for practice, athletic therapists, Makena Edey and Yesenia Chavez Baltodano, are putting together their supplies.
“It’s a lot of pre and post treatment with the athletes,” says Edey. “It’s a lot of just getting them ready… it just depends on what the injuries are.”
But their contribution is far more than just providing treatment for injuries they are a pillar to the team’s performance and success.
“I really want to make sure the boys know that even though I’m here to help them medically, I’m also there for them personally,” explains Chavez Baltodano.
Behind every successful athlete is a dedicated team of professionals who ensure their physical and mental health. The Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) is the certifying and governing body for Certified Athletic Therapists across Canada.
Founded in 1965 by athletic therapists from professional hockey and football teams, CATA has grown to represent over 2,600 members dedicated to injury prevention and rehabilitation. While 88 per cent of Canadians are familiar with physical therapy, and 73 per cent know of occupational therapy, less than half have heard of athletic therapy.
Most of the time, athletic therapists are overshadowed by coaches and players, but they are one of the most important parts of a team. The road to becoming an athletic therapist is a rigorous journey, blending academic in-class learning with hands-on experience outside the classroom.
The journey to becoming an athletic therapist requires a degree in kinesiology or a related field, followed by specialized certification in athletic therapy. This includes a lot of coursework, internships and clinical practice. A strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, and injury management is essential.
In addition to education, kinesiology students must also complete hands-on work. This typically involves clinical internships, where students apply their knowledge in real-world settings, with the option of working closely with athletes to treat and rehabilitate injuries for students who want to go into an athletic therapist role.
Kinesiology students at Ontario Tech have the opportunity to work with the Ridgebacks, which offers them experience in both preventative and reactive treatment.
For athletes like Andrew Suriyuth, a right winger for the Ridgebacks, the impact of athletic therapists is high.
“It’s something we’re really fortunate to have because when we need some treatment and stuff, we have it available at the rink to us,” says Suriyuth.
While athletes like Suriyuth are the faces on the ice, the real work happens behind the scenes. Chavez Baltodano emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to player care.
The trainers use HEP2go, which is an online program where athletic therapists can share home exercise workouts with the team,
“The boys really seem to benefit from it because they actually use it,” says Chavez Baltodano.
From managing treatment schedules to organizing travel logistics and filling out lots of paperwork, there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that the public doesn’t usually see.
Edey emphasizes the importance of thoroughly explaining each step and its purpose to ensure players understand the process. She says injured players need to be heard because her professional opinion does not always line up with what the player is feeling.
“Letting them do the talking and not interrupting them while they’re trying to explain something, and putting my own knowledge into it is the most efficient way of addressing a players injury,” she says.
While it’s common for athletes to praise their coaches and teammates, Edey and Chavez Baltodano’s work is integral to the overall success of the team. Their commitment extends beyond the rink, showing that athletic therapy is about creating an environment where athletes can thrive.
“The most rewarding part is just working with the team is developing the relationship with the team,” Edey admits. “It’s also a really, really, good learning experience.”
One of the most important contributions that athletic therapists make to the Ridgebacks is their work in helping players build resilience. It’s not just about treating injuries, it’s about helping players stay strong mentally and emotionally through the ups and downs of the season.
“With a severe injury, you can only do so much, but with a chronic injury that’s minor, there is the ability to kind of be resilient and push through, so when we’re talking to them and we’re working them through it, they start to realize that,” says Edey.
When it comes to the Ridgebacks’ success, the contribution of athletic therapists is very important. Their work in keeping the players healthy, both physically and mentally, is what allows the team to perform at its highest level.
For Suriyuth, the athletic therapists play a big role. They help build the foundation of the team. Throughout the season a majority of the players on the team deal with different injuries, having the athletic therapists available is essential in keeping the players on the ice, and helping the team succeed.
Edey and Chavez Baltodano, though not often in the spotlight, play a pivotal role in every game, every practice, and every recovery session. Their expertise ensures that the players can give their all on the ice, and their quiet dedication makes all the difference.
As the Ridgebacks continue their season, their success is built not only on talent and coaching, but also on the support and commitment of their athletic therapists.
These professionals may not be on the ice, but their work behind the scenes is what allows the team to succeed.