Behind Closed Doors: My Unprecedented Game as the IceHogs Sports Chiropractor in Rockford IL
Professional sports have given me incredible memories over the years. During my 16 seasons as the official team chiropractor for the Rockford IceHogs, I have witnessed amazing things. For example, I have seen bench-clearing brawls, horrible injuries, and sudden stadium power outages.
However, nothing prepared me for the sports world during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are looking for an experienced sports chiropractor in Rockford IL, you want a team with deep clinical experience. Today, I want to preserve an extraordinary piece of local hockey history. This is my firsthand diary account from Saturday, February 7, 2021, when professional hockey returned without a single fan in the stands.
The Rapid Shift to Virtual Preparation
Our delayed season finally started in February after eleven months of global lockdowns. Consequently, league officials assigned me to cover the first game of a shortened 30-game schedule.
Typically, our medical preparations start in the late summer. We usually hold several in-person meetings with a massive team of local physicians. Our game-day network includes specialists from the Emergency Room, Orthopedics, Family Medicine, Chiropractic, Dentistry, and EMS.
In normal years, we spend an entire night practicing serious injury mock-ups right on the ice. Players pretend to be hurt so everyone understands their exact role. Furthermore, we sit around large tables reviewing new NHL regulations via PowerPoint presentations.
This year was completely different. The season was not the only thing shortened. Our medical preparations were cut down to just one quick Zoom conference.
Clearing the Strict Protocol “Bubble”
Prior to the game, I had to prove I was safe to enter the strict arena bubble. First, I underwent a blood test to check for COVID-19 antigens.
The next step required a deep nasal swab the day before the game. An IceHogs team representative collected all the medical swabs from our local orthopedic clinic. Remarkably, they flew these tests directly to New York City for rapid processing.
Consequently, we received our official results at 6:00 AM the next morning. On game day, our phones sent a reminder to log into a tracking app. We filled out detailed questionnaires about our health and recent contacts.
Finally, clear test results and successful answers generated a digital pass. This pass allowed physical access into the BMO Harris Bank Center.
Once inside the arena, we placed our faces into a computer screening device for a digital scan. If we passed that step, we underwent a manual temperature check. Fortunately, rapid testing stations were available in a secure holding area if any results were questioned.
An Eerily Empty Arena
Once I cleared security and entered the bubble, the structural changes were stark. First, I noticed the players’ lockers lined up directly in the hallway. I had never seen training equipment spread out like that before.
Additionally, the players themselves were missing from the corridors. Typically, I see them playing soccer or running around to warm up. However, the new safety rules strictly banned players from arriving early.
Next, league officials directed me to the team physician’s room. This isolation zone kept the medical staff separated from other personnel between periods.
Honestly, this was one change I actually liked. Previously, we waited directly inside the busy locker room. I always tried my hardest to stay out of the way of coaches and players. This new space allowed me to relax with my colleague and friend, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Trenhaile.
Eventually, I put on my team-approved mask and entered the locker room. My red and black chiropractic adjusting table sat waiting. The room felt incredibly odd. Usually, players sit around the lounge area eating pre-game snacks, but the countertops were completely bare.
When I finally walked out of the tunnel, the view was breathtakingly strange. All the regular season ticket holders, game staff, and photographers were completely absent. You could literally hear a pin drop. The arena was eerily silent.
Play On: The Visuals of Fanless Hockey
We simply grabbed any seats we wanted and prepared for puck drop. Interestingly, the IceHogs still performed all the normal player introductions and pre-game announcements.
They played the music for the fans watching at home on television. Consequently, the medical staff felt special. It felt like the entire production was just for the physicians. The only other people watching from the stands were scratch players who did not dress for the game.
It was a wild experience watching our sport unfold under those intense restrictions. However, I enjoyed catching a few stray pucks during warmups. After all, Dr. Scott Trenhaile was my only real competition in the empty stands!
Get the Same Dedicated Care as the Pros
This historical moment shows the extreme lengths we take to support our local athletes. Whether facing a global pandemic or a normal sports season, our commitment to spinal health never changes.
Our third-generation practice uses the exact same precise, low-force adjustment methods on our everyday patients that we use on the IceHogs. Therefore, you can trust our team to protect your joints.
Do you have questions about how a sports chiropractor in Rockford IL can help your lifestyle? Please click the Contact Us tab on our website to submit a question or to book an appointment. Let our family help you stay moving safely.
To see how we keep joints moving properly without intense popping or cracking, watch our detailed breakdown on Why Stretching Alone Isn’t Fixing Your Back Pain. Learn the true science of joint stability today.
