Summit Medical Group Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and Johnson & Johnson Team Up for Educational Hockey Event

MORRISTOWN, NJ (August 2, 2016) – Summit Medical Group (SMG), one of the largest physician owned multispecialty medical practices in the country, hosted their dynamic Passion 2 Play (SM) event, a hockey injury prevention program sponsored by DePuy Synthes Mitek Sports Medicine, division of Johnson & Johnson. The event, which featured professional hockey players and healthcare professionals, drew 250 youth athletes and their families, and stressed the importance of being physically active and having fun while playing safely.

SMG has organized this event in the past and hopes to make it an annual occurrence due to its overwhelming success and powerful messaging. This year, it was held on Saturday, July 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the William G. Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown.

The free program served to teach young ice hockey players (ages 8 to 18) the importance of safety (particularly concussion management and pre-game warm-ups), hydration and nutrition. It also educated athletes and their family members about the USA coaching education program (CEP) initiatives. This included the American Development Model (ADM) and how to incorporate Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles. The program participants (travel hockey level boys and girls) heard brief lectures from a variety of experts on health and hockey, and then went through a 20-minute off-ice workout, followed by 45 minutes of on-ice training.

Spearheading the event was Dr. Michael Shindle, SMG orthopedic and sports medicine specialist and team orthopedist for the NJ Devils and USA Hockey. Also present were Kyle Palmieri, NJ Devils right wing; Keith Kinkaid, NJ Devils goaltender; Bryce Salvador, former NJ Devils captain; and Erika Lawler, three-time NCAA champion (Univ. of Wisconsin), 2010 Olympic medalist and member of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). The professional players were on ice for instruction and later available for autographs. Dr. Michael Farber, team internist for the NJ Devils, provided concussion education, while NJ Devils staff and other health experts in the field of sports provided information on nutrition, conditioning, and injury-prevention and rehabilitation.

According to Dr. Shindle, “This event focused on education, hands-on training and exposure to role models and health experts - vital components of youth sports, such as hockey. While reviewing safety principles and conditioning, the event also emphasized fun and camaraderie.”

Each participant received the following giveaways: Johnson & Johnson first aid kit; SMG hockey puck; SMG Foundation water bottle; JAG Physical Therapy cinch sack; hockey jersey with the NJ Devils logo; and ATPEAK app.

Photos courtesy of Summit Medical Group

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Erika Lawler, Olympic silver medalist and two-time World Champion hockey star, instructs one of the players in the Passion 2 Play (SM) hockey clinic held on Saturday, July 30 at Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown. The event, which drew over 250 youth players and their families, focused on injury prevention and having fun while playing safely. It was conducted by Summit Medical Group (SMG) and sponsored by DePuy Synthes Mitek Sports Medicine, part of Johnson & Johnson. The event was spearheaded by Dr. Michael Shindle, SMG orthopedic and sports medicine specialist.