Former NHL player Gary Roberts has become an expert in fitness and nutrition over the years and he has helped many NHL stars along the way. He owns and operates the Gary Roberts High Performance Centre where he helps people improve their health, performance and their quality of life. A majority of his clients are NHL athletes, junior hockey players and teams, and now he runs an executive program. Many of today's youngest stars have turned to him for help throughout the years, and he has helped every single one of them.
Gary Roberts recently sat down with BarDown.com to discuss what it's like training Connor McDavid from a young age and the development he has witnessed first-hand, the proper go-to pre-game and post-game meals and snacks for young players, and what you can expect from Roberts at The Gentlemen's Expo this weekend in Toronto.
Christian Marin: What have you seen in Connor McDavid's work ethic that separates him from other players?
Gary Roberts: I would say his commitment to every part of his game, his preparation off the ice, his off-season training and his daily routine of being a professional hockey player. He figured out early he was going to have to do a lot more to be a great player off the ice to be as good as he wanted to be, and he's done that. He's been fortunate to be around some other pros and he learned at a very early age. From the age of 15 to what he is today, in the time we spent with him, he has become an incredible person and an incredible player and we couldn't be more happy for him.
CM: What is the difference between today's rookies and rookies from when you were in the NHL?
GR: I would say the skill of the game with what the younger players have to do today is different. I was just telling my 11-year-old that he was going to have to do a lot more than just have fun at the rink if he wanted to be a hockey player. Not that you want to over-program them either, you want to find the balance between making them better and giving them the opportunity to be better and then making sure the other parts of your life are intact. Connor [McDavid] learned that at a very young age. Young players overall, whether you are 13 or 14-years-old, if you're thinking that hockey is something you want to do professionally or get your education from, you have to do more than just play hockey to be as good as you want to be.
CM: What is something you do differently with the younger clients when you're training them?
GR: For me, I want the summer time to be an offseason program to improve their strength. Power and speed and get off the ice for 6 or 8 weeks. A little bit of skill work every so often on the ice is ok, but to see players play hockey all summer and winter, I think that's not exactly the recipe they should be doing between the ages of 10 and 15. You want to become an overall great athlete and in order to do that you have to focus on your offseason fitness and other individual sports whether it's tennis, squash, golf, something that isn't a team related activity like playing summer hockey.
CM: What's the most important lesson for the players and young kids to learn and remember when training with you?
GR: I think the planning and preparation are the first things they need to understand. You can't be chasing your meals as a young player, it's really important you're getting enough calories each and every day to accomplish the things you're trying to do. With how active young children are today and young players, it's really important to pack your cooler each and every day and when you leave the house you need to know what's in your cooler, whether it's fruits and vegetables, some healthy wraps, lots of water for hydration, try to stay away from things like carbohydrates, too many sugars and sports drinks. Try to stay hydrated and you'll be well-fueled for your daily event.
Roberts will be at The Gentlemen's Expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from November 10-12, and will be speaking to the crowd on Friday night.
CM: What can people expect from you at The Gentlemen's Expo in Toronto?
GR: It's just an opportunity to get out and speak on things that I'm passionate about, whether it be wellness, health, food, training, sports. Anybody that is interested in topics like that, music, tech, there's some alcohol for some people, too, and I'm sure there's some food there. It's really an opportunity to come and learn about the new products and some grooming products for men, just topics on overall being a better man.
Be sure to check out Gary Roberts at The Gentlemen's Expo, because you're guaranteed to learn a thing or two.
