Tag: Peoria Rivermen

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Peoria Rivermen get new athletic trainer, Brian Riedel

Article reposted from Journal Star
Author: Dave Eminian 

Brian Riedel joined the Peoria Rivermen as the new trainer for the SPHL team on Sunday.

The Midwest Orthopaedic Center employee is from Sun Prairie, Wis., and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point last spring.

He worked there as an athletic training student for the men’s hockey program, and was also a credentialed USA Hockey official.

“I am looking forward to growing as an athletic trainer with the Peoria Rivermen,” said Riedel, 23. “I’ve moved to Peoria, and am excited to be a community member.”

The Rivermen open the 2017-18 SPHL season in late October.

“We are excited to welcome Brian to the Rivermen family through our partnership with Midwest Orthopaedic,” Rivermen owner Bart Rogers said. “We pride ourselves on making sure our athletes are in the best possible shape, and when injuries do occur, we know they are going to be taken care of and rehabbed by the best orthopedic group in our area.”

RIVER READINGS: The Rivermen have hired Michael Miles as a ticket sales executive, handling group and single-game ticket sales. Miles, 38, holds a degree in sports management, and was a ticket sales and service intern with the St. Louis Cardinals last spring.

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Novak is the Rivermen’s First Female Athletic Trainer

http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/sports/normal-west-grad-training-rivermen-for-cup-finals

Michelle Novak was nervous approaching the Peoria Rivermen about being the team’s athletic trainer three years ago.

“It was kind of a trial basis,” recalled Novak. “We were going to see if I fit. Would it be OK? How the guys would perceive me.”

The meeting with team president Bart Rogers and head coach Jean-Guy Trudel went well. Now the franchise’s first ever female trainer is as much a part of the Rivermen as any player or coach.

In fact, she is one of only two female trainers in the Southern Professional Hockey League.

The former Normal West High School softball star’s injury-plagued college career spawned her training career.

“I got injured in college, spent a lot of time with my athletic trainer,”‘ said Novak. “That sparked it. I know it sounds weird but I love dealing with blood, the gory stuff.”

Now Novak is getting her team ready for its first championship appearance in 16 yeas. The Rivermen play Pensacola in the five-game President’s Cup finals starting Saturday.

“The guys are very respectful towards her, she’s great around the guys,” Trudel said. “She’s been a breath of
fresh air, she brings a great attitude every day. The professionalism she brings every day on communicating injuries has been fantastic.”

On game nights, Novak says she arrives at the arena at 8 a.m and typically doesn’t leave until after 11 p.m.
She understands she’s helping blaze a trail for women in hockey and makes the extra effort to encourage
other young ladies in her line of work to due the same.

“It sounds crazy but I get emails from female college students in the athletic training programs asking me how I did it,” Novak said.

She is in her fifth year as an athletic trainer. She worked in the Chicago suburbs at Hinsdale Central High School and with the Bloomington Edge indoor football team before coming to Peoria in 2013.

“Not a lot of people actually enjoy going to work every day,” said Novak. “I’m the first one here, I unlock the
doors, I turn on the lights, with a smile on my face. And I’m happy to be here every day.”

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