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Minnesota Hockey Teams Up with WCHA and TRIA Orthopaedic Center to Advance Player Safety

By WCHA, 01/22/15, 9:15AM CST

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Three-way partnership to provide coaches at all levels with injury response protocol

EDINA, Minn. – Jan. 22, 2015 – Bringing together a renowned leader in sports medicine with the State of Hockey’s youth and amateur governing body, the men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) today announced a three-way partnership with TRIA Orthopaedic Center and Minnesota Hockey to advance the safety of the sport across all levels.

Through this unique collaboration, the expertise of TRIA Orthopaedic Center physicians and athletic trainers will be available to hockey coaches and officials, from youth organizations through the collegiate ranks. Both Minnesota Hockey and the WCHA will distribute specialized, TRIA “Injury Response Cards” at all coach and official training events, as well as provide an online hub for this crucial player safety information.

TRIA Orthopaedic Center will also serve as the official medical operations director during the 2015 WCHA Final Five, providing on-site physicians, medical supplies, and assistance to team athletic trainers during the league’s championship tournament.

“Improving on-ice player safety is paramount, especially at the youth, collegiate, and amateur levels,” said WCHA Commissioner Bill Robertson. “As part of our sport’s greater community, the WCHA is proud to partner with TRIA Orthopaedic Center and Minnesota Hockey to provide coaches and officials with the tools needed to quickly and accurately respond if an injury is suspected. We are also thrilled to have TRIA’s industry-leading professionals direct all medical operations at the 2015 Final Five.”

TRIA has brought several advancements to the market such as the first walk-in orthopaedic Acute Injury Clinic in the state of Minnesota, a Sport Concussion Program, and the innovative TRIA/Hilton Recovery Program. TRIA offers a wide variety of services from injury prevention to evaluation and diagnosis, as well as a walk-in clinic, state of the art treatments and surgery, rehabilitation and reconditioning, to safe return to play. TRIA specializes in the management of orthopaedic and sports injuries from head to toe.

“We are excited to utilize our expertise in being the host medical directors for the WCHA Final Five this year. The experience and services we can offer will be a great resource to all of the participants and their individual team medical staffs, “ said Amy Hamilton, Sports Medicine Program Manager, TRIA Orthopaedic Center. “TRIA has a long standing history in the medical management of hockey events at all levels from youth to professional. We look forward to contributing our expertise for the Final Five.”

An affiliate of USA Hockey, Minnesota Hockey (formerly the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association) is the premier developer of hockey players in the state. With over 54,000 players, Minnesota has more kids playing youth hockey than any other state in the US.

“We are very excited to form partnerships with the WCHA and TRIA Orthopaedics. Safety is a paramount issue for Minnesota Hockey as we strive to protect our players on and off the ice,” said Glen Andresen, Executive Director of Minnesota Hockey. “This partnership will help us continue to grow awareness for safety concerns and help provide tools to coaches to take care of their players.”

This three-way partnership also provides a promotional presence for TRIA via WCHA and Minnesota Hockey channels and the Final Five. The 2015 WCHA Final Five takes place March 20 and 21 at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn.

About TRIA Orthopaedic Center
Founded in 2005 in Bloomington, Minn., TRIA offers comprehensive orthopaedic care – from diagnosis to treatment to surgery – at one convenient location. Since its inception, TRIA has brought advancements to the market such as the first walk-in orthopaedic Acute Injury Clinic in the state of Minnesota, a Sport Concussion Program for comprehensive management of concussions and return-to-play, and the innovative TRIA/Hilton Recovery Program. TRIA is a proven model for orthopaedic care, blending the strengths of its partners to create a center of excellence. Sports medicine doctors from TRIA have served as team physicians to Minnesota professional sports teams and numerous local colleges and high school athletic programs for over 25 years. This experience translates into improved management of sports-related injuries for athletes of all ages and skill levels.

About Minnesota Hockey
Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey, is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota and the premier developer of hockey players in the state. Minnesota Hockey (formerly known as the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association) has provided volunteer services for the development and promotion of hockey in Minnesota since 1947. Minnesota Hockey’s priorities continue to be Growth, Player Development and Safety. Growing the Game by introducing children to the great sport and providing programs to keep them playing into adulthood. Maximizing Player Development by providing age appropriate training so they will learn to love the game and achieve their goals. Improving Safety by providing the safest possible environment on the ice by teaching players the correct technique and enforcing rules to discourage dangerous play and off the ice by protecting all participants from abuse and misconduct through the SafeSport program.  

About Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, among the most historic, tradition-rich and successful conferences in all of collegiate athletics, proudly marks its 63rd season of men’s competition in 2014-15. Covering five time zones and more than 4,200 miles, the 10-team Division 1 conference consists of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Chargers), the University of Alaska Anchorage (Seawolves), the University of Alaska (Nanooks), Bemidji State University (Beavers), Bowling Green State University (Falcons), Ferris State University (Bulldogs), Lake Superior State University (Lakers), Michigan Technological University (Huskies), Minnesota State University (Mavericks) and Northern Michigan University (Wildcats).

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