Editor's note: Welcome to another installment of "Admirals Playoff Diary," OnMilwaukee.com's exclusive look at the Milwaukee Admrials as they progress through the American Hockey League playoffs in search of their second Calder Cup championship in three years. After sweeping a second-round series against Houston, the Admirals hold a 3-0 advantage over Grand Rapids in the Western Conference Championship Series.
Enjoy this diary from head trainer Doug Agnew:
THIS IS MY 17th SEASON WITH THE ADMIRALS ORGANIZATION. For my first eight years I was both the equipment manager and trainer and after that the job became too taxing so the duties were split up and they asked me which one I wanted. I really enjoy the medical aspect of it so I chose the trainer and then we hired a guy on full time for just equipment.
The first guy we brought in was a college guy named Mike Schlip from Ohio and he fell flat on his face after one year. He was a mess from day one. After that we brought in Billy Brown for three years and he left for a college job and then Paul Bistan came in for four or five years. Then Paul left and Dave Randolph [the current equipment manager] came in.
On a typical game day, I get here about 7:45 or 8 a.m. and get the tubes filled and help get the guys ready for the morning skate, which is usually at 10. I get them heat packs, a quick rub, anything to get them ready for the on-ice session. After practice, we ice them down again, some go into the cold tub, and then do any post-practice treatment that needs to be done and then we get the players who aren't playing that night into a workout until about 1. After that, we usually have a little down time where I can do some paper work, check my email and maybe get a quick workout in myself. Then we do it all over again for the game.
My favorite part of the job is the camaraderie that there is with the team and the coaches and the staff. When the players come in as rookies, they all think they have it figured out, but they really don't and they find that out very quickly. To see them grow as players is really great to see. After a year or two, they walk out of here much more mature and they can truly call themselves professional at that point, instead of snotty-nosed brats like they can be when they come in.
The least appealing aspect of doing this are the hours. You are pretty much a slave to the job. From the beginning of September through, hopefully, the middle of June, you basically don't get any days off. My family also takes a back seat, as well, but I have been lucky to have a wife and family that are very understanding.
Injuries are part of the game and usually not too bad. The worst one I have ever seen happened to Kaj Linna. He got smoked pretty bad by a high elbow behind the net. He was knocked out for a while and it ended up ending his career. Any injury that happens around the face and the eyes is hard to take. However, we have a tremendous medical staff here and can handle almost any medical emergency that occurs.
By far, the highlight of my time with the Admirals has bee winning the Calder Cup in 2004. The team we had was amazing. We got better and better as the playoff went on and by the end of it we were rolling like a freight train. The camaraderie of that team was the best I have ever seen. This team this year comes close to that team, and hopefully we will have the same result.
