Making the USA National Team

Paul and Dave,

 I wanted you two to be one of the first people to know that I made the USA Men’s National Sled Hockey team yesterday.  I attended the Junior Camp from the 16th-21st and followed up with the men’s tryouts on Thursday and Friday.  It was pretty tough, but I made it!  I had 8 goals and 2 assists in 3 games in the Jr. camp.  I had 2 goals and 2 assists in the National tryouts. I wanted you to know because conditioning made all of the difference in how I played.  My stamina was great even after 3-4 hours of hockey for 7 days straight.  I was able to keep up with and catch gold medal paralympians!  So cool!  I’m not that sore either.   Thanks for helping me to step up my game and make the National team!

Dan McCoy 

Dan McCoy was born with Spina Bifida and is paralyzed from the knees down.  This has never stopped him from setting goals for himself.  When he was 7 years old, he set his sights on making the US National Paralympic Sled Hockey team.  Sled hockey is basically ice hockey for people with physical disabilities. 

Last spring, Daniel was eligible to tryout for the Under 20 Junior National Paralympic Sled team – one step below his dream team.  At the age of 14, he knew it would be difficult to be selected for the team being so young competing against players from across the United States. It was then that Daniel approached Paul at VYGOR to help build his upper body and core strength in order to be at his best for the tryout.  Through twice weekly training sessions with Paul, Daniel improved his strength tremendously and was selected for the U20 team. 

Daniel has traveled to Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Denver with the Junior National team this season competing against players twice his size.  He is undaunted when giving or receiving checks.  His strength comes through in the power of his shot and the speed on his sled.  He has been an important part of the team’s undefeated season both offensively and defensively.  Training with Paul Stugart, owner of VYGOR is an integral part of Daniel’s success in sled hockey.

Dan started training with me when he was 14 years old.  He had no neurogical control of his glutes, hamstrings, and calves. His quads and inner thighs were responsible for all of his lower body activity.  My first goal, was to build his strength, in upper body, improve his balance and stabilization through core development.  Dan’s attitude could not have been better.  He worked until he could not and then pushed some more.  His balance and strength steadily improved.  At a 130+ pounds, this year Dan benched 200 pounds and he is built solid as a rock.  He is like lightening on the ice and has a slapshot clocked at over 60 mph.  Dan is the definition of          i Inspire.   I am proud to have the opportunity to train such a dedicated, positive individual.

Paul J. Stugart, M.S., NASM-CPT, Fitness Professional and President