What goes on off the ice makes big difference

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

A pair of junior hockey prospects from Kings County are benefitting from some invaluable off-ice training.

Kirk Rafuse of Kentville and Trevor (T.J.) Boyd of Greenwich have been training three mornings a week at the Kentville soccer fields with the help of Larry Vidito, a Kentville resident who formerly lived in Calgary and worked at the National Hockey Academy.

Rafuse, a former Valley midget Wildcat goalie who played last year with the Maritime Junior A champion Truro Bearcats, was drafted by the Lewiston Maineacs in the sixth round of this year’s QMJHL draft. He has also received offers from NCAA teams.

Boyd, a former Wildcats teammate of Rafuse, plans to try out for the Bearcats this fall.

“I live in MacDonald Heights and, one day when I was out for a walk, I ran into Kirk’s dad, Brad,” Vidito says.

The two talked, with the result Vidito agreed to work with Rafuse “on some sport-specific training, like I did in Calgary” to get him ready for the Lewiston training camp. A lot of the drills “are best done in pairs,” so Rafuse asked if his friend, Boyd, could come along.

Agility and footwork drills

“We’ve been working three days a week for the past two weeks,” Vidito says. “There’s a lot you can learn and improve on, but agility, footwork and balance are probably the biggest things I focus on.”

After just two weeks of working with Rafuse, Vidito found the 17-year-old “is really a very good athlete, which has contributed greatly to his success on the ice.

“Hockey players often get overlooked in terms of being good athletes.”

In a lot better shape now

“It’s the kind of conditioning and strength workout you just can’t get in a gym, and it’s specific to our sport besides,” Rafuse says. “I felt I was in fairly good shape already, but I’m in a lot better shape now.”

Boyd, who will attend the Truro camp starting Aug. 25, agrees.

“It’s a lot more intense than just running or lifting weights.”

Vidito notes his young charges “are doing a lot of the same things as pro athletes,” some of whom he worked with at NHA in Calgary.

“I hope this training can give them some inspiration and help them realize that off-ice training can make a difference during the season, especially if you want to take your game to the next level.”

Rafuse and Boyd have similar goals in hockey. Rafuse would like to play pro someday and use his hockey skills to help him get a university education. Boyd hopes to attend university also and “reach the highest level my skills will allow me to.”