Kevin Neeld — Hockey Training, Sports Performance, & Sports Science

About

My Story

Kevin Neeld - Bio PictureMy introduction to the training world started because of my passion for the game of hockey. I grew up in West Chester, PA and played hockey for the Wlimington Typhoon for several years before eventually transitioning to the Junior Flyers. In middle school, I was always told that I was as skilled as anyone, but that I was too fat, slow, and generally unathletic to compete at a high level. That wasn’t exactly what they said, but that’s what they meant.

When I was 14, I was fortunate to be “given a chance” by a coach that was ahead of his time on the training and power skating side of things. I completely overhauled my athleticism through a focused off-season of training and knew then that I wanted to make a career out of helping other hockey players to do the same. I also spent that Summer running power skating and skill development clinics, which not only helped my own skills, but also gave me an appreciation for how to break down skills to better teach them in group and individual settings.

Since that experience, I’ve been incredibly passionate about athletic development in general, but more specifically about on- and off-ice hockey development. I consider myself a lifelong student, and am constantly look for more effective ways to train my athletes.

I grew up as an under-sized and athletically unremarkable player, and I consider that a gift. As an underdog, you only have one way to compete, and that’s to outwork everyone, to prepare smarter. Whether you’re the best athlete or the worst athlete, I’d encourage you to adopt that same attitude. EVERY athlete can get better.

I’ve dedicated my career to helping aspiring athletes fulfill their potential, and I’d like to help you do the same. Enjoy the site, and if you come across an article that you really like, post a comment beneath it and share it with your friends!

To your success,

Kevin Neeld

Johnny Gaudreau - Calgary Flames, NHL“ I’ve trained with Kevin/Endeavor since before my first year in the USHL. As a smaller guy, having the ability to create time and space has been crucial to my success. Kevin’s programs have helped me develop the speed and quickness I need to compete at the highest levels, and the conditioning to continue pushing the pace late in games.  If you’re looking to fulfill your potential on the ice, Kevin is the guy to help you get there. ”

– Johnny Gaudreau
Calgary Flames, NHL

Bio

Kevin Neeld is the Head Performance Coach for the Boston Bruins, where he oversees all aspects of designing and implementing the team’s performance training program, as well as monitoring the players’ performance, workload and recovery. Prior to Boston, Kevin spent 2 years as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Jose Sharks after serving as the director of a private sports performance facility in New Jersey for 7 years, working with pro, college, junior and elite level youth hockey players. He also served as a strength and conditioning coach with the U.S. Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team for 5 years.

Neeld is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Licensed Massage Therapist holding a Master’s degree in Kinesiology & Exercise Neuroscience from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Behavior Science & Fitness Management with a minor in Strength and Conditioning from the University of Delaware. He’s currently a Doctoral candidate in Rocky Mountain University’s Human and Sport Performance program. In 2013, Kevin became one of only 9 professionals worldwide to earn the Postural Restoration Trained (PRT) credential from the Postural Restoration Institute.

Kevin has an unwavering passion for helping hockey players fulfill their potential. He recognizes the huge impact that quality instruction, coaching, and training can have on a player’s career. In order to help hockey players of all ages and levels succeed, Kevin has developed a number of high quality resources, which you can learn more about here: Products

Hockey Training-Mike Boyle“In my mind Kevin Neeld is one of the top 5-6 strength and conditioning coaches in the ice hockey world. It’s not often I turn to younger coaches for advice but, Kevin is a guy I count on to be on top of all the latest info and, to use it with his athletes.”

– Michael Boyle
Owner, Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team
Strength and Conditioning Consultant, Boston Red Sox

Kevin is sought after for his expertise in blending high performance training with injury prevention and post-rehabilitation work.  At Endeavor, Kevin has trained athletes for improved performance while alleviating symptoms of a variety of injuries, including: shoulder labral tears, hip labral tears, shoulder impingement, hip impingement, sports hernias, groin pain, hip flexor strains, and low back pain.

After completing a successful college hockey career at the University of Delaware (‘05-’06: MVP; ‘06-’07: Team Captain, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2nd Team All-American), Kevin served as the Assistant Coach of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Women’s Ice Hockey Team and assisted with the implementation of the strength and conditioning program for the UMass-Amherst Men’s Ice Hockey Team.  Kevin continues his work in ice hockey serving as a coach, educator, and program consultant in the sport.

An accomplished author, Kevin has had articles published in Men’s Fitness and many of the top fitness and performance sites, including AskMen.com, StrengthCoach.com, T-Nation.com, EliteFTS.com, and SportsRehabExpert.com. He also wrote Chapter 3: The Real Reason You Can’t See Your Abs in the Men’s Health Big Book of Abs, and is the author of Ultimate Hockey Training, a comprehensive resource on long-term player development and year-round off-ice training methods. Additionally, he has served as an investigator and co-author on scholarly works published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Perceptual and Motor Skills, and The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.

Kevin possesses the unique ability to combine his backgrounds in research, academia, and athletics to create highly effective programs for athletes and clients of all backgrounds. Specializing in ice hockey training, Kevin has helped guide athletes of all ages and abilities to optimal health and performance.

Certifications and Continuing Education Courses:

National Strength and Conditioning Association
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

USA Weightlifting
Certified Sport Performance Coach

Functional Movement Systems
Functional Movement Screen Levels 1 & 2
Selective Functional Movement Assessment

Titleist Performance Institute
Level 1 Certified
Level 2 Fitness Certified

Functional Anatomy Seminars
Functional Range Conditioning Certified

Athletes Acceleration
Certified Speed and Agility Coach

Postural Restoration Institute
Myokinematic Restoration
Postural Respiration
Pelvis Restoration
Cervical-Cranio-Mandibular Restoration
Impingements and Instabilities
Advanced Integration
Integration for Fitness & Movement
Postural Visual Integration
Postural Restoration Trained

ELDOA (Étirements Longitudinaux avec Decoaptation OsteoArticulaire)
ELDOA Level 1 Certified

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
Nationally Certified Massage Therapist

Fascial Distortion Model
Full Body Certified

Functional Range Release (FR)®
Upper Limb Certified

Active Release Techniques (ART)®
Full Body (Lower Extremity, Spine & Upper Extremity) Certified
Long Tract Nerve Entrapmenet Certified

RockTape Certified
Fascial Movement Taping Levels 1 & 2

Prague School of Rehabilitation and Manual Medicine
Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization “A” & “B” Courses

Poliquin Biosignature Modulation
Biosignature Modulation Level 1 Practitioner

Precision Nutrition
Precision Nutrition Level 1

Kevin Neeld

Kevin Neeld Knows Hockey

Kevin has rapidly established himself as a leader in the field of physical preparation and sports science for ice hockey. He is currently the Head Performance Coach for the Boston Bruins, where he oversees all aspects of designing and implementing the team’s performance training program, as well as monitoring the players’ performance, workload and recovery. Prior to Boston, Kevin spent 2 years as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Jose Sharks after serving as the Director of Performance at Endeavor Sports Performance in Pitman, NJ. He also spent 5 years as a Strength and Conditioning Coach with USA Hockey’s Women’s Olympic Hockey Team, and has been an invited speaker at conferences hosted by the NHL, NSCA, and USA Hockey.