Scottsdale Health October 2019

HOCKEY FROM THE START
While growing up in Boca Raton, Florida, Chychrun’s priorities
included family and sports. If he wasn’t spending quality time
with his parents and sister, he was playing something, whether it
was hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, or golf. His dad
encouraged hockey and put Chychrun in his first pair of skates at
age 2. Chychrun concurrently learned how to walk and skate.
Inspired by his dad, uncle and the Pittsburgh Penguins’
Sidney Crosby, Chychrun began to pursue hockey more intentionally.
He joined amateur hockey organizations in his home
state and Michigan before joining the United States Hockey
League (USHL), the top junior ice hockey league in the United
States. Chychrun was a standout player who finished his minorhockey
career with the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
Transitioning from minor hockey to professional hockey
was no easy feat, especially since Chychrun was 18 when he
joined the Arizona Coyotes — he became the third youngest
player in the franchise’s history. Fortunately, he was supported
by some of the team’s leaders, including Shane Doan, Oliver
Ekman-Larsson, Jamie McGinn, as well as the coaching staff.
“It was certainly a learning process,” he says.
Chychrun grew more confident and stronger in his abilities
with each game he played during his first NFL season. He ended
the 2016-17 season with seven goals and 20 points in 68 games.
The following two seasons proved to be challenging for the
rookie, as he sustained two severe knee injuries that required
surgery and ample time away from the ice rink.
“[The road to recovery] was a very tough process. You learn
a lot about yourself as a person, a player,” he says. “It takes a
lot of dedication and sacrifice to give yourself every opportunity
to come back early. When you are injured, you kind of lose your
normal life and everything revolves around getting yourself
back to full health.”
Despite unforeseen setbacks, Chychrun has soldiered on
and is back operating at his normal level. With the 2019-20
season in full swing as of this month, the Arizona Coyotes are
prepared and determined to make the playoffs.
“We have high expectations for our young team and improved
a lot during the offseason. I would say there’s a lot of excitement
around the organization about this season,” Chychrun says.
FEELING AND LOOKING GOOD
The primary responsibility of a defenseman in ice hockey is to
prevent the opposing team from scoring. To be good at it, a
player must possess speed, stamina, agility and strength. A combination
of working out and maintaining a balanced diet enables
Chychrun to continue performing at a high level.
He dedicates five days per week to working out, reserving
two days for rest and recovery. No one day at the gym — Exos
and Lifetime Fitness are his favorites in the Valley — looks the
same. Some days are dedicated to lifting and loading, whereas
others focus on gymnastics or agility. When it comes to food,
42 ScottsdaleHealth 10/19