Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George Cougars will be seeing more of their psychologist on the bus as Dr Max Offenberger will be tagging along for part of the upcoming 16 day road trip.

 

Offenberger who is from Boston Massachusetts and currently works with some of the biggest names in the NHL such as Fuhr, Chara, and Wendel Clark says he is the only one of the staff who knows nothing about hockey, “Although I am paid by the club, I work strictly for the hockey players. I try to bring a balance by working on such skills as problem solving, decision making, drug and alcohol awareness, constructive use of spare time and future goals. I want them to be successful whether that means playing hockey or becoming a veterinarian.”

 

Offenberger was hired by the Cougars in 1982 after he provided a seminar for the Saskatoon Blades and hitched a ride back on the Victoria Cougar’s bus.

 

Cougars Business Manager Brandi Brodsky, says the hockey players will also take part in a three week life skills seminar during the season that was designed and facilitated by the College of New Caledonia, “The program covers various life skills they will need make it in the real world, it is a really fantastic program that we wanted the players to have that doesn’t focus on hockey.”

 

After tonight’s game the Cougars will prepare for a 16 day – 9 game road trip, where they will travel to Kamloops, Kelowna, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Kootenays and Spokane.

 

The Cougars will also do some recruiting on the road as they have asked players in a variety of cities to participate in their practices.

 

Cougars next home game is October 29 where they meet the Brandon Wheat Kings.