Roland’s Al Pritchard is living out his dream as the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets massage therapist. On Nov. 7, Pritchard worked his 1000th game with the Jets as the team celebrated his achievement.
Growing up in Roland, Pritchard had his sights on a pro hockey career in the NHL. After suffering a knee injury as a member of the Pembina Valley Hawks U18 team, he switched his focus to athletic therapy as a way to get to the NHL.
“I was involved in hockey from a very young age, hanging around the rink with my two older brothers,” said Pritchard. “Being a water boy and loving every minute spent with their teams. I then played hockey in Carman throughout minor hockey and moved on to play ‘AAA’ Midget with the Pembina Valley Hawks down in Morden. After getting hurt playing hockey with the Hawks, I wanted to get into some work helping athletes with their injuries. That is what led me to take Massage Therapy at school in Winnipeg.”
Pritchard has been working independently as a massage therapist since graduating from school in 2002. After two years of study at the Massage Therapy College of Manitoba, he earned his certification as an Advanced Remedial Massage Therapist.
Prior to joining the Jets medical staff when the team returned in 2011, Pritchard worked with the Manitoba Moose for five years in a dual role as a Game Day Assistant and Massage Therapist.
Pritchard’s favourite parts of the job include the privilege of working with NHL players every day.
“Being involved daily in the best league in the world is the best, along with all the people you meet along the way,” said Pritchard. “Every day, I work with my seven best friends and get to go to the rink to work in the NHL.
Pritchard was recognized for reaching his 1,000th game during a recent Nov. 7 game in which the Jets defeated the Colorado Avalanche 1-0. He was surrounded by his family and friends, who were all in attendance to see him get honoured.
“There is never a bad day in the National Hockey League, and the Jets is a first-class organization from top to bottom. For my 1000th game, I was treated as such. From the organization to the players and from the training staff. I was spoiled and treated first-class all the way. It really shows how much they care and makes all the time and energy you put in daily really worth it.”
Today, Pritchard, his wife Rachel, and two children reside in Niverville.
“We ended up moving to Niverville after the first year in the NHL to be closer to my wife’s family to get some much-needed help with the kids due to our commitments to our work. We couldn’t have been happier with the move.”
