Carol Grgic
By Max Templin
As a rough battle ensues for a loose puck in Game 1 of the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs, Milwaukee Admirals defenseman Trevor Murphy suffers a cut on his cheek from an inadvertent high stick. As blood gushes from the fresh wound, Carol Grgic and the rest of the medical team hurry to the locker room to prepare to apply stitches.
Grgic is one of two physical therapists for the Admirals through Aurora Healthcare. She provides care for injured players both during and between games.
“It’s hard to say what a typical night involves, since you never really know what to expect from the games,” Grgic said. “Sometimes, we have nothing to do because the guys stay out of trouble. Other times, we have to tend to several players at once.”
As a physical therapist, Grgic is very aware of the most common hockey-related ailments and knows how to keep the players healthy.
“It’s very important for [them] to maintain strong core muscles because they are in a rough position hunched over their stick” she said. “Those muscles help to avoid back and abdomen strains.”
Of course, hockey is a very physical sport, so muscle strains and pulls are hardly the only concern.
“It can get really violent out there,” Grgic said with a grin. “Being on ice skates puts a lot of stress on their legs, but those injuries are small compared to what can happen when they get hit with a puck or a fist. Also, getting checked into the boards can cause severe whiplash.”
With all of the physicality throughout the season, Grgic remains very busy. Apart from working on game nights, she also sees players regularly during the week for rehab sessions at the clinic.
“We want to make sure we are with the players every step of the way through a long term recovery, whether it be an ACL tear, a broken bone, or anything that requires rehabilitation.”
Grgic has been a physical therapist for over 25 years, with always a focus on athletic therapy. Before working at her current clinic in the Mt. Sinai Hospital Complex in downtown Milwaukee, she worked for a clinic called ProCare based in Greenfield.
The Admirals job was offered to her through her work with Aurora Sports Medicine Institute.
“I love seeing Carol working with the team because you can just tell she loves it,” said Cheryl Mantz, who works for Aurora’s public relations department and oversees interactions between the team and the clinic. “She is a huge hockey fan, and enjoys being around the rink and around the game in general.”
Mantz added, “She might actually be one of the biggest Admirals fans I know.”
“I have learned a lot about hockey from Carol,” pitched in Matthew Braun, another employee with Aurora Healthcare.
“She was with us here at Aurora before she actually took on the Admirals position. Ever since she has, our relationship with the team has become more close. It is a fantastic partnership.”
Grgic said it was definitely a great season to be with the team.
“From training camp all the way up to the division championship and the playoffs, the guys worked so hard, and it was great to see it pay off,” she said.
This was the last season for Admirals home games at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. With the new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette University men’s basketball on the way, the hockey team will move across the street to UWM Panther Arena.
“It is sad to be leaving the Bradley Center because of all the memories there with the team,” Grgic said. “I’ve been going to Ads games since I was a little kid. My parents used to take me to games [at the Bradley Center] all the time.”
She allowed, though, that the different facility might actually be a better venue for the team.
“It will be fun to see the new set-up and what fans think about it,” she said.
As a rough battle ensues for a loose puck in Game 1 of the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs, Milwaukee Admirals defenseman Trevor Murphy suffers a cut on his cheek from an inadvertent high stick. As blood gushes from the fresh wound, Carol Grgic and the rest of the medical team hurry to the locker room to prepare to apply stitches.
Grgic is one of two physical therapists for the Admirals through Aurora Healthcare. She provides care for injured players both during and between games.
“It’s hard to say what a typical night involves, since you never really know what to expect from the games,” Grgic said. “Sometimes, we have nothing to do because the guys stay out of trouble. Other times, we have to tend to several players at once.”
As a physical therapist, Grgic is very aware of the most common hockey-related ailments and knows how to keep the players healthy.
“It’s very important for [them] to maintain strong core muscles because they are in a rough position hunched over their stick” she said. “Those muscles help to avoid back and abdomen strains.”
Of course, hockey is a very physical sport, so muscle strains and pulls are hardly the only concern.
“It can get really violent out there,” Grgic said with a grin. “Being on ice skates puts a lot of stress on their legs, but those injuries are small compared to what can happen when they get hit with a puck or a fist. Also, getting checked into the boards can cause severe whiplash.”
With all of the physicality throughout the season, Grgic remains very busy. Apart from working on game nights, she also sees players regularly during the week for rehab sessions at the clinic.
“We want to make sure we are with the players every step of the way through a long term recovery, whether it be an ACL tear, a broken bone, or anything that requires rehabilitation.”
Grgic has been a physical therapist for over 25 years, with always a focus on athletic therapy. Before working at her current clinic in the Mt. Sinai Hospital Complex in downtown Milwaukee, she worked for a clinic called ProCare based in Greenfield.
The Admirals job was offered to her through her work with Aurora Sports Medicine Institute.
“I love seeing Carol working with the team because you can just tell she loves it,” said Cheryl Mantz, who works for Aurora’s public relations department and oversees interactions between the team and the clinic. “She is a huge hockey fan, and enjoys being around the rink and around the game in general.”
Mantz added, “She might actually be one of the biggest Admirals fans I know.”
“I have learned a lot about hockey from Carol,” pitched in Matthew Braun, another employee with Aurora Healthcare.
“She was with us here at Aurora before she actually took on the Admirals position. Ever since she has, our relationship with the team has become more close. It is a fantastic partnership.”
Grgic said it was definitely a great season to be with the team.
“From training camp all the way up to the division championship and the playoffs, the guys worked so hard, and it was great to see it pay off,” she said.
This was the last season for Admirals home games at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. With the new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette University men’s basketball on the way, the hockey team will move across the street to UWM Panther Arena.
“It is sad to be leaving the Bradley Center because of all the memories there with the team,” Grgic said. “I’ve been going to Ads games since I was a little kid. My parents used to take me to games [at the Bradley Center] all the time.”
She allowed, though, that the different facility might actually be a better venue for the team.
“It will be fun to see the new set-up and what fans think about it,” she said.