By Steve Vedder | The Grand Rapids Press January 21, 2010

GRAND RAPIDS — Considering the physical and mental toll hockey takes, Patrick Rissmiller would not have been opposed to taking a few days off this week.

But opening a few eyes and hopefully getting back on track to play in the NHL was a no-brainer.

So when the Grand Rapids Griffins forward had the chance to play in Tuesday’s Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Classic, he grabbed it.

Time off, he said, is for the summer months, not mid-January.

“It was fun,” said Rissmiller, a member of the Planet USA team that lost 10-9 to a team of the league’s Canadian all-stars. “Some people like the time off, but at the same time, you’re being recognized in being asked to play.

“It was very laid back. You get to see a lot of familiar faces you play against and you just have fun with it. It’s a good change of pace. I’ve got all summer to take time off.”

Rissmiller, who leads the Griffins with 31 points, did not collect a goal or an assist in the game, which was highlighted by the presence of 10 No. 1 draft picks. He competed in the rapid fire and breakaway skills competitions Monday while passing on others, such as the hardest shot or fastest skater events.

While Rissmiller enjoyed looking up old friends, he had another reasons for playing in the game. In fact, it’s the same reason he was happy to be “loaned” this season to the Griffins by the New York Rangers, the team that owns his NHL rights.

The 31-year-old Rissmiller said his goal is to return to the NHL, where he has played 182 career games. After playing two complete seasons with the San Jose Sharks from 2006-08, Rissmiller signed a three-year contract with the Rangers, who assigned him to Hartford after just two games in New York in 2008-09.

After beginning this season with Hartford, the Rangers agreed to send him to Grand Rapids, which was thrilled to get him, Griffins coach Curt Fraser said.

“We jumped on that,” Fraser said of signing Rissmiller, who entered the season with 265 points in 391 career AHL games. “Since he’s been here, he’s been a huge part of the team.”

Rissmiller, who has 10 goals in 44 games this season, said whether it’s playing in an all-star game in Portland, Maine, or putting in time with the Griffins, both are opportunities to catch the eye of NHL scouts.

“I look at this as an opportunity, a chance to be exposed to different organizations,” he said.

“And it’s an opportunity to help the younger guys. Obviously, I work for New York, but I hope I can open eyes. And hopefully, an NHL team will take an interest.

“Grand Rapids has been an opportunity for a fresh start, and hopefully, I can be appealing to someone.”

Rissmiller, who last played in an all-star with the Cleveland Barons in 2006, thinks he is an NHL-type player. He has 18 career NHL goals.

“Absolutely that’s what I believe,” he said. “That’s probably the attitude of most guys, and they should have it. I spent a couple years in San Jose, and then things didn’t work out in New York. But this isn’t the end for me by any means.

“I’m happy with some of how I’ve played this year. But it could be better on a more consistent basis. I’ve had some tough times like some of the other players, but it’s worked out well here for me.”

Researchers in the University of Alberta Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation looked at a National Hockey League team over a 26-year cycle and discovered players have become bigger and fitter.

The research team studied 703 players from a Canadian-based NHL team from 1979 to 2005. The physiological profile derived from their research shows that over the 26 seasons, defencemen became taller and heavier as body mass increased; forwards got younger and had higher peak aerobic power outputs for cardio-respiratory endurance, while goalies were shorter and more flexible and had lower peak aerobic power outputs. All players combined (defence, forwards and goaltenders) increased body mass, height and anaerobic power over the 26 years.
The physiological changes the research uncovered aren’t surprising, says Art Quinney, lead researcher and a professor emeritus of exercise physiology at the U of A.
“It’s common in many sports that have a power component that the larger, stronger, faster players develop greater power and they’re more successful based on performance. The game has changed over the years and those who are bigger and have additional strength and power are more successful. With changes in rules, however, smaller and faster players also have a place in the NHL.”
Researchers also looked at players’ fitness levels in successful and non-successful years-defined as those in which the team did or did not win a Stanley Cup or were in the playoffs-and found that fitness levels were not related to team performance.
“One of the things that was clear to me was that fitness is very important, but highly skilled players coming together at particular times of the year is far more important,” said Quinney. “There are many factors at play when it comes to the success of a team that aren’t measured in a fitness appraisal.”
The research was published recently in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.

This section of the Prentiss Hockey site will be a source of updates relating to PHP athletes and their successes on and off the ice. Other information about training and nutrition will also be included. Enjoy!