BROOKS, AB (November 4, 2020) ? The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are thrilled to announce the launch of Hockey Fans In Training (Hockey FIT), a 12 week program which aims to improve the health of adult male hockey fans.
Launching in early 2021, the Bandits are thefirst team in the AJHL to offer the program to their fans. Participants aged 35-65 will learn how to eat better and get active while having the opportunity to socializewith other fans working towards the same healthy lifestyle goals.
They?ll also have the opportunity to go behind the scenes at CRA and meet some of the Bandits coaching staff. The program, made possible by a partnership with the City of Brooks, the Bandits and the University of Western Ontario, includes 12 x 90 minute sessions and is ran by certified coaches helping hockey fans make sustainable changes to improve their health and wellbeing.
?We?re excited to partnerwith the Bandits and to be able to bring Hockey FIT to the community of Brooks, AB. As the first team in the AJHL to offer Hockey FIT, the Bandits are taking the lead in helping to improving the health of their community and to give back to their fanbase,? said Brendan Riggin, Hockey FIT Head Coach and Scientist from the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at Western.
?We look forward to beingable to offer the program and promoting a healthy lifestyle among Bandits? fans.?
Canadian men live, on average, four years less than their female counterparts. Men are more likely than women to be overweight and are at a greater risk for preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Hockey FIT was developed in 2014 to address this health inequity and provide men with the tools and resources tochange their lifestyle for the better, and has been successful in other Canadian Junior Hockey League markets such as Penticton and Chilliwack.