If you had to describe yourself as a player, how would you do it?
I’d say I’m fierce, always searching for the best version of myself. I’m not someone who settles—I always want more and I keep pushing forward. Grit, a lot of grit.
As a high-performance athlete, recovery is key. But why is it so important to you?
Yes, recovery is obviously essential. But I don’t think it’s only important for high-performance athletes—it’s important for everyone.
Athletes need to perform at 100% all the time. But so does someone who wakes up every day to go to work. You have to perform, stay fresh, and face whatever challenges the day brings. Our body is our tool for work—no matter what we do.
Taking care of it is essential. That’s why I put a lot of focus on sleeping well, doing cold exposure, sauna—anything that makes me feel good and helps me recover.
What does your recovery routine look like?
First of all, rest—because it’s fundamental for recovery. Then eating well and training just the right amount (not overdoing it everyday).
I really enjoy cold-plunges and sauna sessions three times a week. Lately I’ve also been enjoying pressotherapy with boots; I use them while sitting on the couch watching a series.
Do you feel anything has changed since you started doing cold-plunges and/or sauna?
Honestly, yes.
Since I started cold-plunging regularly, I feel much better with my breathing and the connection to my body. Cold-plunging brings you a bit to the edge because the body sets off all its alarms.
That’s why it helps me train my mind—it forces you to connect, breathe, and learn how to move through that moment of discomfort that’s actually over in a minute.
I mostly use the sauna for contrast sessions. I’ve noticed it helps me sleep better and feel more relaxed.
Let’s talk about mental health: how important is it for you? Why do you think it’s key for high-performance athletes?
Mental health is extremely important—in every aspect of life, not just in sports.
For me, trusting yourself and not putting yourself down is fundamental. I’ve experienced that many times in my life, and I think it’s the worst thing that can happen to an athlete.
Why? Because you enter a spiral where you stop believing in yourself, everything goes wrong, and nothing feels good enough.
That’s why it’s so important to feel good with yourself, to talk about everything—the good and the bad—and even allow yourself to make mistakes or fail sometimes.
What tools do you use on those days when your mind isn’t cooperating?
On days when I have a bad match and my head isn’t in the right place, I think: “Okay, today isn’t your day with the stick and the ball—so focus on helping the team, running, defending, pushing forward.”
Again, you have to allow yourself to make mistakes or feel off sometimes. But you also need to move through it quickly and not stay stuck there. Shift your mindset.
What would you say to someone who wants to become a professional hockey player and is just starting out?
First of all, enjoy it.
Train hard and take care of yourself because nothing comes easy. Sometimes you can make it to the top, but staying there is the hard part. There will be pain, and a lot of challenges will appear. But the important thing is to keep going and never quit.
Even if our sport isn’t fully professional, we still have to be.
Sometimes you’ll have to make choices—and that’s one of the hardest parts.
Never stop being humble. People without humility don’t truly succeed.
Give it your all—both in training and as a teammate.
Alfa Humans
Alfa Humans was born from a need: being able to do cryotherapy without having to buy bag after bag of ice. But over time, that need turned into a purpose.
What drives us? Bringing tools closer to people that genuinely make them feel better: more energy to face the day, less stress, better mental health, more enjoyment, better overall wellbeing—in short, a fuller life.
If you’re ready to take the next step and experience the power of deep cold and heat, head to our homepage to explore all our Ice Bath models and the Sauna On The Go.
