August 21, 2024

EL SEGUNDO, CA - The LA Jr. Kings/LA Lions youth hockey club has announced a partnership with ADAPT, an organization specializing in the mental health and physical wellness of its participating student-athletes.

As part of its curriculum with the Jr. Kings/Lions, teams 10U-and-older, as well as individual players, will have priority access to ADAPT’s customized, age-appropriate services that emphasize the importance of mental health performance and injury maintenance and prevention.

ADAPT (Athlete Development and Performance Therapy) is led by Molly Meenan and Dr. Ariel Hourihan, both former NCAA Division I softball players who’ve experienced firsthand the highs and lows of the day-to-day rigors of competitive athletics, on and off the field. Meenan focuses on the mental health component of ADAPT, while Hourihan’s expertise lies in injury maintenance and prevention.

“The ability to incorporate ADAPT’s knowledge and enthusiasm is a tremendous asset as we continue to develop our kids into better hockey players, better teammates and better citizens,” said Jr. Kings general manager Tommy Tartaglione. “The enthusiasm and passion Molly and Ariel have for working with young athletes is second to none and sure to resonate throughout our club at all age and skill levels.”

This coming season, two teams within the Jr. Kings/Lions program will work with ADAPT on a full-season basis, meeting twice a month at El Segundo’s Toyota Sports Performance Center - home of the Jr. Kings/Lions - to engage in interactive training and seminars with the goal of optimizing both teams’ overall performance, on and off the ice.

“Our goal is to equip these young athletes with a comprehensive set of resources to ensure they continue their athletic careers in optimal mental and physical health,” said Meenan, a Mental Performance and Health Coach. “We want to support them as they move on to higher levels of performance and have a better understanding of the importance of taking care of their overall health as athletes, team members and people.”

“We see a gap in what's typically provided to athletes growing up as they transition from club sports to the collegiate or professional level, where certain aspects of recovery and health have to come from the individuals on their own,” added Hourihan, DPT, CSCS, USAW, CF-L1. “We feel the better we can equip athletes on self-care - both the mind and body - the more enjoyable their athletic pursuits will be with greater longevity and success to their careers.”

For inquiries regarding individual injury evaluations, contact Hourihan via e-mail at: ariel@teaminspirept.com or Instagram: @teaminspirept

For inquiries regarding individual mental performance coaching, contact Meenan via e-mail at: mmeenan44@gmail.com or Instagram: @mollymeenan