USA Hockey Magazine

AUGUST 2023 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 35 "I wish they knew how much support there was for our country in that arena because of them. Those fans were able to go to a game because of the work that they do and where they were at during that time. There's so much pride. I couldn't believe I got to see the tip of the spear in both arenas, so to speak. I never would have thought I would be able to do this because I didn't know it was an option, but it is so humbling that I get to." Menches journey to training some of Team USA's finest hockey players and United States Air Force pilots go together. While first beginning to play hockey at 9 years old, Menches also started to have an appreciation for the military as she listened to her grandfather tell stories of his time as a lieutenant in the Air Force, where he flew fighter jets in World War II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars. "He's my main inspiration," she shared. " When he passed, they did the 21-gun salute and all that good stuff. I still have the flag from his funeral in my room at home and it's something that I value. He was only 16 or 17 when he enlisted, but he cared so much about his country. He enlisted at the end of World War II, and towards the end of his time served, he was the oldest lieutenant in the Air Force." Meanwhile, Menches passion for hock- ey began with an after-school program and weekend skates. Her youth coach, Jeff Brennan, suggested she join a new girl's program beginning in Atlanta. She eventually parlayed that into stints with various teams, including two years at Shattuck-St. Mary's. It was at Shattuck where Menches hockey career would start to evolve in various ways. Beyond eventually earning an opportunity to don the green and gold at the University of Vermont, Menches also discovered her passion for human sciences and performance. After attending her first basic human anatomy and physiology class, Menches decided to attend a specialized training program at a Division 1 university over the summer that focused on improving performance for high school athletes. Menches then saw first-hand the success that comes from having a strength and conditioning plan when she participated at four USA HockeyPlayer Development Camps as a player. Based on her own growth as a player thanks to her off-ice training, Menches knew she she wanted to help other athletes feel the same empowerment. "Teaching is really cool," said Menches. "Education can be a positive weapon. You're giving people more authority. You're allowing them to own their space and dive deeper into something, really grasp it. They can form an argument and have more of a say in conversation, while bettering their life and contributing to society." Following her four-year career at UVM, where she earned her bachelor's degree in exercise and movement science, Menches headed to the University of Arkansas to earn her master's degree in kinesiolo- gy with a concentration in exercise sci- ence. She then took a job as an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Army West Point Athletic Association in October 2019 before moving home to South Carolina in 2021 when an opportu- nity arose to train Air Force pilots. " West Point was a really nice blend b e c a u s e y o u c o u l d e i t h e r s e e i t a s a strength coach, as tactical experience for another tactical job you want or as colle- giate experience," said Menches. "I knew I wanted to do more with tactical. The more I did it, the more I identified with the higher purpose, and the more that motivated me and kept me accountable." Menches works currently as a govern- ment contractor to train fighter aircrew, and every day she sees common attributes among the hockey players she sometimes works with in the servicemen and women she is helping. "My job is to help them with musculoskeletal pain and reduce and mitigate neck and back injuries due to high- G flight," she explained. "The aircraft they fly puts a lot of stress on their joints due to high- G and multiple high- G maneuvers they have to make. Our job is to take the high-performance model from college ath- letics and professional realms and apply it to a military setting so we can maintain the readiness of our warfighter. "The service mentality is similar to being a penalty killer, it is, 'I'll do whatever.'" P Kourtney Menches discusses best training tactics at the USA Hockey- BioSteel Girls 15 Player Development Camp. I wish they knew how much support there was for our country in that arena because of them. Those fans were able to go to a game because of the work that they do and where they were at during that time. AUGUST 2023 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 35 KOURTNEY MENCHES ON BEING AT A U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME WHILE A GROUP OF PILOTS SHE TRAINED WERE DEPLOYED

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