From juniors in the QMJHL to the AHL to six NHL seasons with Montreal and Colorado followed by a year in Russia in the KHL, Sven Andrighetto reached a point in his career where he wanted some stability. In this instance, home is where the heart is and where the hockey is.
“I reached a stage in my life and career where I wanted more certainty, more stability,” said Andrighetto. “Then my hometown team offered me a five-year contract so it was an easy decision to come home.”
Andrighetto has been with AYCANE from the very start — we’re talking before the company even had a name or an office. Around the same time he returned to play in Switzerland, his friend and long-time agent, Daniel “Gigs” Giger (an AYCANE founder), told him about a little idea for a hockey start-up…
In fact, “Ghetto,” as he’s known in hockey circles, was one of the biggest supporters of the AYCANE vision and confirmed that there is a demand for innovative hockey undergarments and skate socks.
“Gigs has been my agent since I was 15 years old,” said Andrighetto. “He’s a good friend and has supported me through my whole career. When I got back, he told me about [AYCANE] and wanted to get my input on the products. I thought it was awesome because there really wasn’t anyone in the hockey world that was just making baselayers, socks, and off-ice apparel. The big hockey companies do everything, but no one had focused on this area.”
Giger and Andrighetto met with fellow AYCANE founders, Nico and Sven Serena, where the brothers discussed their vision with current hockey players. The players brought in their current hockey underwear and talked about what they wanted to change.
“Growing up I wore a pair of pajama pants and a simple shirt under my gear,” said Andrighetto. “I tried other brands over the years, but none were ever quite right because it never felt like they were designed for hockey.
“So Nico and Sven asked questions about what we’d like to change. For example, on the elbows, maybe add some rubber so the pads don’t slide around. They had me try samples and I gave them some feedback. It was pretty cool to be involved with the process.”
“Now, I use all of AYCANE’s stuff and I love it.”
Andrighetto’s game embodies the AYCANE athlete. He’s a bit undersized but tenacious. A smaller forward who relies on speed and skill. He creates chances and isn’t afraid to skate into dangerous areas.
There’s a lot more ice to cover in the Swiss National League versus the NHL, but Andrighetto trains hard to push the pace and spread the bigger ice.
“I love wearing the baselayers and socks,” he said. “It’s not so much that I feel a difference, it’s that I don’t really notice it at all when I’m playing. Everything does what it says it’s going to do. My elbow pads stay in place, the fabric is stretchy and super breathable, and ultra-lightweight. I don’t overheat during the games. It’s perfect.”
Off the ice, Andrighetto wears AYCANE during his workouts and when he’s chilling out. “The t-shirts are so light and have such a nice texture, they’re my go-to whether I’m training in the gym or just hanging out after practice or games,” he said. “It really is perfect for working out — stretchy, fits perfectly, and looks cool. I like everything about it.”
“It’s already become really well-liked in the hockey community in such a short period of time. I’m excited for what else is to come.”
]]>It took a while, but Czech women’s hockey has arrived, and suddenly they can’t stop winning medals at the World Championships. That long road to reach the podium makes it all the sweeter, says all-star and AYCANE ambassador, Kateřina Mrázová.
“It was amazing to see our group stick together and win a medal for the first time after four cycles and lots of hard work,” she says, referring to the qualification period to reach the Olympics and stick in the top tier of women’s hockey. “[2022] was a challenging year, with the qualification format and then right into the Olympic games, but it was a great experience for the Czech women to make the games and then do well. It gained us exposure on TV, so the program gained some respect. Competing in the tournament on the world’s biggest stage was really special. To win a second bronze at this year’s world’s really solidifies that we’re here. It wasn’t a fluke. We’re for real.”
While men’s hockey has a rich history in the Czech Republic, with legends like Dominik Hasek and Jaromir Jagr (who is somehow still playing) tearing up the NHL, racking up awards, and winning the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the ladies have taken a longer road to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
With players like tenacious two-way center, Mrázová, they’ve fought through a series of demotions and promotions from the second tier to the top level at the world championships. In 2022, they finally qualified for their first Olympic games, finishing in 7th place.
Then, this past fall, the Czech women loudly announced their arrival on the international stage with a bronze medal-winning performance at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, the program’s first-ever medal. Then, they did it again this summer.
Mrázová, an assistant captain, played a key role for Czechia in both tournaments and did so with AYCANE hockey underwear and socks on under her gear, helping to regulate her body temperature, manage moisture, and improve her performance.
The Prague-born Mrázová connected with AYCANE through fellow ambassador, Noemi Rhyner, who got her involved and set her up with AYCANE hockey base layers, hockey skate socks, and off-ice apparel. Mrázová noticed a difference right away.
“It’s really lightweight and doesn’t smell,” she said of the women’s hockey baselayers. “It takes all the sweat away and stays comfortable throughout the game. Since I got it I haven’t stopped wearing it under my gear.”
You’ll often catch Kateřina in her AYCANE hoodie, joggers, tees, and hat even off the ice. She trains in AYCANE as well. “Again, you can’t really smell it like a regular workout tee,” she said. “It’s really lightweight and fits perfectly. I especially love to hop into the joggers and hoodie after a practice or game. It’s comfy and stylish too!”
As Mrázová continues to develop her game here in the States, you can bet she’ll be doing it in AYCANE.
Known for her stickhandling skills, she became the first European player to win the Clarkson Cup. After completing her college career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Mrázová transitioned to the professional ranks in the now-defunct NWHL, where she became the first Czech player to score a goal in the National Women's Hockey League. Her next destination was Sweden, where she spent three seasons with Brynäs IF, establishing herself as a leading scorer and playmaker.
Mrázová and many other European players returned to the States for the 2022-23 season, where she centered the top line for the Connecticut Whale, earning All-Star honors while averaging a point per game.
]]>
To say AYCANE athlete Dominik Kahun’s had a well-traveled hockey career would be an understatement. He was born in the Czech Republic, grew his game in Germany, played a year of juniors in Canada, and then has played professionally in Germany, the NHL (for Chicago, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Edmonton in three seasons), and now the Swiss National League for SC Bern. There were many battles, goals, and even an Olympic silver medal for Germany at the 2018 games in PyeongChang along the way. Now, he’s signed a five-year deal to make Switzerland and SC Bern his home. But that doesn’t mean he’s settling in — as pre-season games get underway, Dominik is ready to earn his contract by doing what he does best: score.
Last summer, Dominik wasn’t sure where he would wind up for the 2021-22 season. He’d gotten used to bouncing around the NHL but wanted some stability in his career. Somewhere he could grow his game and play a role best suited to his offensive abilities. He found that in SC Bern, and netted 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points in 42 games. He was rewarded for his great year with a five-year contract to help push SC Bern toward a National League title. To get there, he’s been pushing himself this off-season.
Wearing AYCANE shorts, tees, and a hoodie or long-sleeve on cooler days in the Czech Republic, Dominik pushed himself to get stronger and faster on the ice. And training on the ice, he’s been working on one thing in particular: his shot.
“I try to improve every summer,” he says. “I have a core training program I do, but this year I really focused on gaining more speed. I also want to score more goals, so I’ve worked a lot on my shot.”
Off the ice, Dominik loves the way AYCANE feels as he moves through his workouts. “Everything is super comfortable,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s short sleeve or long sleeve. You barely notice they are there which is what you want when you’re training. I even wear AYCANE just walking around — they have good styling, good colors.”
AYCANE brought some AYCANE demo products to SC Bern to get athlete feedback. Before Dominik even tried it, he heard from other guys in the room about the baselayers.
“The guys said they get more air in the pants,” he says. “Even the top, you feel like you’re not sweating as much. In between periods, I usually take off my gear. When I do wearing my AYCANE baselayers, I barely feel like I’ve been sweating.” Dominik enjoys the performance advantage this gives him on the ice. He’s tried all the other big hockey brands’ baselayers — none perform and let his body breathe like AYCANE.
“You get an edge when you don’t feel soaked,” he says. “Staying dry helps you feel light throughout the game and perform better.”
One Dominik gave AYCANE a try, he was hooked, and asked for more. He wears AYCANE hockey baselayers and socks every time he hits the ice. He trains off the ice in AYCANE. He even wears AYCANE between games.
Dominik hopes SC Bern will dethrone two-time defending champions, EV Zug, this season. Signing Dominik long-term is a great first step, but new rules have allowed the team to bring in more imports. Previously, each team in the National League could only have four foreign players on their roster. Now, they are allowed six per team. The league has grown and the talent level has risen, mainly because players now understand the high level of play and quality of life in Switzerland.
“Switzerland is a beautiful country,” he says. “I’m happy to be here for this next phase in my career.”
Dominik enjoyed his time in the NHL, but was put in roles that didn’t suit his game. With SC Bern, the two-time Olympian looks to play more minutes, feature on the power play, and do whatever it takes to help his team try to win the title.
“Bern is a great hockey city,” he says. “The fans are super passionate, We fill the arena for every game, it’s actually the most-attended hockey city in Europe. In the NHL, Vegas had crazy fans, but Bern is crazier — especially The Wall (a standing section of fans, common in European arenas).” Dominik aims to light the lamp and keep those fans on their feet. We’re proud to say he’s joined the revolution and will do it in AYCANE.
On Ice:
Off Ice:
Between Games:
AYCANE athlete Alina Müller is a Swiss ice hockey forward for the Northeastern Huskies and the Switzerland women's national team. We at AYCANE are super proud to have Alina on board. Wondering why? Here are a few of her accomplishments:
First, there's the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Alina played with the Swiss women's national team and they won a Bronze Medal. That's pretty awesome, but it gets better: She's the youngest hockey player ever to win an Olympic medal. She was just 15 at the time!
Add to that, she made news at the Olympics 2018 in PyeongChang. During the Swiss opening match against the United Korean team, Alina tied the Olympic record for most goals scored by a woman in an Olympic game. She scored a hat trick in the first period, and a fourth goal in the second!
Not only has she participated in 5 IIHF Women's World Championships, she's got a slew of awards under her belt. Pretty impressive for someone who was only born in 1998. Here are just a few:
Side note: This young woman from Zurich is not only an athlete of excellence, in her spare time she's working away at her degree, doing a major in behaviorial neuroscience with a minor in human movement science. Talk about talented!
]]>The rookie from Germany plays for the Detroit Red Wings and took the organization by storm. Due to the pandemic, Moritz NHL debut had to wait, but the young D made the most of it and played for Rögle in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), where he was tearing things up and ended up earning the defenseman of the year award.
When the 2021-22 season finally came around, he earned the opportunity to stick with the Red Wings roster and join the team’s defense core as a consistent member. Mo grew into a larger role for the Red Wings throughout the season, becoming a key cog on the team’s blueline. Mo played on both the penalty kill and power play, scoring 50 points (seven goals, 43 assists) in 82 games this season. He led all rookies in assists, power-play points (21), and time on ice per game (23:02). For his efforts, Mo was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
Back in the days when only had a little brand presentation about AYCANE, no products, no shop, nothing, Mo already had an open ear for us and believed in our vision and mission. AYCANE and Mo started the engines at the same time. Mo in the NHL, AYCANE online. Mo was actually our photo and video model for our first collection and is now proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the NHL.
In case you were curious, Mo wears the short sleeve baselayer and baselayer pants on the ice, and the Arexx zip hoodie and joggers when he’s chilling out between games. The baselayers move with his body, regulate his temperature, and wick away sweat in the heat of battle while his off-ice recovery kit is smooth, comfortable, and just what he needs to relax.
Young Timo Meier started like a rocket into his career and was selected by the San Jose Sharks with the No. 9 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft after he had 90 points (44 goals, 46 assists) in 61 games with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the best prospect in the QMJHL. He signed a three-year,entry-level contract with San Jose in 2015, but was returned to the QMJHL for the 2015-16 season and had 87 points (34 goals, 53 assists) in 52 games with Halifax and Rouyn-Noranda. Meier split 2016-17, his first professional season, between San Jose in the American Hockey League and the Sharks. He had 23 points in 33 AHL games and six points in 34 NHL games.
Timo started his NHL career just right in December 2021 scoring his first goal in the first game in a 4-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens. 2017-18 Timo played the entire season with the San Jose Sharks, scoring 36 points in 81 regular-season games and had 5 points in 10 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After the Sharks were eliminated in the Western Conference Second Round, Timo switched Jerseys and helped Switzerland win the silver medal at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, finishing with seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven games. He followed that with 66 points (30 goals, 36 assists) in 2018-19. Timo signed a big ticket with the Sharks in July 2019 with a $24 million contract. Since the season 2021/22 is wearing AYCANE and he plays his best game ever. Surely not only because of our revolutionary hockey baselayers, but our performance enhancing technology supports him the best way an undergarment can do that.
Timo joined the AYCANE Circle as one of the 1st athletes, spending hours with our development team to find out what’s really important for a hockey pro like him. Not only his insights in his game were worth a million, he was also the model for our very first photo and video shoot. He gave our young brand his face, personality and soul. We are more than honoured that a star like Timo has put so much trust in us right from the beginning.
We’re the champs! Sort of. Technically, EV Zug is the champion, but since we are the Official Baselayer Partner of the team, we’re joining in the celebration.
EV Zug went down three games to none in the finals against ZSC Lions, then battled back and won the following four games to claim the series win and championship. It’s their second championship in a row — back-to-back champs!
AYCANE is proud to partner with EV Zug, which showed great spirit and tenacity to defend its championship. Two long seasons and playoffs — that’s a lot of hockey! They must have some kind of competitive edge. Something that keeps them going so late in the season, into the playoffs, and gives them the extra energy to battle back after falling behind.
Some may say it was the baselayers and skate socks. Yes, the EV Zug team was wearing AYCANE baselayers and skate socks all season and through the playoffs. Was it the comfort? The breathability? The ultra-lightweight and stretchy and moisture-wicking performance?
Perhaps all of the above. Who’s to say. But why leave it to chance? Grab our innovative, high-performance hockey baselayers and skate socks for next season just to be safe.
]]>Speed doesn’t appear out of thin air. You can’t just make a wish and wake up faster. It’s the result of hard work, determination, and drive. Having a coach like Raphael Schuler helps. He’s the one who turned AYCANE athlete, Timo Meier, into an absolute beast this season, and has worked with other NHL stars like Roman Josi. So how does he make athletes fast as lightning?
During the year, hockey actually isn’t generally on Schuler’s mind. That’s because his primary gig isn’t with a puck, but a ball. Soccer, to be specific — Schuler works at a soccer academy in Switzerland. But no matter the sport, athletes all have the same goal.
“I realized that the speed part of performance is something that every coach and athlete asks for,” he said. “So often I’m asked ‘How can I get faster?’ It doesn’t matter if it’s hockey, soccer, or anything else. Many performance coaches have a strong bias toward the strength or the conditioning side. But speed is something that many do not adequately understand. In team sports, sometimes you have coaches from track and field who know all about sprinting, but they often lack an understanding of the demands of team sport athletes and their needs in terms of game speed. So that became my focus."
During the offseason, Schuler works with NHL players to help them gain a step or two for the next season. More powerful strides, a stronger burst, and more sustained speed through a shift.
“Speed is the representation of the optimal combination of conditioning and coordination and is limited more by coordinative skill than conditioning ability.”
For Schuler, speed is a skill and is limited more by coordinative skills than conditioning abilities. To help a player get faster, Schuler first watches videos of the athlete performing to look for strengths and weaknesses. He considers their position and playing style in addition to the athlete’s personality. Then, he puts the athlete through a series of physical tests, including loaded and unloaded jumps, broad jumps, lateral bounds, and, of course, sprints. He uses these baselines and split times to help inform the player’s program. He also watches their form. Are their forces during sprints more vertical or horizontal? How does their performance change when they sprint with different loads on the sled? Are they more force-dependent or velocity-dependent?
For a player like Timo Meier, in the midst of an All-Star season, the last off-season was all about efficiency. “Timo has a lot of power and strength,” said Schuler. “We wanted to build smoothness in his movements. We did a lot of top-speed sprints and other high speed drills with Timo. His off-season program really helped him be more efficient with his movements, to switch his muscles on and off. We know from sports sciences, that if you can relax your muscles quicker you’ll be ready to explode faster again. So we really worked on engaging and disengaging, and really focusing his movements when he needed to move with intention. That focused energy has made a huge difference for him.”
Schuler says he noticed the difference wearing AYCANE immediately. “For me, when I first wear it — it’s so comfortable,” he said. “You move better because you feel better. It’s so light and comfy, but also very resistible and sustainable. It’s that perfect combination of speed and strength, just like the athletes that wear it. It’s the perfect harmony for hockey players, in particular, but also any athlete who wants to take their training to another level.”
Schuler lives in St. Gallen, Switzerland, with his wife, three-year-old son, and one-year-old daughter. www.raphaelschuler.ch
]]>She first hit the ice at age six and battled with the boys all the way up through age 18 when she turned professional. Noemi won two Swiss Women’s Hockey League A championships with the ZSC Lions Frauen as a teenager and another with HC Lugano Ladies in 2020-21. She debuted for the Swiss National Team at the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship and participated in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, helping the Swiss team to a best-ever fourth-place finish.
“It was amazing,” she said, of her Olympics experience. “The COVID measures were difficult — we couldn’t go to other competitions, so I can’t compare to a real experience. I guess I’ll just have to make the team for the next Olympics to get the full experience.”
Noemi most recently played in the Swedish Women's Hockey League with Luleå Hockey/MSSK and has won the championship in her SDHL debut season. Next year, she brings her talents to Leksands IF Dam where she hopes to take the next step in her career.
A couple of months back, we asked the Swiss National Team coach if there was anyone on the team who had some style. They said, “Yeah, we have one. She has a lot of shoes.” Naturally, that player turned out to be Noemi.
“We met and AYCANE asked me about what the women on the team wear and where things could improve,” said Noemi. “I helped make things a better fit for women. How the shirts and everything should be cut to fit our bodies. Where the seams go. How to make it look good as well. On the hockey baselayers especially, we worked a lot to make them really comfortable for women hockey players. We needed to make sure they wouldn’t be stinky after wearing them just once. And they should move with your body.”
We (AYCANE) took Noemi’s input and created the best women’s hockey baselayers and training apparel out there. Her favorite, of course, is the Noeemi tanktop.
“You can’t feel the sweat on your body, I think that’s the biggest thing,” said Noemi. “It’s so nice when you’re training or playing hockey. Every AYCANE product is so light and comfortable - I think that’s the biggest difference. They look really good too. Not heavy, they feel so light you barely feel like you have anything on. It’s really like a second skin. It allows you to be freer on and off the ice.”
As for on-the-ice performance, Noemi describes herself as a grinding, hard-working playmaker. “I’m a good skater, good eyes, more of a passer than a scorer,” she said. “I like penalty killing, blocking shots, setting up my teammates. My AYCANE baselayers help me feel light on the ice throughout the whole game.”
Noemi is currently ramping up training for her first season with Leksands IF Dam in the SDHL. She seeks to further her career after accomplishing so much in the Swiss league at such a young age.
“I switched leagues to further my development as a player,” she said. “I was with the best team and won championships. I thought it was better for me to go to a new league and have a bigger role, more responsibility. I thought it would be a really good fit for me to take that next step.”
Rest assured — each step she takes — on and off the ice — she’ll be doing it in AYCANE.
Warm-ups:
On Ice:
Between Games:
Summer Workouts:
]]>Hockey trainer extraordinaire, Andreas Larsson, has worked with some of the best athletes on and off the ice for nearly 30 years. Just don’t call him a power skating coach. The skating performance coach (his preferred term) for the Swedish Elite League’s Malmö Redhawks and off-season trainer for NHL stars like Hampus Lindholm and Kevin Fiala, Larsson has joined the Circle to help take our athletes to the next level.
As a former professional speed skater, Larsson has always tried to get the maximum amount of burst from each stride. Since his specialty was sprint distances, explosiveness, technical strides, and edgework were incredibly important.
Larsson recalls being 17 when he decided he wanted to become a coach, and began surrounding himself with strong mentors. He worked his way up the ladder, and eventually sort of stumbled into hockey.
“I was working with my training partner in Calgary in 1994,” Larsson recalled. “Some hockey players saw the training jumps and speed exercises we were working on and asked if we could help them go through the movements. It turned out, they played for the Calgary Flames. I started to think ‘hey, maybe this could be something.”
Larsson works with clubs, individuals, teams, and all types of players. His method involves on and off-ice training as well as work with a nutritionist. But the specific program depends on the player. This is why he doesn’t like the term “power skating” coach because there’s so much more to it than just power.
There’s speed, precision, agility, and transitions — all of which require much more than just a powerful stride. With Larsson, it also depends on a player’s unique role and position.
For example, Kevin Fiala, star forward for the Minnesota Wild spends most of his time on the ice in the neutral and offensive zone. Larsson, therefore, creates exercises that make him better as an offensive weapon — more elusive, more crafty, and lighter on his feet.
For client Hampus Lindholm, a defenseman now with the Boston Bruins, Larsson takes a different approach. A defenseman has different performance needs, mainly in their transitions pivoting from forwards to backward, retrieving pucks, and defending an opponent’s attack. Lindholm plays the left side, so Larsson analyzes his movement patterns and watches how he moves throughout a game. Lindholm still needs to be fast, but for different reasons than Fiala.
“When it comes to speed — if Hampus needs to defend Connor McDavid — he needs to be as fast as Conor McDavid, but going backward,” says Larsson. “We stress situations that could happen in a game — high tempo, quick decisions, body control — we mold everything off of real game action.”
Diving further, client Anton Blidh, also with the Boston Bruins, plays more of a fourth-line grinder role. Larsson trains Blidh in a fashion that helps him be disruptive — to play hard and be physical with his opponent.
In group settings (Larsson trains around 20 NHL players in the off-season) all athletes do the same program, but the individual sessions fine-tune the exercises to the athlete’s unique needs.
“The biomechanics are the same,” says Larsson. Everybody needs a functional body. But forwards are supposed to be creative, like an artist. They have to make it happen on offense. The quick mind and hands. On the other hand, the defenseman has to be a destroyer. They must read what’s happening on the fly and react to prevent the scoring chance. The needs for the players on each side is different.”
Getting connected with AYCANE happened by chance for Larsson. In a training session with Hampus Lindholm last summer, Larsson placed his hand on Lindholm’s back during a mobility exercise and felt the quality of the shirt.
“Hey, that’s a nice shirt,” Larsson said. “Who makes that?”
Larsson and Lindholm share an agent, who was present during the session. The agent made the connection and now both are in the Circle.
“I live my life in sneakers and t-shirts,” said Larsson. “I have full training days every day. I want to look good and feel good. AYCANE hockey training gear feels smoother and lighter. They somehow feel fresher, too. On the ice, I feel the compression in the socks, and the players love the baselayers. When athletes ask me ‘hey, is AYCANE any good?’ I can say yes and really mean it.”
With the season winding down, Larsson gears up for another off-season training program. When does it start? Sooner than you’d think. “Guys typically take one or two weeks off from whenever they get knocked out, then they start training,” he says. “That’s what it takes to be successful at the top level. That’s what it takes to make it.”
Larsson lives in Gothenburg, Sweden, and has two sons. Learn more about his training programs at hockeypt.com.
]]>
For months we have been telling you that AYCANE Baselayers are the best in the Hockey Universe. Time to go to the locker room and ask Calle what he thinks ...
]]>