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The Institute for Hockey Research (IHR) is the only organization in the world that has a dedicated research agenda for the scientific investigation of hockey. The Institute for Hockey Research (IHR) is a nonprofit organization. No external funding is received to conduct research. All research expenses are paid for by the consulting services and skating clinics conducted by IHR.
Public information is provided through seminars on skating performance, skating and hockey research, exercise, fitness, and performance enhancement, writing in magazines such as the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal. Dr. Bracko also presents and publishes research on skating and hockey. Because of his expertise in exercise, fitness, back injury prevention, and hockey Dr. Bracko is interviewed on a weekly basis by media outlets such as: Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Indianapolis Star, New York Times, Oprah Magazine, Fitness, SELF, and Outside Magazine. |
 The Institute for Hockey Research has three primary objectives:
 "Mike Bracko is a consummate professional whose knowledge of high performance skating is unmatched." (Shannon Miller) "I think your instructional program is the best I have seen." (Rod Cridland) |
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Dr. Bracko is a sports physiologist who has specialized in hockey as a player, instructor, and researcher for thirty years. He is the exercise physiologist and skating coach for the University of Alberta Women's Hockey Team. He also works as the exercise physiologist and strength and conditioning coach for the U.S.A. Deaf Olympic Hockey Team. He has been on the staff of the last three Deaf Olympic Teams: 2007 - Salt Lake City, 2003 - Sundsvall, Sweden, and 1999 - Davos, Switzerland. He performs the same function for the Stan Mikita Hockey School for Hearing Impaired in Chicago. He is on the Board of Trustees for the American College of Sports Medicine, and is on the planning committee for the ACSM's Health and Fitness Summit at which he presents information on exercise and fitness. He presents research and chairs symposiums on hockey, skating, and Occupational Physiology at every ACSM Annual Research meeting. And he is the past Chair of the Science in Winter Sports Interest Group, Membership Committee, and the Consumer Information Committee. He played Junior hockey in Penticton, B.C., college hockey on a scholarship at the University of Illinois - Chicago and had a "cup of coffee" at the Calgary Flames Training Camp in 1981. He is also a member of the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (CSEP) and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA). He presents research at these annual meetings as well. He was born in Calgary, Alberta and spent 15 years in the United States having lived in Chicago, Illinois and Provo, Utah. He now resides in Calgary. Dr. Bracko earned his Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees (Physical Education & Exercise Science) from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his Doctor of Education degree (Exercise Science) from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. In May 1995, he earned the distinction as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association in Colorado Springs, CO.. His master's degree thesis was "Effect of a Ten Week Exercise Program on Selected Components of Physical Fitness on Intercollegiate Athletes." His doctoral dissertation was, "Performance Skating Characteristics of Professional Ice Hockey Forwards." |
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