Performance Team Celebrates Stanley Cup Victory
Pictured: Tobin Silver, Ph.D.; NSU students Liam Loging, Bella Vargas-Blanchard, Alexis Arena, and Joseph Petruzzelli; NSU alumni Peter Byers; and Florida Panthers staffers Tim Wittenauer and Mike Joyce
The Department of Health and Human Performance at Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences had the honor of assisting the Florida Panthers Hockey Club with their preseason evaluations during the Stanley Cup-winning season.
Led by professors Tobin Silver, Ph.D., and Corey Peacock, Ph.D., the team—comprising undergraduate students of Exercise and Sport Science and graduate students of Sports Science—conducted detailed power, strength, fitness, body composition, and movement assessments. This invaluable experience gave students and alumni the opportunity to work in a high-performance setting alongside professional athletes. As a token of appreciation for their contributions, Tim Wittenauer, Director of Sports Performance & Rehabilitation, and Mike Joyce, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, invited the department team to spend time with the Stanley Cup, offering a momentous opportunity to celebrate the season’s success.
Peter Byers, M.S., an NSU alumni, reflected on the experience.
“This opportunity was truly invaluable,” Byers said. “Being able to perform hands-on assessments with professional athletes gave me insights and experience that I couldn’t have gained anywhere else. It was a defining moment in my development as a sports scientist.”
“Spending time with the Stanley Cup is a memory these students will carry with them for a long time,” said Tobin Silver, Ph.D. “This experience is not only about celebrating a victory but also about recognizing the hard work and dedication they put into working with elite athletes at the highest level.”