Exercise Rehab Therapist

Position Overview
The Pensacola Ice Flyers are seeking a skilled, highly accountable Athletic Trainer to lead the day-to-day health care of our professional hockey players. This hands-on role is responsible for injury prevention, clinical evaluation, emergency care, treatment and rehabilitation, medical documentation, and safe return-to-play coordination throughout the season. The Athletic Trainer serves as the primary day-to-day liaison among players, coaching staff, hockey operations, team physicians, strength and conditioning personnel, and organizational leadership.
The right candidate will combine sound clinical judgment with calm communication, precise organization, player-centered care, and the flexibility required in a fast-paced professional hockey environment.
Core Responsibilities
Player Health Care and Injury Management

• Provide daily athletic training services for all practices, games, training sessions, and team activities, at home and on the road.
• Assess, evaluate, and manage hockey-related injuries, illnesses, and general medical conditions within the Athletic Trainer's professional scope of practice.
• Deliver immediate and emergency care; determine appropriate removal from participation and initiate referral or emergency response when indicated.
• Develop and administer individualized treatment, rehabilitation, reconditioning, and injury-prevention programs using current evidence and accepted standards of care.
• Monitor each player's progress and coordinate return-to-practice and return-to-play decisions with team physicians and other appropriate medical professionals.
• Recognize conditions requiring physician evaluation, diagnostic testing, specialty care, or emergency treatment, and coordinate those referrals promptly.

Medical Coordination and Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for team physicians, specialists, therapists, medical facilities, and other health care partners.
• Coordinate preseason physical examinations, medical referrals, imaging, follow-up appointments, and continuity of care throughout the season.
• Provide timely, accurate status updates and availability recommendations to the Head Coach and authorized organizational leadership promptly, clearly, and objectively.
• Collaborate with team physicians and strength and conditioning personnel to align treatment, workload progression, recovery, and performance goals.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with players, coaches, medical providers, visiting teams, league personnel, and front office staff, especially in high-pressure situations.

Documentation, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Maintain complete, timely, secure, and accurate medical records, treatment logs, rehabilitation notes, daily injury reports, and participation-status documentation.
• Develop, review, rehearse, and update venue-specific emergency action plans in coordination with arena personnel, EMS, team physicians, and organizational leadership.
• Maintain required professional credentials and comply with Florida law, applicable privacy requirements, league medical protocols, and organizational policies.
• Support preseason medical screening, concussion management, infectious-disease precautions, medication documentation, and other league or team health and safety procedures.
• Use evidence-informed clinical practices and pursue continuing education relevant to professional hockey and the needs of the team.

Training Room and Game Operations

• Maintain a clean, organized, secure, and professional athletic training room and treatment environment.
• Manage medical supplies and equipment, including inventory levels, ordering, maintenance, travel kits, and budget awareness.
• Ensure all league-mandated medical supplies, emergency equipment, and visiting-team provisions are prepared and available for every home game.
• Coordinate medical coverage and readiness for practices, games, team travel, training camp, player physicals, and other required hockey operations activities.
• Represent the Ice Flyers professionally at community appearances, sponsor events, youth hockey programs, charitable initiatives, and other organizational functions as assigned.
• Perform additional duties reasonably assigned in support of player health, hockey operations, and organizational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Current Board of Certification (BOC) credential as an Athletic Trainer.
• Current Florida Athletic Trainer license, or ability to obtain Florida licensure before beginning clinical duties.
• Current professional-rescuer-level emergency cardiac care certification that satisfies BOC requirements.
• Degree from an accredited athletic training program and eligibility to practice without restriction.
• Demonstrated competence in injury evaluation, emergency care, therapeutic intervention, rehabilitation, and clinical documentation.
• Exceptional organization, attention to detail, discretion, and professional communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, make sound decisions under pressure, and collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary medical and hockey operations team.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel with the team throughout the season.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing athletic training services in professional or collegiate hockey.
• Experience with hockey-specific injury patterns, concussion management, return-to-play progression, and travel-based care.
• Master's degree in athletic training or a related field.
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential or comparable strength and conditioning experience.
• Experience managing medical-provider relationships, athletic training room operations, electronic medical records, and supply budgets.

Work Environment and Schedule

• Seasonal position generally running from October through May, with preseason onboarding and postseason responsibilities as required.
• Attendance is required at all practices, home and away games, training sessions, player physicals, and team travel unless otherwise approved.
• The schedule includes mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, extended hours, and overnight travel.
• The role requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, lifting, and assisting injured athletes, including the ability to move medical equipment and supplies.
• The Athletic Trainer must be able to respond quickly and calmly in loud, crowded, and high-stress environments.

What Success Looks Like

• Players receive timely, consistent, evidence-informed care and clear communication.
• Medical documentation and daily status reporting are complete, accurate, secure, and on time.
• Emergency action plans, supplies, and venue medical readiness are maintained at a professional standard.
• Rehabilitation and return-to-play progressions are individualized, well coordinated, and appropriately documented.
• Coaches, players, team leadership, and team physicians have confidence in the Athletic Trainer's judgment, preparation, discretion, and follow-through.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive seasonal compensation, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Available benefits include major medical, telehealth, dental, and vision coverage.
• Team travel and approved work-related expenses are covered in accordance with organizational policy.

Reporting Structure
Reports to: Head Coach and Team Owner, with regular collaboration across hockey operations and the organization's medical network.
The Pensacola Ice Flyers are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.