Dave Cruikshank
Encyclopedia
David Wright "Dave" Cruikshank (born January 11, 1969 in Chicago, Illinois) is a four-time U.S. Olympic speedskater, an NHL skating and performance coach, and co-owner of DC Hybrid Skating, a performance training center for hockey players in Milwaukee, WI.
, where he played varsity baseball and soccer; he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Carroll College
with a degree in Business Management. He is the husband of five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair
, one of the top female speed skaters of her time and one of the most decorated female athletes in Olympic history. Having been friends for four years, then dating for six more, Blair and Cruikshank married at the ages of 32 and 27, respectively.
, an area known for its strong tradition of speedskating Olympians. He became a member of the World Short Track Team
in 1986.
In 1987, at the age of seventeen, he won the Junior World 500m, his first major long track international competition; a year later, he made the 1988 Olympic Team, winning the 1000m trials, beating Dan Jansen
(1994 Olympic Gold Medalist 1000m) and Eric Flaim
(1988 Olympic Silver Medalist 1500m).
In 1989, Cruikshank medaled in a World Cup
competition and placed 13th overall in his first World Sprint Championships
; Cruikshank's career continued, resulting in his making more World Championship Teams and three more Olympic Teams (1992, 1994, and 1998).
US Speedskating inducted Cruikshank into the US Speedskating Hall of Fame in 2008; Cruikshank had competed in international long track events for 16 years.
DC Hybrid Skating, LLC spawned from the combined training programs of Cruikshank and Curtis Brackenbury
, an NHL Veteran, after both realized key performance elements were missing from their individual programs; Cruikshank and Brackenbury joined forces in 2004, combining Cruikshank's skating and conditioning focus and Brackenbury's conditioning, Long Term performance planning and elite level ice hockey experience. Their goal is to optimize the potential of every athlrete from the grass roots kids to the NHL.
DC Hybrid Skating's services both on and off the ice include:
Clients include but are not limited to Professional, D-I, USHL, and AAA
athletes.
Cruikshank was the skating coach for the both the AHL
Rockford IceHogs
and the NHL Chicago Blackhawks
, from July 2007 to May 2008, working on and off the ice at improving and maximizing skating efficiency; Dale Tallon
, Blackhawks general manager from 2005–2009, hired Cruikshank as a conditioning specialist in his effort to rework the on-ice organization.
As the skating coach, Cruikshank's primary duties were to teach players to improve their overall skating skills by instilling tricks of the trade to help them out-skate their opponents; in the NHL, a tenth-of-a-second can mean scoring a goal, and even losing or winning a game, according to Colin Fraser
, the Chicago Blackhawks 4th line center.
Cruikshank split time between Rockford and Chicago, helping during practices and also working with individual players outside of practice; at the minor league level, it was Tallon's hope that every player would learn and understand the Blackhawks system before joining the NHL team.
In 2009, AHL Syracuse Crunch
, the affiliate of the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets
, called upon Cruikshank and Brackenbury to attend practices to help the players skate better.
Cruikshank is also presently a part of the Under Armour
TNP Performance Training Council, which is an online educational resource focusing on increasing athletic performance.
Since August 2009, Cruikshank has been the founder and owner of DASC, a company behind high-performance ice hockey skates.
Personal life
Cruikshank attended Glenbrook North High SchoolGlenbrook North High School
Glenbrook North High School, or GBN, is a public four-year high school located in Northbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
, where he played varsity baseball and soccer; he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Carroll College
Carroll College
Carroll College can refer to:*Carroll College *Carroll University...
with a degree in Business Management. He is the husband of five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair
Bonnie Blair
Bonnie Kathleen Blair is a retired American speedskater. She is one of the top skaters of her time, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, and in her Olympic career won five gold medals and one bronze medal.-Career:Blair...
, one of the top female speed skaters of her time and one of the most decorated female athletes in Olympic history. Having been friends for four years, then dating for six more, Blair and Cruikshank married at the ages of 32 and 27, respectively.
Speedskating career
After attending a speedskating practice, Cruikshank transitioned from ice hockey to speedskating at the age of eight in Northbrook, IllinoisNorthbrook, Illinois
Northbrook is a village located at the northern edge of Cook County, Illinois, which is also a North Shore suburb of Chicago. The population was 33,170 at the 2010 census....
, an area known for its strong tradition of speedskating Olympians. He became a member of the World Short Track Team
World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The World Short Track Speed Skating Championships are a senior international short track speed skating competition held once a year to determine the World Champion in individual distances, relays and Overall Classification...
in 1986.
In 1987, at the age of seventeen, he won the Junior World 500m, his first major long track international competition; a year later, he made the 1988 Olympic Team, winning the 1000m trials, beating Dan Jansen
Dan Jansen
Daniel Erwin Jansen is a former speed skater, best known for winning a gold medal in his final Olympic race after suffering through years of heartbreak. He graduated from West Allis Central High School....
(1994 Olympic Gold Medalist 1000m) and Eric Flaim
Eric Flaim
Eric Joseph Flaim is a former US speed skater.-Biography:Eric Flaim began skating at the age of 5 on the tiny pond next to his home on Fairwood Drive, Pembroke...
(1988 Olympic Silver Medalist 1500m).
In 1989, Cruikshank medaled in a World Cup
Speed Skating World Cup
The Speed Skating World Cup is a series of international speed skating competitions, organised yearly by the International Skating Union since the winter of 1985–86. Every year during the winter, a number of competitions on a number of different distances are held...
competition and placed 13th overall in his first World Sprint Championships
World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
The World Sprint Speed Skating Championships are annual speed skating championships. The championships are held over a two day period, with the skaters racing one 500 m and one 1,000 m each day...
; Cruikshank's career continued, resulting in his making more World Championship Teams and three more Olympic Teams (1992, 1994, and 1998).
US Speedskating inducted Cruikshank into the US Speedskating Hall of Fame in 2008; Cruikshank had competed in international long track events for 16 years.
| Olympic Record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Speedskating Competitor for the United States | ||
| Rank | Olympic Games | Event |
| 22 | 1992 Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics... |
500 m |
| 19 | 1994 Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat... |
500 m |
| 25 | 1998 Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice... |
500 m |
Skating and Performance Coach Career
After retiring from skating, Cruikshank founded, in November 2002, a performance training center for ice hockey players in Milwaukee, WI. The training involves educating and improving the skills of athletes from the youth level up to the NHL level, using a "Hybrid" skating program.DC Hybrid Skating, LLC spawned from the combined training programs of Cruikshank and Curtis Brackenbury
Curt Brackenbury
John Curtis Brackenbury is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 141 games in the National Hockey League and 257 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Chicago Cougars, Minnesota Fighting Saints, Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, and St. Louis Blues.- External...
, an NHL Veteran, after both realized key performance elements were missing from their individual programs; Cruikshank and Brackenbury joined forces in 2004, combining Cruikshank's skating and conditioning focus and Brackenbury's conditioning, Long Term performance planning and elite level ice hockey experience. Their goal is to optimize the potential of every athlrete from the grass roots kids to the NHL.
DC Hybrid Skating's services both on and off the ice include:
- Year-long programs
- Summer/winter programs
- Camps
- Private lessons
Clients include but are not limited to Professional, D-I, USHL, and AAA
Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
The Ligue de Hockey Junior AAA Quebec or Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League is a Hockey Quebec Junior "AAA" ice hockey league and is a member of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League...
athletes.
Cruikshank was the skating coach for the both the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Rockford IceHogs
Rockford IceHogs
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
and the NHL Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, from July 2007 to May 2008, working on and off the ice at improving and maximizing skating efficiency; Dale Tallon
Dale Tallon
Dale Tallon is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and current General Manager for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League ....
, Blackhawks general manager from 2005–2009, hired Cruikshank as a conditioning specialist in his effort to rework the on-ice organization.
As the skating coach, Cruikshank's primary duties were to teach players to improve their overall skating skills by instilling tricks of the trade to help them out-skate their opponents; in the NHL, a tenth-of-a-second can mean scoring a goal, and even losing or winning a game, according to Colin Fraser
Colin Fraser
Colin Fraser is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He is currently playing with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Fraser was born in Sicamous, but raised in Surrey, British Columbia...
, the Chicago Blackhawks 4th line center.
Cruikshank split time between Rockford and Chicago, helping during practices and also working with individual players outside of practice; at the minor league level, it was Tallon's hope that every player would learn and understand the Blackhawks system before joining the NHL team.
In 2009, AHL Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
, the affiliate of the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, called upon Cruikshank and Brackenbury to attend practices to help the players skate better.
Cruikshank is also presently a part of the Under Armour
Under Armour
Under Armour is an American sports clothing and accessories company. The company is a supplier of a wide range of sportswear and casual apparel mainly focusing on hi-tech sportswear for professional athletes...
TNP Performance Training Council, which is an online educational resource focusing on increasing athletic performance.
Performance Apparel and Gear Experience
Cruikshank's hybrid philosophy crossed into involvement with hybrid athletic apparel when Brad Weisman, the founder of Shwalla performance apparel, contacted him. Weisman, a runner, had developed a temperature-specific shirt for running in Chicago during the winter. When Weisman decided to develop an entire temperature-specific performance apparel line, he contacted Cruikshank, whom he had met in high school, for professional expertise. Weisman started the performance apparel line Shwalla, which later became Blue Speed, LLC.Since August 2009, Cruikshank has been the founder and owner of DASC, a company behind high-performance ice hockey skates.
External links
- Profile
- US Speed Skating
- DC Hybrid Skating
- Chicago Blackhawks - The Official Website from the NHL Network
- Syracuse Crunch - The Official Website from the AHL Network
- Under Armour Underground - TNP Training