Athletic Trainer Honors Heritage While Inspiring the Next Generation of Hockey Fans

The Charlotte Checkers’ upcoming Hispanic Heritage Night isn’t just a celebration of culture—it’s a personal milestone for Assistant Athletic Trainer Gus Canals.

Now in his third season with the Checkers, Canals, the son of Puerto Rican parents, grew up in the Washington, D.C. area where his love for hockey began in an unexpected way.

“The Caps [Washington Capitals] started getting big and so I kind of hooked onto that,” Canals said. “I also remember when I was younger watching some Disney Channel show and it was Mickey playing hockey, so I got a hockey jersey with the characters on it—that’s kind of how I got into hockey.”

From cartoon inspiration to competitive play, Canals started in roller hockey at age three before transitioning to ice hockey in middle school. While his passion for the sport grew, he noticed something missing—representation.

“There were the superstars like Ovechkin,” he recalled, “but in terms of players who had a background like me, there weren’t really a ton that I knew of.”

After earning his Master’s from Shenandoah University, Canals joined Lindenwood University’s hockey program before landing with the Checkers in 2023. Over time, he’s witnessed more Hispanic players and programs emerge, including Puerto Rico’s national team.

“There was a point when I was younger where I got contacted to play for Puerto Rico,” he said. “Now they have a true team that plays out of Chicago.”

Today, Canals proudly wears his heritage on his sleeve—literally—with a Puerto Rican flag patch on his medical kit.

“It’s cool being an influential aspect to something like that,” he said. “A couple of times in Florida I’ve been working and had people bang on the glass and point to the flag all excited.”

For Canals, this celebration represents more than hockey—it’s about inspiring the next generation to see themselves in the game. Check out the full story here!