Published: July 04, 2009 11:17 pm      

HOCKEY: Reaney sheds pounds, baggage at Casal's

Niagara Falls — Les Reaney is working out in Niagara Falls this summer to shed weight — and some baggage from his days with the Niagara University men’s hockey team.

Reaney, who was an all-conference performer in his first two seasons at Niagara before leaving the team during his junior season to sign a professional deal, has been training four days a week at Casal’s Boxing Club on Hyde Park Boulevard since May.

“I’m trying to get my weight down, get a little bit lighter,” Reaney said this week. “I’m really happy with it. It’s a tough, up-tempo workout, but it’s fun. It really makes you want to get in the ring.”

Reaney was introduced to trainer Ray Casal by Rick Ferroni, a skating and hockey skills instructor based out of Lewiston. Ferroni said he lost 22 pounds last summer under Casal’s watch.

“I knew Les was looking to get lighter and quicker, and I knew Ray was the perfect guy to help him,” Ferroni said. “Because Ray was a kick boxer, he trains the legs and does some plyometric work.”

Ferroni said Reaney started the summer at more than 240 pounds, and is now more than half-way to his target weight of 215 pounds. Reaney’s also more agile during the on-ice workouts Ferroni puts him through six days a week, Ferroni said.

“I think Ray is unbelievable,” Reaney said. “I’m going to do this every summer from now on.”

Reaney, a rugged 6-foot-3 forward from the tiny town of Ceylon, Saskatchewan, shared College Hockey America rookie of the year honors with teammate Ted Cook as a freshman. In his sophomore year, Reaney, Cook and Sean Bentivoglio teamed up to form the highest-scoring line in the country. Reaney’s 44 points that season ranked 13th in the country.

Reaney said he weighed about 235 pounds during his first two seasons. As a junior, he was asked to get lighter, and found himself demoted to the fourth line. He was scratched on two occasions when he didn’t make weight.

“I think this kid got a raw deal from Niagara University and Dave Burkholder,” said Ferroni.

Reaney was more diplomatic about his strained relationship with Burkholder, but did say he believes the concerns over his playing weight were overblown.

“I think that’s kind of followed me around a bit in pro hockey,” Reaney said. “That’s why I’m trying to lose weight. I’m dedicated to being a pro hockey player, and if people think I have a weight problem, them I’m going to make sure I don’t have a weight problem anymore.”

Burkholder declined to respond to Ferroni’s comment.

“As far as we’re concerned, Les gave us two-and-a-half years of good hockey, and the farther he goes in pro hockey, the better it is for our program,” Burkholder said.

On Feb. 16, 2008, a few weeks before Niagara won the CHA championship, Reaney signed with the Springfield Falcons, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.

Reaney never played for Springfield, and was later assigned to the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL.

Last season, he spent eight games with the Rapid City Rush in the Central Hockey League, then returned to the ECHL to play for the Dayton Bombers. Despite playing most of the season with a broken thumb, Reaney notched 43 points in 46 games.

Reaney said he has a few offers to play professionally overseas next season, but is confident he will be able to participate in an NHL training camp come September. “It’s a little early for me to go to Europe,” he said.

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.