Highlanders Announce Team Medical Providers

VICTORIA, BC - Victoria Highlanders FC are proud to introduce the medical team representing the PDL team for the 2018 Premier Development League (PDL) season. The locally based business, Murray Chiropractic, have been with the Highlanders family since the preseason and have been integral in providing sports injury rehab and performance enhancement to the Highlanders players.

“We are excited to be working with the athletes at the Highlanders organization.” Stated Dr. Michael Murray. “I have been involved in the local soccer scene for most of my adult life; as a player, a coach and as a team health care provider. We’ve worked previously with Victoria United for several years and it was a natural fit when Mark (deFrias) and the team at the Highlanders sought us out for this season.”  

Dr. Michael Murray and Dr. Mike Hadbavny have been providing the bulk of the services being provided to the Highlanders organization, splitting their time between home games and practices.

“When we started looking towards building our team for 2018, we wanted to make sure that we surrounded our players with the best possible trainers and staff,” commented Highlanders co-owner Mark deFrias. “Dr. Murray and his team at Murray Chiropractic are the best of the best and we were so pleased to know they were interested and excited about the challenge of managing our Highlanders medical program.”

The Murray Chiropractic office was opened in 1990 by Dr. Michael Murray and moved to their present location on Chatterton Way in 1998. Murray Chiropractic offers a wide range of therapeutic modalities including Spinal Decompression, Electrotherapy, Cold laser and the revolutionary Class VI hot laser. All of the doctors also perform a variety of soft tissue techniques such as Active Release and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (Graston).

Background on Dr. Michael Murray

Dr. Murray graduated from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) with academic honors in 1990 and went on to complete his three year sports Fellowship program in 1994 and his International Sports Diploma several years later. He has delivered chiropractic care to athletes at over 60 national and international competitions. His affiliation with Rowing Canada began in 1991 and he has been their team chiropractor at six Olympic Games.

Dr. Murray has also served on the Executive Board of the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (Canada). Dr. Murray is still a member of the Integrated Support Team (IST) for Rowing Canada and was the keynote speaker at the British Chiropractic Councils sports symposium prior to the Olympics in 2012.

Dr. Murray has been a primary instructor for the International Chiropractic Sports Diploma program for the past 18 years. He regularly teaches sports performance seminars around the world and recently has taught in France, Australia, and Germany.

Students of Dr. Murray have included the team Chiropractors and therapists from Millwall FC, Juventus FC, Chelsea FC, and Queen’s Park Rangers, to name a few. Most recently he has been a guest instructor at the Chiropractic Colleges in both Toulouse and Paris as well as CMCC in Toronto.

In Victoria, he has been the team Chiropractor for the Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse, Victoria United soccer and volunteered at many local events and with many teams in a variety of sports. He has played soccer for Vic West for over 40 years and continues to contribute to local clubs and provide care for athletes in need.

Background on Dr. Mike Hadbavny

Dr. Mike Hadbavny graduated from CMCC College in 2017 and received a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Brock University in 2013. He was acting president of the RCCSS(C) Sports Club at CMCC for three years before graduating and enrolling in the RCCSS(C) Sports Sciences Residency Program. He is currently working with athletes from provincial to national levels and aiding in research and courses at the University of Victoria.

Since moving to Victoria, Dr. Hadbavny has been involved in many local, provincial and national events across the island and lower mainland in British Columbia. These include Tennis Canada Jr. Nationals, Ironman Victoria, and the BC Winter Games. He has a keen eye for athletic assessment and movement analysis. He is also involved in the community playing in local hockey leagues and training at Crossfit Taranis.

The Highlanders host Calgary Foothills FC at UVic’s Centennial Stadium this Sunday June 17 with a Father’s Day discount (only $7). Tickets are available online or at the gate. The team is on the road before returning to Victoria for a home match on Friday, June 29th against TSS FC Rovers at Centennial Stadium. Tickets are available at www.highlandersfc.ca/tickets.