Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Leafs: James van Riemsdyk Talks About Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

By David Morassutti

Nov 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) motions from the bench during the game in which he scored a hat trick against the Nashville Predators at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs defeated the Predators 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) motions from the bench during the game in which he scored a hat trick against the Nashville Predators at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs defeated the Predators 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

We sat down with Toronto Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk to talk about his commitment to following a healthy lifestyle and how it plays into his everyday life.

When you watch a Toronto Maple Leafs game and number 25 is on the ice, it is hard not to be impressed with James van Riemsdyk’s size and how he is able to use it . At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, the New Jersey native is a tough player to defend.

This has been evident this season by JVR leading the Leafs in scoring with 17 points. Since coming to Toronto in 2012, he has 195 points in 270 games and is an important part of the Leafs core.

More from Toronto Maple Leafs

The 27-year-old has partnered with Wonderful Pistachios to help promote the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle by fueling your body with a snack like pistachios. The company invited members of the media to get an exclusive look at the type of workouts he does with the training staff at SWAT Health in Mississauga.

Dietitian Abbey Sharp spoke to us about the benefits of eating pistachios. In particular, he discussed how it helps after a workout, or as something to give you energy when you have a craving.

After an intense workout, JVR took some time to talk with us about how his lifestyle plays into his NHL career.

David Morassutti (DM): When did a healthy lifestyle become important for you?

James van Riemsdyk (JVR): You always take it for granted when you are younger because you can recover so fast and everything is natural and easy, but you have to start taking care of yourself when you get older just to make sure that you can recover and optimize your performance. It is something that I have really tried to incorporate into my routine.

DM: How difficult is it to stay disciplined with a healthy lifestyle?

JVR: For what we do as athletes, you know our assets are our bodies and you want to make sure that you maximize that. This is why you see me here with Wonderful Pistachio to reiterate that nutritional and active lifestyle, because it is what I live by.

DM: Do you have a cheat day?

JVR: Oh yeah, absolutely. You have to have those mixed in there, because it is all about that moderation and balance, so you need to have a few of those once in a while.

DM: Who is the biggest health nut on the team?

JVR: I think guys would probably say that I am the craziest.

Leafs
Nov 12, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) carries the puck ahead of Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) during the first period at the PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

DM: What was your favourite dish growing up?

JVR: Being from New Jersey we have really good pizza and bagels there so I was really big on those.

DM: What are your favourite places to go eat in Toronto?

JVR: I would have to say Sotto Sotto for a sit down meal and for something quicker I would say Burger Priest or Porchetta.

DM: What advice would you give to a young player trying to build their physique for the NHL?

JVR: You have to make sure you are aware with what is going on and the choices you are going to have to make. You want to put yourself in a good position to have success every night for when you get to the age where you are either in junior hockey or somewhere else when it becomes more serious and you have to pay attention with what you are doing.

DM: What are your thoughts on the way your role has changed with the team, especially this year with the young players?

JVR: It is exciting to be around all these young guys. The energy and enthusiasm they bring to the rink is a lot fun. It is really important for the veteran guys on the team just to make sure that we lead by example and prepare them both on and off the ice to have successful everyday.

Next: Leafs Must Not Trade JVR

DM: Excited about the outdoor game?

JVR: Absolutely. This will be my fourth one, two with Philly and one in Toronto, so they are always fun to play in. With the 100th year of the Leafs and the game being in Toronto you cannot ask for much better than that.

Home/Toronto Maple Leafs