CATCHING UP WITH THE 'CUDA: MANNY WIEDERER
Aug 21, 2018
Once the 2017-18 season concluded, each Barracuda player returned to his hometown or offseason hangout. Moving forward, each week sjbarracuda.com will check in with a different Barracuda player and see what he is up to this summer. This week we catch up with forward Manny Wiederer.
Where do you spend your summers?
I always spend my summers in my hometown in Deggendorf, Germany. I have all my family here and most of my friends.
What’s the best part about being back home?
The best part is you realize how much you love your family and friends and then at the end of the summer, I get excited to get back to my teammates and hockey. So you're always excited and looking forward to something.
What’s a day in the life of Manny Wiederer in the offseason?
I usually wake up around 7 or 8 in the morning and have a big breakfast. My family used to own a restaurant, so my mom is a fantastic cook, and she loves to spoil me with whatever food I want. That’s another amazing part about being home (laughs). After breakfast, I drive to the gym or I’ll work out at home. I built my own gym at my house so I can workout whenever I choose. And around noon, I’m done with my workout, and then I'll have a good meal, and in the afternoon I always do stuff with my family, dog or friends.
What’s the #1 thing you’ve tried to work on this offseason to prepare for next year?
The one thing I’ve focused the most on this summer is my lower body strength, especially after the World Cup, I had an injury and couldn’t work out for around 7-to-8 weeks. After I got healthy again, I trained twice a day to get back to 100% and improve every aspect of my game.
Describe your workout routine?
Like all the guys on the team, I follow our work out plan we get from Mike Potenza (Sharks Strength Coach) and Marcello Martinelli (Barracuda Strength Coach), but I also like to change it up a bit too from time to time. I’ll do a CrossFit workout or go swimming.
Have you gone on any vacations this summer? If so, where and with who?
Yes, I went to Spain, Portugal, and Greece. I was in Spain and Portugal for eight days with five of my best friends, and then I went to Greece with my brother for four days and met my old billet family from Rouyn-Noranda there.
Where is one place you’d like to visit on vacation that you haven’t been to yet?
I really like what I’ve heard and seen from Australia, so I want to go there. But honestly, I love traveling, so there are a lot of places on my bucket list.
What’s your favorite non-hockey related summer activity?
Probably just spending time with friends, family and my dog. I don’t see them during the season, so I try and take advantage of the time we have together.
What was the best part about being able to play in the World Championships?
I think the best part was seeing how other players, nations and staff work and try to improve little things, even though the season is technically over. You play with a guy like Dennis Seidenberg who’s won a Stanley Cup and played in the NHL for a long time. You see his work ethic and its inspiring. It's no surprise he’s had the career he’s had, he’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever been around both on and off the ice.
What is your biggest goal in your second year as a pro?
I want to keep improving every aspect of my game. I want to be a reliable player in every situation, take a leadership role and help first-year players.
When are you planning on getting back to San Jose?
I’m flying back to SJ on August 29th to get my apartment squared away and prepare for training camp and the preseason.