Dedicated young hockey players are making the transition from learning about the fast paced sport to spending most of their time in a classroom. The Black Elk Hockey Camp saw 150 skaters and 10 goalies from Aug. 17 to 25 for both boys and girls.
Naomi Bennett, from Clive, has three children in the Black Elk Hockey Camp and has been sending her kids to the camp for five years.
“It really prepares them for tryouts, kids learn on the ice before they go to the tryouts,” said Bennett. “It’s a full day and the kids really like it. The instructors are very good and I’ve been seeing a lot of new drills.”
The day camp included on ice and off ice skills, dry land training, chalk talks, scrimmages and a final game.
Lynn Ramuson comes from Wetaskiwin to watch her son Damien enjoy his time learning at the camp.
“It’s really good and well organized,” said Ramuson. “Damien really loves the defense clinic, he’s having a lot of fun and doing some great drills.”
It takes about 20 dedicated people to run the camp and there are always three coaches on the ice at all times along with a councilor.
Lane Palahniuk, of Lamont, was one of the players at the camp and is having a lot of fun. His parents decided to enroll him in Ponoka’s hockey camp because the setup is the same as other camps and the smaller size and good quality is attractive.
“It’s been really good,” said Lane’s mother Carmen. “He’s really enjoying it and learning a lot of new things. He really likes the instructors.”
The Black Elk Hockey Camp has produced many great hockey players that have gone on to play university, college and junior hockey as well as shaped some NHL players including Phoenix Coyote’s Shane Doan, Calgary Flames’ Greg Pankewicz and past Vancouver Canuck’s Harry York.