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Mighty Mites taste the excitement of competitive hockey

Ponoka’s newest minor hockey team, Mighty Mites, had their first competitive game on Saturday, Jan 25 against Lacombe Rockets

Ponoka’s newest minor hockey team, Mighty Mites, had their first competitive game on Saturday, Jan 25 against Lacombe Rockets and scored a couple of goals, bringing a lot of smiles to the watchful faces of parents and spectators.

The group of 4 and 5 five-year-olds had a rather shy beginning to their first proper game against a visiting team with the goalie in particular finding it a little bit challenging to move from side to side to block the incoming shots.

Koman Busat the coach of the Mites said his most important and challenging task was to be able to build the skills of the little kids while at the same time allowing them to have the maximum fun they can in getting used to hockey.

“We have a group of 12 kids,“ said Busat.

“We are just trying to teach them the fundamentals, how to skate handle the puck, that is basic skills development right now, and having fun. That is the biggest thing to have.”

Busat admitted that teaching fundamental skills while trying to ensure that the kids also have fun was difficult at times because learning how to skate and move the puck at the same time was putting pressure on the children.

“I just keep telling them that it is just fun and that the more they practice the better they get.”

Only two kids in the whole group are in their second year of hockey and Busat says sometimes differences in the kids’ individual abilities allow them to stand out among others faster.

“Due to their size and ability to balance, some kids are progressing faster.”

At the end of the game, Busat was quite happy despite the not-so-stellar scoreboard for the local side.

“This is a learning experience and for their first game they did really well.”