Some familiar faces will return to the Coast later this month to help coach some of the future hockey stars of tomorrow.
Brad Wingfield and Ryan Esselmont will join Denise North as head instructors for the Sunshine Coast Hockey School, set for Aug. 23 to 29 at the Sunshine Coast Arena.
Esselmont is an ace certified personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach. He has been an instructor with the Kamloops Blazers hockey schools, the Williams Lake hockey school and a learn-to-skate instructor with the Elmira Jackals.
Wingfield is no stranger to hockey fans on the Sunshine Coast.
The Gibsons native has been an instructor at several hockey schools on Vancouver Island and in the U.S. with both Bellingham and Elmira. Wingfield played with the Jackals in 2003 and the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch. He also attended the Columbus Blue Jackets training camp in 2002.
North has been a coach on the Sunshine Coast for the past 13 years. She has worked for both minor hockey and figure skating associations teaching learn-to-skate and power skating classes to all levels of skaters.
Off-ice instructors for the school include Sherry Nelsen and Linda Horsman. Tom Poulton is the program coordinator.
The training and instruction for the hockey school will help players develop basic skating skills for beginners or high-calibre training for house league minor hockey players or players interested in trying out for the rep hockey program.
There are six programs available during the six days with programs for Tyke/ Novice (ages six to eight); Atom (ages nine to 10); Peewee/Bantam (ages 11 to 14); adult co-ed (ages 19 and up); beginners (ages four to six) and an elite camp for ages 13 to 18 on Aug. 28 to 29. See the ad on page C3 for prices for all the camps and more info.
The registration deadline has been extended until Aug. 16, but Poulton said registration is very low and some of the designated groups may be cancelled if registration does not pick up.
The arena staff has been busy with several of the staff coming back early from holidays to install ice for the filming of A Beachcombers Christmas movie and the upcoming hockey school.
The ice is holding up very well and the crew is happy with the performance of the plant during this extremely hot weather and the upgrades to the building, including new fans along the centre of the building and the ventilation made by cutting back the insulation from the supporting beams, which was recommend by arena foreman Ken Robinson.
After the Beachcombers have completed the shooting of the movie, the arena will have ice for sale. If anyone is interested they can call 604-885-2955.
