Four hockey schools are being offered this summer to get players from kids to adults ready for the new season.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) parks and recreation department has their annual tykes to peewee school set for Aug. 16 to 20 with a special conditioning camp for bantam and midget players Aug. 16 to 20 with ice times from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. followed by off-ice training. A women's only school is set for Aug. 23 to 26 with ice sessions from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. The Hockey HEROS mini-camp rounds out the sessions Aug. 23 to 27 from 2 to 3 p.m. for beginners, ages nine to 12. All of the schools will be held at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre and led by former Coast player David Arduin, now going into his second year with Geneseo the State University of New York in upstate New York.
Norm Flynn will be back to lead the Hockey HEROS mini-camp in preparation for the start-up of the second year of that program in September.
Arduin said he's looking forward to taking over complete instruction of all aspects of this year's hockey school. Arduin has helped out at the school the past few years and last year hosted the special conditioning camp.
"I think the Burnaby Express and guys like Brad Wingfield did a great job the past few years, but it's time to inject something new to the school," Arduin said. "I'm at the age and maturity level where I think I can really give something back to this community. I'm where I'm at in my hockey life because of what I learned here in my home on the Sunshine Coast. Now coming back to instruct and lead the hockey school kind of brings things full circle for me."
Arduin will be joined by his longtime junior linemate Stefan Decosse who has spent the last two summers teaching at a hockey school in the southern U.S.
"Stefan had great experience working with young kids, so he's well equipped to teach at any age level," said Arduin. "We're both pretty stoked to get things going."Arduin said the younger players can expect instruction in all areas of the game, with an emphasis on having fun, yet making sure the players get the necessary skills and conditioning to prepare themselves for the new season.
"It's a complete program - on-ice instruction, lunch, then off-ice training with soccer, kick ball, baseball and swimming," Arduin said. "The special conditioning camp for the older players will be very intense, but it's designed to be that way. I remember last year at the end of the week, we had some pretty tired guys, but they all said they enjoyed it and hopefully it gave them a leg up at the start of their season."
Arduin said he thinks this hockey school has a chance to be one of the best hockey schools offered anywhere in the province.
"There is no reason why the Sunshine Coast can't be as big as Penticton or the other summer schools," he said. "We have all the facilities here to make this a two-week summer conditioning and skills camp and a summer destination for players all over the province. They've [SCRD] handed me the reins and my goal is to make this a big and successful camp for many years to come."
To register or for more details on this year's hockey school, call 604-885-6801 or see www.scrd.ca.
