Young hockey players in the valley are getting more ice time thanks to a new program at Greentree School.
Teacher Rob Hegberg, has extensive coaching experience, and has introduced a hockey program for students in Grades 4 -6. So far, 20 boys and girls have signed up and they are spending Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on the ice learning hockey skills and much more.
“I am a firm believer that with sport or activity in general, kids learn more about themselves in an athletic environment. They are running into adversity, learning new skills, there is discipline involved, attention to details and focus,” he said. “You put all that stuff into one area, there is a lot going on.”
“In the end they are all great kids, they come here, they work hard and pay attention and want to get better.”
The idea of a program like this was bandied about a couple years ago, but at the high school level, however it didn’t fly. This year they revisited the idea and worked out some of the logistics of such a program. Golden Hills School Division was supportive.
Hegberg says the program is not academy or an elite program. There are students who play Minor Hockey, but there are also some who have never played the game before. While most of the participants are in Grade 6, the younger players are keeping up in a supportive atmosphere.
“It is fundamentals, skating, puck skills, trying to get some kids who have never played to be interested in it,” he said. “It is a completely developmental program.”
He adds it is also helping players who are more experienced.
“Being on the Minor Hockey board, I know the lack of ice we have, it really helps their hockey,” said Hegberg. “These kids are getting up to 50 more hours of ice this year compared to what they have had in the past. Minor Hockey coaches who have kids in the program are noticing the changes in the kids, which is part of the program.”
The program is voluntary, but they have designed it so it will have minimal impact on regular school. The ice time cuts into the lunch hour, and they have juggled the students’ schedules so they are not missing core curriculum.
This is a pilot this year.
“We are just getting it off the ground, we’ll have to see the interest next year because it is a pay per user program, it is not funded by the division,” he said. “From what I understand there is a lot of interest. There are kids in Grade 7 and 8 who say they wish the program was in place when they were in Grade 3.”
“We would love to keep it going, it is a great thing for the community.”
