Summer Hockey Schools begin
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
Even though one ice sheet at the Family Centre has been removed, the blue ice is still being used for summer hockey schools.
Players involved with the Rocky Mountain Ice Hockey Program (RMI) were out practicing their skills April 10.
“The major part of our philosophy is to have a good time and make friends,” said Steve Deighton, coach. “If they get better at hockey then that’s just a bonus.”
Deighton said the non-profit program is focused on development and practices rather than playing games.
Teams do participate in three-on-three tournaments.
The teams will also have hockey players like Mark Astley, who played for the Buffalo Sabres, and Morris Luckowich, former Winnipeg Jets player, come out and mentor the kids.
“The kids are fantastic. A lot of these kids are farm kids and you can really tell with their work ethic and attitude,” said Deighton. “You mix them in with some city kids who are good to deal with and make new friends. You throw those combinations together and it’s been real positive for us.”
RMI has two programs operating this summer, the Lethbridge RIM AAA Ice Selects and the Strathmore RIM AAA Ice Hawks.
They get kids interested from as far as Montana, B.C. and Saskatchewan.
They practice every weekend, and only on the weekends so kids can still do their baseball, soccer, etc.
The team has an on-ice session in the morning, then has a team lunch supplied by the parents. Afterwards players have an off-ice session and then head back to the ice.
For more information visit www.rockymountainice.ca