Crowther hockey program returns

Times Reporter   

 

Crowther Memorial Junior Hockey School is dropping the puck for the second year on their hockey academy. 

Principal Ivan Wright wants the academy to emphasize hard work and for the players to improve their skills while having fun.

“We started the hockey program last year (which) was our first year and we have enough students here and have enough interest so we run two groups,” said Wright 

“What we generally have is a Grade 7 group of students and a Grade 8/9 group. In total we have 55 students which includes goalies, defensemen and forwards.”

The goal for the program is to have players of all sizes and abilities to work on their skill set.

“Our goal here is truly hockey skills. The players range in all sizes and ability, male and female, that’s the way we want it,” said Wright.

The school wanted to try something new by developing the hockey academy off of the skating and shiny program that was already on going.

“We’ve always done a skating, shinny type of (program). We rented the rink for a month every year as a part of the Phys. Ed program. There was a genuine interest from the community to have something like this,” said Wright.

 “The junior high age is one where interest is hugely high and it gives in a community like Strathmore an opportunity for extra ice time and puck touch and skill work,” said Wright. 

Students in the hockey school have two ice times a week and also learn more about nutrition and healthy choices in the classroom.

“It’s run through the school, it’s ran as a part of our Phys. Ed and health program. The hockey portion of it is actually integrated into our school schedule,” said Wright.

“So the two days out of the four, the Phys. Ed is involved at the rink and the other two days they flow back and doing regular Phys. Ed here at the school.”

 “Once the hockey program is done then they flow into the health classes and continue on into healthy choices with nutrition of athletics,” said Wright.

Many players from out of town ask if there is a hockey program in the school when they are interested in enrolling in the school. Therefore, the enrolment has been a positive step for the school.