North Stars run skills camp for Hockey Day

“This is how I got started coaching, is worrying about little guys and teaching them how to play,” Bedford said in between the two sessions. “It’s just something that this organization does every year and [they] asked if we would like to continue with me coming on as the new coach.”

“It’s always good to forget about ourselves for a bit and worry about minor hockey for a day and that’s been a lot of fun,” Bedford said.

The six North Stars players that took part were Jared Blaquiere, Reed Delainey, Kendall Fransoo, Zach Nedelec, Logan Nachtegaele, and Connor Sych.

Delainey said it’s about giving back to the kids.

“I remember what it’s like to be their age, looking up to hockey players in general,” he said. “So I’d just like to give back because I know I did the same thing when I was their age.”

“The kids have really enjoyed it,” Delainey added. “They’ve worked hard for us, which is always a treat.”

For Sych, helping run the session brought back some memories.

“It kind of takes you back to your younger days and what hockey’s really about, and that’s having fun,” Sych said. “It’s good to inspire kids to work on what they need to work on and have fun.”

Jonathan Huntington, Cameco director of corporate relations and Hockey Day in Saskatchewan coordinator, said there aren’t enough good things to say about the North Stars organization.

“To come and get up on a Saturday morning, on a game day no less, come out ten hours in advance of the game to do this… [we’re] just so thankful,” Huntington said. “This is the third year they’ve agreed to come and do this skills clinic. I cant say enough good things about the entire organization.”

Of course, having a former Stanley Cup champion involved doesn’t hurt.

Trottier, a Saskatchewan native, was involved in festivities Friday night when he spoke at the banquet, but he also made sure he was on the ice on Saturday morning to help out the North Stars with their lessons.

“That is just the nature of Bryan Trottier. He’s a first-class individual,” Huntington said. “Here’s a guy who has won seven Stanley Cups and what is he doing? He’s out on the ice with minor hockey kids in Shellbrook. That is a first-class Saskatchewan boy.”

“What I like to do is leave a wonderful impression,” Trottier said. “Maybe show them a little something, maybe leave them with a little skill or a little trick of the trade.”

“They’re big sponges out there,” he said. “They want to learn. They’re big eyes, big ears and they’re trying to absorb as much as you can possibly tell them.”

Trottier also had fun at the banquet on Friday evening.

“Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves,” he said. “I got to tell a few hockey stories … [and] I brought some Stanley Cup rings and people really enjoyed those. So I think it was fun for all.”

Nathan Kanter is battlefordsNOW’s sports reporter and voice of the Battlefords North Stars. He can be reached at Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca or tweet him @NathanKanter11

by Nathan Kanter

North Stars run skills camp for Hockey Day

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