Players pose for a quick picture before scrimmage action at the North Stars Hockey School. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Good Ol' Hockey Game

School’s out: North Stars Hockey School wraps up after another successful year

Aug 23, 2019 | 2:00 PM

After a week of fun, games, and skill development, Friday marked the final day of the the Battlefords North Stars’ Hockey School.

The Hockey School offers guidance through drills, and helpful tips during scrimmage games and dryland activities.

The camp helps young players take their game to the next level ahead of the new season. The week-long event is designed for youth of the novice, peewee, and bantam/midget age groups.

Scrimmage teams come together for a picture between periods of Friday’s hockey action. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Participant, Maddex Irwin is in his second year at North Stars’ Hockey School, making the trip from Wilkie to attend. Irwin, who will play atom hockey this fall, said of all the skills and drills from the week of hockey, the power skating stands out as a true highlight.

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North Stars’ forward Matthias Urbanski ties skates on the bench during scrimmage action Friday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

About 80 young hockey players from around the Battlefords and surrounding area took part in this year’s Hockey School.

Stars’ assistant coach Rob Holoien admitted the youngsters weren’t the only ones having a good time.

“The kids have been having a lot of fun and there are lots of smiles on their faces,” he said. “Even we have smiles on our faces, so it’s been good. We are all having fun,” he added.

Holoien said with so many of the Stars’ players who come back to town early to help out in running the Hockey School, it is easy to get excited about the upcoming season and the challenge of defending last year’s league championship.

“We’re excited to get going and get working with the boys again,” Holoien said. “It’s good to see some of the guys here helping out this week. It says a lot about our leaders and we have a lot of leadership coming back this year. That is what we are going to lean on heading into the season, and we can’t ask for much more from those guys.”

On and off the ice, hockey was on the menu all week long at the North Stars Hockey School. Stars’ forward Quintin Loon-Stewardson is pictured here with a couple of street hockey teams. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

North Stars’ marketing manager, Jennifer Whyte said the annual Hockey Camp is always an integral part of the team’s calendar, as it gives an opportunity to connect with young fans, and leave their impact on the community.

“Any time our fans and future hockey stars get to interact with the team, it just only helps build that fanbase and I think it just makes the game of hockey that much more special.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1