The North Stars Hockey School is an annual event, which offers kids in the community the chance to learn new skills guided by the Stars’ coaching staff and players, such as Matthias Urbanski, pictured here helping tie a skate at last year’s event. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Good ol' Hockey Game

North Stars Hockey School registration to open this week

Jun 16, 2020 | 2:00 PM

These may be unprecedented times in the sporting community, as in life, but the Battlefords North Stars are hoping to kick off a return to Canada’s game with their annual hockey school this summer.

The Stars’ hockey school includes daily on-ice and dryland training sessions led by coaches, Brayden Klimosko and Rob Holoien, with the assistance of some returning North Stars’ players.

This year the hockey school will be offered for two weeks. The first week will run from Aug. 17 to 21, with the second from Aug. 24 to 28. Both weeks will be designed with daily programs for the Novice (U9), Atom (U11) and Peewee (U13) age groups.

North Stars’ Marketing Manager, Jennifer Whyte, said the move to a two-week format provides a few benefits. Offering two weeks allows the team to better adhere to potential capacity limits as implemented by the province, while also limiting costs, in addition to providing extra flexibility for families to choose the week that works best for them.

“We haven’t been told there will be capacity restraints [with the implementation of Phase 4], but we’re kind of expecting it,” Whyte said. “We’re also going to reduce the amount of money we’re spending on ice time, which will also reduce the fees that youth’s families are paying. For families who maybe couldn’t go to the first week, but can maybe come to the second there’s also that. So the change will address the lower revenue, the expenses and accommodate the needs of families.”

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Previous years the camp has offered a midget and bantam evening camp, but this year for simplicity’s sake and to reduce costs, the camp will be kept to the younger, aforementioned age groups.

Whyte said this year’s event likely would not be possible without the assistance of sponsors. She said she’s grateful to Northland Power Curling Centre for sponsoring the event this year, adding it’s all about providing a place where kids can come to not only hone their skills, but really develop a love for the game of hockey.

“To see and hear the fun the kids had last year, not just on the ice but off it too, was great to see,” she said. “It also gives the chance for the kids to get to know the North Stars a little bit too, so when they come to our games they can say ‘I went to the North Stars camp and skated with that guy, or played stick hockey with that guy.’ It’s not just about preparing for the hockey season; it’s about having fun playing the game.”

Registration for the North Stars hockey school will open June 18.

The North Stars’ Hockey School is contingent on the implementation of Phase 4 in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. Should Phase 4 not go ahead prior to the scheduled date of the school, advance deposits will be refunded from the team.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1