The U13 age group pose for a picture following the first day of activities Monday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back on the ice

North Stars Hockey School kicks off Monday

Aug 16, 2021 | 3:59 PM

The Battlefords North Stars kicked off Day 1 of their annual summer Hockey School Monday at the Access Communications Centre.

Forward, Jake Southgate is one of the Stars’ players on-hand to help with skills and drills this week. He said being from the community himself, he knows full-well what summers at the Stars’ hockey camp are all about.

“Every year growing up my mom would put me in it, so it’s kind of cool that now I’m helping on the other side to run it,” Southgate said. “It’s fun helping the kids and seeing how much they improve throughout the week.”

The North Stars’ Hockey School will run Monday to Friday, Aug. 16 to 20, this week and then again next week, Aug. 23 to 27, with ice time for each of the U9, U11 and U13 age groups each day.

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Local 12-year-old, Brandyn Schmeik is in his fourth year at the Stars Hockey School. He said it’s something he looks forward to each summer.

“There is lots of stuff to do, it gets you warmed up for the year and it’s super exciting and fun,” Schmeik said. “It’s a really good way of getting ready for the start of hockey season.”

North Stars forwards (back L-R): Ryder Kenyon, Ryland McNinch and Jake Southgate pictured here with a trio of U13 campers at the Stars Hockey School, Monday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Head coach of the North Stars, Brayden Klimosko called it ‘an exciting time,’ to be back on the ice and connecting with the community once again.

“It’s nice to be back at the rink, and to be putting the skates on, and you know we’re getting close to the season as well when it’s hockey camp time,” he said. “It was an exciting day and a nice change from the last couple of months. It’s really great just to see people in the stands, and kids on the ice with smiles on their faces.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1