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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A hockey skills development camp designed, in part, to foster new coaches met with limited success in Fort Simpson.

Minor hockey participants in a hockey skills development camp in Fort Simpson included, back row, from left, instructors Greg Hopf and Jamie Leach, coach-in-training Jonathan Tsetso, front row, from left, Patrick Tate, Destiny Villeneuve-Brown, Lucas Tate and Sage Fabre-Dimsdale. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Jamie Leach, a former NHL champion and the founder of Shoot to Score Hockey, and Greg Hopf led the camp on Dec. 7 to 9. The event was the first step in a three-year plan to promote hockey in Fort Simpson.

During conversations about increasing minor hockey numbers in the village, it became evident that in addition to skill development there is a need for coach development. The current coaches are burning out, said Hopf.

Skills development

The plan for this year was to hold a skills development camp for minor, women and senior male hockey players and at the same time work with new potential coaches. A classroom component would centre around teaching coaching skills that would then be demonstrated during on-ice sessions. The number of potential coaches and level of commitment that was hoped for just wasn't there, however, said Hopf.

Eight people started at the beginning of the camp, but only two participated in every classroom session and only three went on the ice. The village needs more people to commit to being coaches, Hopf said.

"You can't have minor hockey without coaches," said Leach.

Despite the low levels of participation the content of the camp didn't change. The potential coaches who did participate took quite a bit away from the sessions, said Leach.

In addition to the coaching component, Leach and Hopf worked with minor and women hockey players during four ice sessions for each group. There was little interest from the senior men in their planned sessions.

"The minor hockey kids really enjoyed it," said Leach. "They were sad to see us go."

Approximately 12 minor hockey players participated in the sessions. They worked primarily on skating and puck control. You could definitely see their skills improve over the course of the weekend, Leach said.

Destiny Villeneuve-Brown, 7, was one of the minor hockey players on the ice.

Villeneuve-Brown said she learned how to use the inside of her blades and how to balance with her weight on one foot. She said her skating improved after just two sessions.

Advanced skating, puck control and passing

With the adult women hockey players, Leach and Hopf focused on skill development including more advanced skating, puck control and passing. The two instructors also imparted different drills that the Moosehide Mammas can use during their practices.

Although there were low numbers of coaching participants this year, Leach and Hopf plan to return next year for the second stage of the plan. The pair will teach another skill development camp and also certify coaches through an eight-hour course designed by Hockey Canada.

In year three, the new coaches are expected to develop and deliver a skills development camp in Fort Simpson that will include participants from surrounding communities. Leach and Hopf will be on hand to assist with the camp.

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