LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The organizers of a hockey school that was held in Fort Simpson over the weekend are hoping the event will foster youth hockey programs in the Mackenzie region.

Rudy Landry of Fort Providence hops back towards his teammates during a dry-land training game that focused on communication skills. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photos

The Mackenzie Youth Hockey Challenge brought together 65 hockey players from Behchoko, Whati, Fort Providence, Lutsel K'e, Fort Resolution and Fort Simpson, who took part in on-ice and dry-land training from Jan. 12 to 13.

The idea for the hockey school came out of ongoing discussions with people involved with recreation in the Mackenzie, said Mike Yakabuski, one of the co-ordinators of the challenge.

There's been a desire to bring together as many young hockey players as possible for a fun and skill-intensive event, said Yakabuski, the recreation director in Behchoko.

"We have no doubt we organized a super fun event," he said.

Making hockey skills fun the goal of the Mackenzie Youth Hockey Challenge, created a stimulus for communities, he said.

In the Mackenzie region the small communities have arenas but most lack a structured youth hockey program, said Yakabuski. The event was designed to give communities a reason to create stronger programs, he said.

"I think it's been fantastic," Yakabuski said about the school.

There are plans to make the school a yearly event and get other communities to act as hosts. This year's hosts were Fort Simpson Minor Hockey.

The on-ice focus was on skating skills and basic hockey skills including passing and puck handling positions, said Debbie Strome, a hockey instructor who taught at the event.

Athletes at the event were between the ages of nine and 12 and for players at that developmental stage, skating is the skill that needs to be fostered, said Strome.

"Skating is the most fundamental skill of the game," she said.

Skating is also the skill that isn't developed in players because most hockey coaches don't know how to teach it, she said.

During dry-land training the youth did hockey-related exercises including soccer drills. Soccer is a good cross-training sport for hockey because it involves quick footwork, she said.

"I was impressed with the level of the kids here," said Strome.

The event wrapped up with a tournament between the players and a banquet.

The school was a good experience, said Tyler Lafferty from Fort Simpson.

"It's pretty good. I like it," said Lafferty, 9.

Lafferty said he learned some new skills and drills that have helped make him a better hockey player.

"I learned how to stop easier," said Lafferty.

The event was good, agreed Nolan Bonnetrouge, 12, from Fort Providence.

"I learned how to pass and shoot," he said.

A total of 10 hockey players from Fort Providence came for the event with Philip Bonnetrouge, who coaches the nine to 12-year-olds in the hamlet.

"The clinic's good," said Bonnetrouge.

"The kids seem to like it."

The Fort Providence athletes learned new tricks and tried new drills for passing and skating, he said. Bonnetrouge said that even he learned some new information.

"I picked up a lot of pointers for on-ice training and dry-land training," said Bonnetrouge.