INUVIK - Having raw hockey talent is one thing, maximizing that talent is quite another.

Doug Russell, a scout for the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers and longtime coach, has been trying to unleash that talent in Northern players. For the past nine years, Russell and a cast of former pro players have been travelling to Inuvik from Alberta holding hockey schools. Their focus is helping players get to the next level by developing their hockey minds.

Alberta coach Doug Russell, right, offers some pointers to some of his hockey clinic students on Sunday. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"They have the skill, the desire, the heart to play but many might not have the understanding because they don't play enough games," said Russell, who has one son currently playing in the NHL, the other in the AHL.

Russell and his crew were in town last week, from Nov. 10 to 14, to hold their annual hockey clinic. The focus was on fundamentals whether teaching novice or midget players.

Older players progressed from practising the basics like puck control and proper skating technique to lessons on fundamental hockey plays, from the proper way to execute a break-out, a two-on-one or power play.

Russell said he was impressed by several players, including James Day Jr, and Corey Baetz.

"They really want it," he said. "They spend a lot of time watching other hockey, they take care of their bodies, they get the proper rest, proper nutrition. They come to the rink focused."

Baetz, who is in his last year of minor hockey, said he plans to go south to try out for a junior team. He's participated in all of Russell's past clinics and attributes a lot of his development to him and his team of coaches.

"I'm glad they come here," said Baetz. "They break down the fundamentals so it all makes sense, showing us it takes getting a lot of little things right to get better. A lot of us really appreciate that."

One of the highlights of the clinic for Russell came during Friday's scrimmage where bantam and midget groups scrimmaged. Though the game ended up in a blowout, he said in the first period players kept to a system and kept things simple. The score remained 0-0 after the intermission.

"It was fun seeing them make the right decisions in their own end and the offensive end. It makes you feel like they're listening and understanding. Things eventually got scrambly and the game ended up 8-1," he said with a laugh.

Minor hockey president Conrad Baetz said he's always appreciative of the effort Russell and his crew make every year.

"It's always impressive," he said. "It's obvious to me that these guys give a lot of thought to how their going to coach the kids. The older kids are learning a lot and are getting better but the real marked improvement is with the smaller ones. You can see it after a few days; a great improvement in their skating and stick handling."

Russell said the clinics help players know what skills they need to improve on, and how to practise them.

"We leave here and they know what they have to do to get better," he said.

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