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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The outdoor hockey rink in Fort Simpson was busy over the weekend when it was used as the site for a hockey clinic.

Kevin Bathurst, an instructor with Hockey Canada, chases Ehxea Nakehk'o around two hockey sticks to practise sharp turns during the second day of a three-day hockey clinic in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Department of Municipal and Community Affair's youth sport and recreation division organized the clinic aimed at female and minor hockey players. Kevin Bathurst with Hockey Canada led the three-day clinic from Feb. 3 to 5.

Minor hockey players spent three and a half hours over two days at the rink with Bathurst who kept them occupied with games such as Star Wars and Inukshuk tag. The games keep the younger hockey players entertained and introduce skills at the same time, Bathurst said.

"Trying to keep the kids moving at that age is the biggest thing," he said.

While the youths are normally good at skating forward, skating backward is one of the skills the games focused on. Bathurst also taught the youths games incorporating puck-shooting skills.

"I kind of liked everything a bit," said Lucas Tate, 8, about the clinic.

Tate said his favourite game was Star Wars. During the game one person tried to shoot pucks along the ice and hit the blades of the other players. If a player was hit they had to join the shooter and also shoot pucks.

For Ava Erasmus, 7, the best activity involved trying to hit a pair of shoes on the ice with pucks.

"I like that we get to play lots of games," she said.

Bathurst also worked with the Moosehide Mammas during a dry-land training session on Friday night and two sessions on the ice during the weekend.

With the Mammas, Bathurst focused on passing and shooting as well as power skating. The Mammas also played two-on-two or three-on-three mini games with added rules such as only being able to use backhand shots.

"It was great," said Susie Hanna about the clinic.

"It's really nice to have these types of opportunities in our community."

Hanna said her stick-handling improved during the clinic especially after the dry-land session.

Teammate Vanessa Murtsell said she also learned more about stick-handling, including tricks to move the puck around her body. Murtsell said it was particularly nice to be able to do the clinic on the outdoor rink. The outdoor rink had to be used because the indoor rink was closed due to the warm temperatures.

"It was awesome," she said.

A second clinic with Bathurst was scheduled in Fort Providence from Feb. 6 to 7. Students from Kakisa Lake School were expected to participate in the clinic on Monday along with students from Deh Gah School and members of the men's recreational hockey league.

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