LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The annual regional hockey clinic for minor players and the women's hockey team was held in Fort Simpson from Dec. 5 to 6.

Minor hockey players between the ages of 11 and 16 gather around instructor Greg Hopf, far right, who came to Fort Simpson for a hockey training camp from Dec. 5 to 6. Lucas Tate, left, joins Kaden Kwasney-Nahanni, Colton Hardisty-Gillis, Tyler Lafferty for instructions. To Hopf's left, Patrick Tate pays rapt attention while Danielle Hansen, front, listens. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

The clinic, which drew dozens, included lessons for young players between the ages of six and 10, players aged 11 to 16 and players on the Moosehide Mamas women's hockey team.

Instructor Greg Hopf, executive director of the Aboriginal Sport Circle NWT, came to the village to run the sessions. Hopf, who was raised in Fort Simpson, instructed last year's camp as well.

Instruction depended on the age group he was teaching. Hopf said the most important thing for the younger children to develop are their skating skills.

"The skating is the most important part of the game, because if you can't skate, you cannot play. A lot of the younger kids didn't really touch the puck too much (during their sessions) because you have to learn how to skate first," Hopf said.

Teaching progresses in four stages. Once children have learned to skate, they then learn to skate with the puck. From there, Hopf moves on to passing and finally shooting skills.

"Some of the groups got a little more advanced over the weekend but with the children it was all skating, skating, skating. That's the foundation of the game," he said.

As for the women's team, Hopf said he has been impressed by their willingness to learn.

"The women (in Fort Simpson) are probably one of the most advanced women's programs in the North," he said.

"They're really good. Their attitudes are amazing. They're like sponges."

Over the weekend, Hopf worked with the women individually based on their skills.

Later on Dec. 6, he also worked with them as a group on positioning as well.

"A lot of this weekend was really just technique," Hopf said.

"If you don't have a good skating stride and someone has better technique than you, they will always beat you at races."

Men's session removed

Last year, the regional hockey camp ran with a men's session, as well. Due to low attendance, Hopf said he decided not to go forward with it this year.

"The interest was really low. I think guys just want to get on the ice and play games. Getting them to do skills and technique (training) is pretty tough," he said. "We only had two or three guys last year."

The first local hockey tournament is the men's annual, scheduled for Jan. 22 to 24.

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