Hockey is Canada’s National Winter Sport, but if you didn’t grow up with the game it can be intimidating to step inside an arena… much less on the ice.
But Hockey Alberta wants you to give it a try. There are just too many great things about the sport to let a little intimidation hold you back.
“Hockey helps you develop friendships, build lifelong memories, improve leadership skills, and of course have lots of fun,” says Brad Lyon, Senior Communications Manager.
You don’t even have to strap on skates and wobble onto the ice — there are opportunities to get involved no matter your age or ability. Coaches, trainers, time keepers and other volunteers get all the excitement and camaraderie of the sport and are great ways to stay in hockey for life.
Why Hockey Alberta?
When you step on the ice with Hockey Alberta, you know you’ll be playing with fellow-Albertans who care for this great sport and are committed to a high standard of respect and inclusion.
“Our Alberta-built coaches receive training, certification and development, and together they’re responsible for over 60,000 players across the province,” Lyon says. “We support more than 180 minor hockey associations, from the smallest towns to our biggest associations in Edmonton and Calgary to make sure that people who want to play this great sport have that opportunity.”
When you play with Hockey Alberta you’re also getting Alberta-built officials, trained and certified locally to Hockey Canada standards. Hockey Alberta trains and develops home-grown talent, however you want to participate, and continues to support you as you grow.
Alberta-built skills camps
Spring’s around the corner and it’s time to think about baseball, right? Definitely, you are encouraged to play other sports. But you can also work on your hockey skills.
“Hockey Alberta offers a variety of skills camps across the province from the end of March to August. We base these camps on the Long Term Player Development Model so players are learning the right skills at the right time,” Lyon says. “When they step back on the ice with their teams in the fall they feel they’ve improved in meaningful ways.”
Spring is the perfect time to step back from the pressures of winning and take time to become a more well-rounded athlete, and Hockey Alberta has camps to match all ages and abilities. Visit hockeyalberta.ca/players/athlete-skill-camps to register, and to see a full list of locations.
These are just some of the camps offered in cities and towns across Alberta:
- Super Skills
- Small Area Games
- Power Edge Pro
- Goaltender Skills
- Female Skills
- Dynamic Shooting
- Developing Defensemen
- U12 and U13 Skills
“Our instructors know what they’re doing. They’ve come through our coaching programs, they have specific skills and experience that’s helped them develop their knowledge,” Lyon says. “They’ve also worked with kids before, and have effective teaching strategies that help kids learn and HAVE FUN!”
