Thirty-two years ago Sylvan Lake Hockey Camp founder and president Graham Parsons received a phone call that changed his world.
The camp expanded into an international program becoming associated with Ice Hockey in Harlem.
“In 1990 a young financier in New York, Todd Levy, was a hockey nut and a big Islander fan and he became associated with a new organization, the Ice Hockey in Harlem, which was associated with a boys club there,” explained Parsons.
“There were four young brothers, the Simmons, and being an Islanders fan he knew about the six Sutter brothers and he saw in the Hockey News that they were teaching at our camp. He had no idea where we were located but made a cold call to me about the kids meeting the Sutter brothers.
“Their program had sent kids up to Ontario and Quebec, but this sounded different and after we talked we decided to give it a whirl.
“As it turned out Brent (Sutter) and Kelly Kisio, who was with the Rangers, were here and it was a great success.”
The program started in 1991 and for the next six years four boys attended the Sylvan Lake camp. In 1997 Parsons started a girls program in Jasper and he switched to two boys and two girls. In 2003 the girls program moved to Sylvan Lake.
The alliance with Ice Hockey in Harlem has been a huge success for both parties. Three years ago Parsons and SLHC representatives were honoured in New York.
“It was a great opportunity to see some of the kids who had been here and to meet their administration,” said Parsons. “It was real eye opening experience. Their facility was at the north end of Central Park and during the summer it’s two large outdoor swimming pools and in the winter two outdoor ice surfaces.
“They’re remodelling so right now they play at various sites in New York every Friday.”
An interesting side to the program is that their Director of Operations, Malik Garvin, attended the Sylvan Lake Camp when he was seven.
“Its really well run and all their coaches are volunteers,” said Parsons.
The boys, who were in Sylvan Lake last week were nine and 13 with the girls — Isabel Brita and Alegra Blum, who are here this week, are both 13.
Beth girls started playing hockey with their brothers at an early age.
“I started skating when I was three and playing hockey when I was five,” said Isabel, who plays in goal and up front.
“I always loved skating and my brother is in the same program. My mom signed me up and I loved it and have been playing ever since.”
She has has attended a hockey camp in Maine, but was making her first trip outside of the States.
“I was a bit nervous, but also not really as I came up to play hockey, have fun and see Canada,” she said.
She’s loved the experience and “a chance to meet kids from around the world.”
She’s been working on her slap shot and “just getting faster.”
She indicated she may “possibly think about getting a hockey scholarship ‘down the road” but that’s not “at the top of her mind.”
Alegra, who lives in Harlem, has similar thoughts.
“If I’m really interested in hockey it’s something I’d think about,” she said.
Alegra’s mother also put her in the program, following her brother’s footsteps.
“Once I got in I really loved it,” she said. “We play other teams in New York and it’s exciting.”
It’s not her first time in Canada as “just last week we were in Canada to visit my grandmother.”
“I was still a little nervous coming up but definitely excited.”
Alegra plays defence and was looking forward to the “training part of the camp and learning new things I didn’t know before.”
The kids are selected by the Ice Hockey In Harlem administration.
“They have 250 kids in the program and generally there’s four new kids each year,” said Parsons. “They’re selected for their dedication to their schooling, love of hockey and their leadership qualities on and off the ice.”
Parsons has seen 116 kids make the trip from New York with no money changing hands.
“They have an agreement with an airline for the kids to fly up and I meet them at the airport and take them back. We supply the tuition and room and board.
“It’s been great and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback over the years. We’ve had a number of articles written about us and had two television documentaries.
“It’s something we’re still excited about. I know their kids and our kids love it. It’s a real pleasure having them here.”
Parsons, who remains in contact with several of the former New York kids, knows of at least one former boy and girl, who have received hockey scholarships. Garvin is one, playing Division III hockey.
“They simply have a great program there and it’s receiving s lot of play in hockey circles including the NHL,” added Parsons.
The SLHC has eight one-week programs with the July 17-22 portion an All Girls camp. Outside of the two girls from New York there are two girls from Japan, brought over by a former teacher from Rocky Mountain House.
“He went there 13 years ago and met his wife and eventually stayed.” explained Parsons. “He thought it would be great to bring the two girls over.”
The SLHC, which is in it’s 48th year, is one of the premier camps in the country with Cody Reynolds the On-Ice Co-Ordinator and Kate Uchtenhasgen the Off-Ice Program Director.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danrode@shaw.ca