By Pat Lovgren
From a young age almost every young hockey fan dreams of having the opportunity to skate on the same surface as their NHL heroes. for a select few who attend certain hockey camps, that chance can become reality. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for kids,” said Matt Kuzniar of CAN/AM Hockey which holds youth camps in both Guelph, Ont. and Lake Placid, N.Y. “You have nine-year olds who look up to them and they get the chance to ask questions and interact with their heroes.”
“You realize how down to earth these guys are once you talk to them and see how they are with the kids,” Kuzniar said. “They come to the program and are so nice and always take the time to sign every autograph and answer every question.”
Marshall Starkman of Roger Nielson’s Hockey Camp said his camp typically features a mix of younger players such as Kurtis Foster and Kyle Quincey of the Kings to go along with older ex-pros such as Eric Lindros, Keith Acton and 2007 Jack Adams winner Bruce Boudreau.
He said Lindros – who attends the camp most years – most looks forward to giving the kids instruction on the ice.
“Lindros is one of the most dedicated,” said Starkman, who’s camp is entering its 33rd year and is located in Aurora Ont. “He often says he’d like to spend even more time on the ice teaching the kids; he loves it.”
Marshall Uretsky, the youth hockey director of the World Hockey Centre’s youth hockey camps said current pros like Aaron Downey and Martin Gerber have attended his camp as well as former NHLers Ron Ellis and Gary Unger.
Uretsky said Downey credited the work and instruction he did and received at the World Hockey Centre with getting him over the top and into the NHL.
“Downey said his training here helped him crack into the NHL,” said Starkman, who’s camp is located 45 minutes northwest of Toronto. “He comes here to train, but he also signs autographs and speaks with the kids.”
Similar to Uretsky’s camps, Steve Serdachny, who runs Edge Power Skating and Hockey Schools, has players like Ales Hemsky, Kyle Brodzniak, Dion Phaneuf and Jay Bouwmeester pull double duty as they both train and instruct at his camps.
“I’ve known many of them since they were kids,” said Serdachny, also the Edmonton Oilers skating and skills coach. “I work with them and train them with the focus being on high speed drills and getting to the next level.”
Kuzniar said the pros are used to supplement the drills and training conducted by the camp instructors.
He said each group at the camp has a designated counselor who spends the entire 16-hour day with them. Kuzniar said this enables the kids to form bonds and build relationships with their counselors.
“Many of the counselors are 18, 19, 20 years old, so the age difference isn’t that great which allows the kids to identify with them,” Kuzniar said.
Like the CAN/AM camp, Roger Nielson’s camp has specialized counselors and instructors who perform specific duties. Starkman said the on-ice work is handled by a variety of instructors. They include camp supervisors who oversee all on-ice activities, chief on-ice instructors who oversee the practices and design the drills, assistant instructors who implement the drills as well as power-skating coaches. Off the ice, camp counselors are with the kids throughout the day and the recreation staff run the training elements.
“The off-ice staff are phys-ed teachers or people who have a background in fitness training,” said Starkman. “They are in charge of the dry land training and activities such as rope climbing and high wall work.”
Besides NHL players and junior or college players, Uretsky’s camp features NCAA coaches who also serve as instructors.
Uretsky said the coaches, which come from NCAA schools such as Utica, Elmira and Sacred Heart are actively involved in the camp in a variety of ways.
“What we have is real coaches doing real work,” Uretsky said. “The coaches contribute and sometimes run the drills and they talk to the kids about NCAA opportunities and recruit them if they see a player if they like.”
So whether players are looking to fulfill a dream by stepping onto the same ice as their heroes or want to receive top-level instruction from some of the most qualified instructors around, there are plenty of hockey schools that can deliver on both accounts.
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