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King’s Hockey school a family affair

Aug 9, 2017 | 10:00 AM

Some local young hockey players are getting the royal treatment this week from one of Meadow Lake’s most prolific hockey families.

The King’s Hockey School started in Meadow Lake yesterday, and 100 children from pre-novice to peewee are learning several techniques in both life and hockey from the King siblings – brothers D.J. and Dwight, and sisters Dayna and Danene (Kopperud). It started in the community in 2011, and takes place at the PineRidge Ford Arena on Flying Dust First Nation.

Dayna and Danene both played hockey at the university level after their careers growing up in Meadow Lake, and have both coached minor hockey since returning to their hometown. DJ has played in the NHL and professionally elsewhere, and Dwight has played in the NHL and even brought home a Stanley Cup.

The camp is comprised of several components, including dry land training, on-ice drills, and a classroom component.

“In the classroom we focus on the top skills that a hockey player needs,” said Dayna. “That includes themes like resilience, teamwork and team building as well. We get the kids to talk about what makes a good hockey player.”

“It takes a lot to be an athlete,: said Danene. “We’re instilling all the different character traits to become a successful person and trying to build that in them.”

Dwight said it was important for the family to be able to offer support to the community in this form, as all of the instructors have gone through skill-building camps growing up in region. Enrolment in the camp has been pretty steady over the years.

“It’s neat,” he said. “It’s obvious the hockey school experience in general is pretty special for kids, we went through it as kids. Also the chance and ability to be able to have ice in August here at Flying Dust is great. And over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of returning participants and get to see their development. Even some of our helpers went through our camp.”

DJ said the entire King family feels fortunate to offer support to budding hockey players.

“We’re privileged enough to have the opportunity to give back to our community and to do it as a whole family makes it that much more special,” he said. “Our parents supported us fully – they got us to where we did with our hockey careers… and after hockey careers – both [Dayna and Danene] are school teachers, we were raised right. Our mom does a lot of behind the scenes work.”

Dayna agreed that the matriarch of the family – Donna – is the backbone of the camp, and said it’s great experience for the camp participants and the family alike. Most of the siblings have kids of their own that are around for the camp, and some are even old enough to participate.

“It’s nice because everybody gets so busy, and this is the one time where I know we’re all going to be around each other every day for the week,” she said. “And my mom is the backbone to this – she’s on the ball with this and so organized and I know she loves seeing us all here.”

 

 

 

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath