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Hockey school teaching local girls more about the sport

Aug 17, 2017 | 9:49 AM

King’s Hockey School is spending this week focused on teaching Meadow Lake girls more about the sport. 

Last week, a mix of boys and girls took part in the first week of camp with the second week dedicated to female players at the request of several families in town. Sisters Dayna King and Danene Kopperud, their mother Donna King, along with several instructors hosted the camp since Monday, Aug. 14 and the camp concludes today, Aug. 17.

Kopperud said the family loves running both versions and added it’s an interesting and refreshing dynamic to have just girls on the ice this week. Over 62 girls from pre-novice to midget ages – which equates from about age four to 16 – are taking part. The fundamental skills are the same as last week’s camp – running drills, doing dryland endurance-building training, and instilling teamwork skills in a classroom environment.

“The girls this week are good listeners,” Kopperud said. “You can see on the ice that the girls are confident and interested in excelling.”

She said it’s been positive to watch the girls have fun while they improve their skills. 

“There’s about four that are very beginner skaters and they’ve improved so much just in the first three days,” Kopperud said. “They’re so proud. Yesterday two of them asked if they could do a few drills with the big girls.”

She said trainers received positive feedback from the participants’ families.

“I know there’s a few parents that were telling my mom that it’s nice to see their daughter going to the front of the line and being a leader on the ice, really trying their hardest,” she said. “We’ve been enjoying this week, there’s a bit of an ease to it. It’s awesome to see how the girls are connecting making these bonds and more of a confidence that they can do these skills.”

King said she notices girls who participated in the co-ed version of the camp before are stepping forward as leaders on ice.

“I think it’s important for girls to know that they can do it too, and also it’s nice to see another girl doing what you’re doing,” she said.

 

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath