By Jeff D'Andrea

U of S Huskies lets tween hockey players train in its facilities

Apr 23, 2013 | 6:00 AM

At no extra cost, spring hockey teams from around the province will get all the perks of playing at a university before they even reach high school.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies hockey program has affiliated itself with teams across the province, giving them the chance to play and train in its facilities and use its resources to help them become better players.

The 2001 Huskies Prospects girls team, which is particularly PA-heavy with seven local kids on the team, is one of those teams that has taken full advantage of the partnership.

“We have access to the gymnasium, we have access to the pool, we have access to the climbing wall,” said prospects coach Reg Fontaine. “We have access to mental sport training, the sports science centre.

“Everything you can possibly imagine that kids at a high level get, we’re all getting for 10, 11, 12 year olds. It’s fantastic.”

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Fontaine said being able to work with the Huskies is going to help his team develop and local teams like the Prince Albert A&W Bears Midget AAA team could profit from this in the future.

“I think the stronger grassroots program we have, it will help feed that organization,” said Fontaine. “We’re still a couple of years away from seeing some of the benefits from that.

“Some of the Bears today lived and grew up on spring hockey. For us to have it a little more locally, it certainly elevates these kids’ games. They’re playing at a higher level, the intensity is up and I truly hope as a coach, they’re taking that back in the fall when they go to their host teams and play at that level.”

This is the first year for the affiliation, as Fontaine and his team were approached around the holiday season. The 2001 Huskies Prospects are made up of seven locals, the most on any of the four teams in the province, as well as players from all over the province, Manitoba and even the Northwest Territories.

In the last two weekends, the Huskies Prospects had a total of four practices at the Northern Regions Rec Centre, formally known as the Buckland Arena, but will hold the rest of their practices at the Rutherford Arena, the U of S Huskies home rink in Saskatoon.

The prospects will play in three major tournaments, the Alberta Cup in Calgary April 26-28, the City of Bridges tournament May 17-20 in Saskatoon and the N.A. Hockey Classic June 7-9 in Winnipeg.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea