Players work on their stick handling at the PAGC Christmas Hockey School on Saturday. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

building skills

PAGC puts on annual Christmas Hockey School

Dec 15, 2019 | 12:29 PM

The fourth annual Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) Christmas Hockey School offered kids an outlet to sharpen their hockey skills.

On Saturday around 35 children of all ages gathered at the Crescent Heights Community Club Rink for free instruction from experienced coaches.

“Every year we like to get out as many kids as possible just before Christmas time,” Korey Diehl, sports coordinator with PAGC, told paNOW. ” We try to do [many] initiatives… we want to put many fun programs together and hockey’s a big sport for us.”

He added while it was for the players in P.A., if people in other communities wanted to make the trip the rip that’s also encouraged.

Due to the frigid temperatures and other hockey tournaments on the go, there wasn’t as many participants as planned but they were still happy with the turnout.

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During the full day camp, the children learned how to pass, shoot, work on edges, and forward and backward skate, to name a few.

“More of the basic stuff they do learn when they do get starting to skate, but we just want to try to tighten that stuff up and try to develop some of the skills they need to work on,” Diehl said.

All of the coaches involved have played the game for over 25 years and have gone to hockey schools themselves.

“These guys actually coach my PAGC team at the Winter Games so to bring them out and showcase some of their skills and teach the kids some of the stuff they learned growing up it’s nice to give back,” Diehl explained.

“Hockey’s a fun sport and it gets everyone excited to come to the rink and you got some guys out there who know what they’re doing and have played at a high level,” he added. “It’s only going to grow the hockey school.

Christmas holidays are just around the corner and this is something that every year they look forward to around Christmas time.”

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12