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PAGC youth Christmas hockey camp kicks off for the first time

Dec 14, 2016 | 4:20 PM

Youth from the 28 Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) communities have gathered at the Dave Steuart arena in Prince Albert.

Over 55 children were enrolled in the inaugural Christmas hockey camp, organized by PAGC’s sports and recreation department. Youth from the novice category up to bantams participated in the camp.

Korey Diehl is using his 28 years of experience in the hockey world to build on the skills of youth from around northern Saskatchewan. He said he’s previously organized hockey camps for the youth in the Athabasca and eastern regions of Saskatchewan.

“This is the first year we’ve done [the Christmas camp],” Diehl said. “This is the first one we’ve kind of wanted to target all 28 communities for PAGC and have everyone come together just before the holidays.”

Diehl said kids from the 12 PAGC bands had an opportunity to register for the event beforehand. Once registered, their schools were contacted to ensure their grades and assignments were up to par as they would be missing three days of classes.

Hockey is an important part of life for some of the more remote PAGC communities according to Diehl.

“For the First Nations communities, I think hockey is the ground roots sport,” Diehl said. “Most of the communities have an arena or something within an area where they can get to and go out and practise with the kids.”

He said over his years with PAGC, hockey is a sport which is growing with a high rate. For those in the remote communities in the North, there might not be a lot to do in the winter.

Alphie Dorion, one of the assistant co-ordinators of the camp only just recently started working with the sports and recreation department. He said he really enjoys taking part in activities which get youth involved in sports.

“It’s a great opportunity for our young kids to come out and play, to see how it is to get out of the community and come play hockey,” Dorion said.

He said there are some very real barriers which some youth face when it comes to getting in to Prince Albert and show off their skills.

“That’s what we’re trying to teach these young kids today, that there’s hockey out there, there’s a lot of opportunities out there,” Dorion said. “For our first year, this is an awesome turnout.”

Youth got a treat last night from the co-ordinators. They were taken to the Raiders home game against the Moose Jaw Warriors, where the home crowd watched a gripping shoot-out victory.

“They really enjoyed it, it was one of the incentives for them,” Dorion said.

Dorion said some youth from James Smith, Wahpeton, Red Earth and Shoal Lake will be taking part in an intermission scrimmage during the P.A. Raiders home game on Saturday, December 17.

Pacey Disain, one of the participants who made the trip from Black Lake, called the camp an amazing experience.

“I get to learn how to play, because of the drills,” Disain said. “It’s fun making friends [too].”

Disain has been playing hockey for five years. She said her favourite part was actually getting to compete in games.

According to Diehl, this year’s Christmas hockey camp is going to be the first of many. He is working towards doubling the number of registrations for next year’s camp.

 

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas