For the eighth consecutive year, Murray Thrower has put together a hockey school for players in Squamish that he promises will help kick off their season right.
From Monday (Aug. 16) to Friday (Aug. 20), the school will help prepare kids of all ages for the upcoming season.
The school takes place at the Brennan Park Recreational Centre and offers 12.5 hours of training by experienced instructors for an affordable $240 registration fee, said Thrower.
"A camp similar to this one in Vancouver would probably cost about double what we charge," he said.
"Players are instructed in skating, shooting, stick handling, passing, checking, positional play and team play," said Thrower. "Most importantly, we want the kids to have fun! The hockey school staff are always mindful that these are kids playing a kids game."
Thrower heads a group of experienced instructors, which also include former Squamish minor hockey school alumni Jarid Lukosevicius, Matt Berry-Lamontagna Brodyn Nielsen and Thrower's sons Josh and Dalton.
Dalton is coming off of a successful rookie season with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League and his father hopes he can bring some of that hands-on experience to the camp.
Jim Dinwoodie, who played his entire minor hockey in Squamish, is another instructor who will bring a wealth of coaching experience to the camp.
Dinwoodie was the man behind the bench for the Bantam AAA provincial championship winning North Shore Winter Club team.
The final member of the instructor group is Jim Strang, who has been involved in teaching hockey for over 20 years and is the current hockey director of the Vancouver Thunderbirds Association.
"For a lot of these kids it will be a great way to get them ready for the season," said Thrower.
The tyke/novice group, which consists of players aged six to eight years old, are scheduled to hit the ice at 10 a.m. each day for 75 minutes ice time.
After their first training session, a provided lunch will be served and a recreational activity is planned until 1 p.m. when the group hits the ice again for another 75 minutes.
The atom/pee wee group of nine to 12-year-olds starts at 11:30 a.m. for 75 minutes of ice time before a lunch break and indoor activity until 2:30 p.m. after which they return to the ice until 3:45 p.m.
The bantam/midget group of 13 to 16-year-olds gets the late afternoon slot as they take to the ice at 4 to 5:15 p.m., have a short 30-minute break and then return to the ice for another 75 minutes.
Thrower said the group will be high tempo as the goal is to prepare the older players for rep, major midget or junior teams.
To ensure that each player has the best experience, only 30 players will be accepted into each group.
For more information and registration, contact Murray Thrower at 604-984-2339 or 778-686-4171.
