The 3rd installment of the Ultimate Stride Explosive skating school made its return to Yorkton's Gallagher Centre last week.
According to camp director Bruce Thompson, not a thing has changed from last year.
He also said that that's a good thing.
"From the feedback we've been getting, there's not really a lot to change."
Thompson, along with fellow instructors Graham Hayes, Darren Durdle, Bruce McCullough and Tyler Durdle, took a group of about 96 PeeWee aged hockey players and attempted to give them a bit of a jumpstart on the upcoming hockey season.
By the looks of things at the Gallagher Centre last Friday afternoon, they appear to be doing just that.The camp opens up at 8 a.m., each morning, beginning on the holiday, and running up until Friday.
Participants spent part of each morning on the ice and part of the afternoons learning the drywall (off ice) training.
Players were broken off into groups to help ease the development process says Thompson, whose objective in the camp includes teaching all of the factors of becoming an explosive skater while having a low student-to-instructor ratio.
Thompson added that perhaps the most important part of the camp is to do everything in his power to make sure each player has some fun.
"The idea of it is to have fun and develop their skill," insists Thompson.
He added that "it's good for families" because parents of the players don't have to be there supervising their kids throughout the day.
He said the skills they learn, he hopes, will serve as a model to work from as they continue to make their way up the hockey ranks.
"We start by creating a foundation for all of the kids," says Thompson, who spent most of his time on the ice, watching scrimmages and coaching as well.
He said players made the trip to Yorkton from all over the central and western parts including: Yorkton, Melville, Foam Lake, Langenburg, Esterhazy, Whitewood, Roblin, Rama, Russell, Flin Flon, Swan River, Saskatoon, Estevan, Cofield, AB.
"Everybody was good, easy to teach," observed Thompson. "We have the basics but make adjustments based on skill
