Hockey Northwestern Ontario officials are hoping a breakfast program they’re launching next week will boost sagging numbers and improve skill levels at all ages.
Open to children between five and 17, and free to HNO members and non-members, the program mirrors ones found elsewhere in Canada, particularly in Manitoba where a dozen or so are in operation.
Trevor Hosanna, HNO general manager, said it gives individual training to players, free of charge, they might not otherwise be getting.
“Their hockey really focuses on team concepts. The practices are based around teams. This will be individual, more skill-based – extra skating and stick handling,” Hosanna said.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids that aren’t involved in HNO right now to come out and try the game with very little cost, hopefully enjoy the game, pick up some skills and want to sign up next year and become a member of Hockey Northwestern Ontario.”
The breakfast program, which runs on Thursday mornings from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. at Fort William Gardens until April 12, features a free half-hour meal, courtesy of local restaurants and the Boys and Girls Club of Thunder Bay.
Instructors include the likes of Vern Ray, former NHLer Lonny Bohonos, Omer Belisle, Malcolm Sutherland, Ed Atwill, Kip Miller, Pat Szturm and Chris Bruno.
Hosanna said there are plenty of reasons why kids aren’t taking to Canada’s game like they once did.
“We know kids are playing more video games and they’re less active. So I don’t think we have those kids out on the outdoor rinks like the Staals and Pyatts, who used to spend hours out on the outdoor rinks,” Hosanna said, admitting HNO enrolment numbers have fallen steadily over the past five years.
“We don’t see that as much now. You don’t even see outdoor rinks open five days a week. It kind of rotates, so I don’t think kids are out there doing that skill development on their own. It wasn’t thought as skill development, they were out having fun at that point. Hopefully this can fill the gap and get some of those kids active again.”
Ray, who spent four years with the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and Senators during the early ‘90s, before going on to coach both the senior Bombers and the Junior A Bearcats, said the culture surrounding the game has changed over the years.
That’s why he feels the breakfast program has legs.
“If you look over 60 minutes of practice, the kids are going all the time,” he said. “If you look over 60 minutes of a game, on average the kids are probably only seeing about 15 minutes of ice time, so how much are they developing in that atmosphere?
“This is an avenue we think we can take. It’s only once a week, but it’s still 60 to 90 minutes where a kid’s going to be on the ice, creating those skills … which in turn is going to create a better athlete.”
Ray went on to say he hopes enough people take part to warrant upping it to two or three sessions a week next season.
To participate, children must have basic hockey equipment, including skates, neck and mouth guards, helmets and gloves.
For more information, phone 623-1542.
