The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
It's a short break from the last game of the hockey season until the first game of the new season. But the dedicated hockey players of Flin Flon spend every minute waiting to get back on the ice. The Flin Flon Xtreme Hockey School will be returning for another year as athletes have to chance to hit the ice next month. The 2013 program will offer the Junior and Intermediate programs as well as Advanced Camp, Conditioning Camp, Goaltending and Specialty Clinics. Like past years, students will work on the basics of the game. 'Sometimes people think that they need to go to a camp that has complicated drills to learn the play the game,' said director Mike Reagan. 'Lots of schools these days forget to teach the basic skills to play. Without these skills it's pretty difficulty to excel at the game.' Students will hit the ice at the Whitney Forum from August 18-23 for the regular programs and then August 25-27 for the Specialty Clinics. Reagan looks forward to returning to the director's role at the Xtreme Hockey School. 'I am once again happy to return as the director...this year and the opportunity to introduce new drills and games and keep the longest running hockey school in the North up to date and fun for all,' he is quoted as saying in a brochure for the program. Reagan says it's 'important to keep the tradition of Flin Flon having a hockey school.' '...we want to provide (athletes) of the North a positive experience that will allow them to develop the key skills to play the game,' Reagan told The Reminder in an e-mail. The Xtreme Hockey School has brought back familiar faces and will be introducing new ones this year. Newly signed Flin Flon Bomber, and Flin Flonner, Evan Akkerman will be on the ice this year. He will join Bomber Dillan McCombie, of Flin Flon, as well as returning Bombers Cam Blair, Brandt Weldon and Tyson Empey. Former Bombers Tanner Korchinski, also of Flin Flon, Devin Buffalo and Brett Boehm will take to the ice as instructors as well. Buffalo will lead the goaltending sessions. Rob Abbott will take the place as head instructor. He joins the Xtreme Hockey School as the Flin Flon Power Skating coach as well as a physical education teacher with the Flin Flon School Division. The Xtreme Hockey School has been running for 14 years, as Reagan began the program to help young players develop. '...(I) pride myself on how the program has evolved and how we as a group have been able to keep it current,' he says in the brochure. A former hockey school student himself, Reagan recalls being eager to work on his skills as a developing athlete. '...it also helped me prepare for the upcoming season,' he says. Reagan, who is also coach of the Bombers, says it's important to maintain the school as it provides opportunities and chances for northern athletes. 'I believe that it is important to provide this opportunity for the children of the North and want them to have the same experience that was available to me growing up,' he says in the brochure. Flin Flon isn't Reagan's only experience when it comes to hockey schools. The former Bomber has worked with countless hockey schools across North America. '...(I) can assure you that the Xtreme Hockey School provides you with a top notch experience,' he wrote 'I feel that this program is a way of giving back to the community that has given me so much.'
