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.
In life it's said that females mature quicker than males, well in hockey, some players improve quicker than others. The Atom B program has been created to help kids step up to the Atom A or AA level. "The whole reason behind this program is to help kids develop more than anything," says Travis Rideout, one of three co-coaches. Rideout believes himself, Sean Black and Bryce Slugoski can help the kids aged nine and 10 get better. "There's a handful of kids in the B program that are kind of borderline, on the bubble," he says. When it was discovered there was enough kids to make another team and get the extra practice, that got the ball rolling. "We had a coach that wanted to do it so we just took it on," Nara Black says. "I like it quite a bit," explains Rideout. "My whole life living here and playing hockey here or coaching hockey here, this is the first time this has ever been done. I was always wondering why it hasn't been done." Black's son is in the program, which her husband helps coach, and she is pleased. "I like it," Black says. "My son needs the extra practice and he's enjoying it, and if he's enjoying it, I'm willing to be there." Black says the main goal is to teach the players the basic skills of the game. Rideout says they are trying to let other parents and players know what's happening to attract more interest as they want between 12 and 15 players. "You can't have a team with nine guys," Rideout says. Anyone interested in having their kids involved should contact Travis Rideout at 687-5714 or Sean Black at 687-4478.
