Local aspiring hockey players got the chance to learn from a legend during the Smytty’s Skills Hockey Camp at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex Nov. 13-15.
The camp’s namesake, Ryan Smyth, was in town for the camp’s final day, teaching the young hockey players in the areas of skating, shooting, passing and tight turns. Steve Goertzen and Tyler Wowk taught the sessions during the rest of the three-day camp.
Smyth said in an interview the kids were “awesome.”
“They’re very well-receptive kids. It’s exciting to see them develop and grow,” he said. “Obviously, this is my first day here, but it’s kind of special to see the development from the start of the session to the end.”
Elissa Ponich, a local hockey mom who was the camp’s contact person, said the Novice kids got four ice sessions and the Pee Wee/Bantam kids got six ice sessions. She said the camp drew about 35 area kids.
“It’s a pretty good turnout for the levels they are; they had to consolidate some,” she said. “They only released the dates here two weeks ago, so we didn’t have too much time, so it’s a pretty good turnout.”
This was the second Smytty’s camp in Athabasca, after their first appearance during last year’s fall break.
Athabasca Minor Hockey Bantam ‘A’ players Matthew Marches and Keenan Ponich both said they learned a lot during Smytty’s camp.
“I’m a goalie, but I learned a lot of edge work I could use on my own, and a bunch of edges I didn’t know I could use,” Marches said.
“It’s pretty cool when you get to learn from professionals that you can trust – they know what they’re doing, because they’ve made it that far, and it’s cool to meet people you look up to,” Keenan said.
