Summer hockey camp in Lac La Biche heats up interest for hockey season

While it was summer outside, groups of young hockey players from the Lac La Biche region were on the ice at the Bold Centre practicing and improving their skills at Ski's Hockey Skills camp, which took place from July 2-5.

The camp was put on by Carter Wolski, whose hockey career has included playing for the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Red Deer College. He has also played with the Grande Prairie Storm and Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

According to Wolski, the objective of the camp – which is aimed at players from the U11-U18 age ranges and for any skill level – is to improve on-ice ability and be more effective in games.

"It is important for players to attend because it is a great opportunity to learn from an elite level skill development specialist how to improve their game and it will be a ton of fun," he told Lakeland This Week.

During the four days, the players who attended were taught puck handling, shooting, passing, skating, along with decision-making when out on the ice. They were also provided with off-ice training that focused on strength, speed, agility, power, and overall athletic ability.

Wolski, whose company runs hockey development sessions and camps all over Alberta, hosted a skills camp in Lac La Biche last year from Aug. 28-Sept. 1. That event, he said, went very well.

He is passionate about passing his skills and knowledge onto other hockey players through these camps.

"What I enjoy most is helping players improve and seeing them have fun doing it," he said.