The girls hockey school has been ongoing for the last decade. (Facebook/Tami McKenzie)

By Derek Cornet

on the ice

Girls hockey school experiences surge in popularity

Dec 11, 2024 | 4:18 PM

The 2024 All Girls Hockey School held over the weekend at Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre (JRMCC) had more participants than ever before.

In total, 106 female athletes took part in the two-day skill-building camp, which targeted youth between four years old and 14. That’s about 30 more participants than in past years.

The camp included nine on-ice sessions and eight off-ice sessions with CrossFit training being a component. It focused on basic skating skills like crossovers, shooting, passing, stick handling, and skating forward and backward.

Organizer and founder Tami McKenzie believes the hockey school has grown in popularity due to its success over 10 years, as well as increased advertisement and word of mouth.

“A lot of them come to hockey school not even skating yet,” she explained.

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“This is their first time, and by the end of hockey school, they are skating, they are on their feet, they are not pushing the chair anymore. Just the two days of development that they get with us is huge.”

The two-day camp consisted of on-ice and off-ice sessions. (Facebook/Tami McKenzie)

Those who attended came from the tri-communities, along with other places such as Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, Deschambeault Lake, Île-a-la Crosse, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Pelican Narrows, Pinehouse Lake and Prince Albert. The hockey school is a free development camp with the only expenses being one night in a hotel room and transportation to La Ronge.

The hockey school costs approximately $25,000 to host and sponsorship came from Northern Sport Culture and Recreation District , Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Prince Albert Grand Council, Montreal Lake Cree Nation and JRMCC.

McKenzie noted she was happy to see so many young girls get involved this year and for the continued support from sponsors.

“It’s making it possible for me to keep having the camp because it is not for profit,” she said.

“It’s not fully funded by anyone in particular. I have to find the funds, sponsorship and grants to make it possible and I just do it on my extra time.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com