Player, coach development firm coming to Olds

A Calgary company's partnership with the Olds Grizzlys will bring new opportunities for minor hockey player and coach development, as part of the company relocates to Olds this fall.

Jeff Atkinson of Skillz Skating and Shooting Center made that announcement Thursday (Sept. 14) during a Grizzlys news conference at the Sportsplex.

"We partnered with the Olds Grizzlys, or the Friends of the Grizzlys, to act as an operational support for the team and to come up into Olds and establish ourselves as a hockey development organization to give back to the community through the provision of hockey development opportunities," Atkinson told the Albertan.

He said he's "just working through the logistics now" to make that happen.

A news release says that presence could be seen in Olds as early as next month.

Atkinson said their first priority is to set up a partnership with Olds Minor Hockey to "provide some developmental and on-ice support as well as some coach mentorship programs."

"And then moving forward, once we have our facility and our install up here, we're going to work with the Friends of the Grizzlys to put together some further programming opportunities for youth from south/central Alberta," he said.

He defines "south/central Alberta" as encompassing the area from Red Deer to Airdrie.

"This will include an off-ice developmental training facility (skating, treadmill, shooting lab) and on-ice development programs," the news release says.

Atkinson said the Grizzlys are still looking to connect more closely with the Olds community, but that's taking time.

"I know the group here is looking at all the various ways that they can best formulate a plan," he said.

"The trick with what's happened right now is because the organization, the group, came together so quickly and there was so much work to be done, they're still working through some logistics," Atkinson added. "But I think you'll be pleased to see what they plan for the community, moving forward."