SUNDRE – After hosting a player development camp through a specialized training program, six Sundre Minor Hockey Association coaches are certified to run the clinics in-house.
The Power Edge Pro (PEP) program is a development initiative that bills itself as the world’s most successful system when it comes to graduating players into the NHL.
Adam Huxley, a veteran trainer with seven years of experience who has also done NHL development camps, was at the Sundre Arena on Nov. 11-12 with the U9s and up, although there were also a few U7s.
“He’s part of the coaching staff with the Oilers,” said Tim Kennedy, association president, describing Huxley as “animated” and meticulous.
“He explained everything to everybody right down to the last detail,” said Kennedy, who also beamed with pride about the association’s players.
“He’s done a lot of these, and he said he’s never been to a group of kids that were so well behaved. When he blew the whistle, they came (and) they went to one knee right away and listened. He said he’s never had that before.”
It was the first time the program was brought to the local arena, said Kennedy, adding that since earlier this summer he had been corresponding with the PEP organizers on bringing the clinic to Sundre.
“We now own a license for it also. So, we have our six guys trained and we can do clinics any time now,” he said.
“I sort of went with the guys that had young kids just starting in hockey, so they’ll be around for a while,” he said, adding a couple of the coaches have children playing U7.
“Hopefully, by the time their kids are U15, they’ll be playing double or triple A,” he said.
The clinic seemed to have been well received not only by the players but the adults as well.
“Kids enjoyed it, the parents all enjoyed it – it’s something new they’ve never seen before and we now own the equipment,” he said. “It was a great weekend. I saw a lot of smiling faces, so that’s what counts.”
Kennedy said once he gets around to completing a registration process with the PEP, that the now-trained coaches will also get access to a greater variety of training materials including instructional videos.
