by PAUL RAYNER

Put together to help improve the hockey skills of young players, the Boissevain “breakfast club” has been successful at its halfway point.

Starting in November, it brings players of all ages together prior to the school day at the Boissevain Arena. They go on the ice, work on different skill stations, have a quick breakfast, organized by the Cowlthorp’s, and go off to school. According to one of the on-ice instructors, Greg Cameron, the concept came from a neighbouring town.

“Actually, it originated when Bob Caldwell of Deloraine made a presentation to the Minor Hockey people,” Cameron stated, “and we went with that. Wayne Clyne and myself decided to do it and ran with it.”

Starting on Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m., Cameron said the instructors – himself, Clyne, Les Houston, Darryl Albrecht, Chad Reimer, Darren Unrau, Denny Robertson, Kevin Houston and Landon Cameron – work on a variety of hockey-related skills.

“We work on puck handling, skating drills. Things are very skill oriented, with a lot of techniques. It is not a shinny day.”

He said there are usually three different levels and drills at once, with a switch every few minutes. Players are put together in different age levels – older, middle and younger. Cameron said they started with just numbering players off for the drills, but moved to the age system because it was felt it was more effective.

He added there were no specialized coaching from the instructors in the sense of one taking care of one area. Everything is integrated.

“Basically, the drills have everything at once. You practice skating and puck handling in every drill. There is no real section to work on skating. Everything is at once.”

An experienced hockey coach, both at the minor hockey and high school level, he feels the experience of the instructors plays a role.

“Yeah, it helps because I understand the drills,” he explained. “Bob made a DVD to use in practices and that helps.”

All ages are participating in the program. Cameron said they have ranged from as young as 8 years old and up to 14, with the majority in the 10-14 level. Older players in the BCI Bronco program also help out with the drills.

“We didn’t stipulate what age could come, that there was an age that was not to come out. Anyone could come.”

If one development surprised him it was the enthusiasm of the younger players.

“I was surprised that there were really young kids coming. I didn’t think so many would come out, but it is a great idea.”

At one point, organizers were concerned their numbers would drop in the New Year. However, after the pre-Christmas response, Cameron no longer felt it would necessarily be an issue.

“As a rule, we’ve been getting between 20 and 30 kids,” Cameron stated just after the Yuletide season. “That’s quite a response. The kids seem to enjoy it; some go five after 7. It seems popular. I didn’t think it would go as well in the New Year at first, but I do now. The kids who have been coming will come. I don’t see it going down this year.”

Cameron feels that the success they have had with the concept this winter will help make a decision to continue the program in the future, pending finances.

What is the overall purpose of the “breakfast club”?

“We want to work on a wide range of skill levels. I don’t think the purpose is to make a Wayne Gretzky in Thursday morning practices. What we work on has to benefit some programs.”

“It is a really good program,” Cameron continued. “Obviously the kids want to be there. We have had no trouble with kids horsing around. I think everyone is enjoying it, from the instructors on down.”