This past weekend, the Langenburg Minor Hockey Association (LMHA) had the fortune to host the Adam Herold Legacy Camp.
Adam Herold was an outstanding hockey player, and an even more outstanding person. He was part of the tragic collision that happened on April 6th, 2018, when the Humboldt Broncos’ bus was involved in a major accident on the way to a playoff game in Nipawin. Tragically, the accident took the lives of 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos organization, including Adam Herold. He died just six days before his 17th birthday.
Adam’s spirit lives on through these camps. The camps are special as they focus on leadership as well as hockey talent.
While the players develop their hockey skills, this camp also helps them develop their leadership skills through off-ice sessions which their families could join. Most hockey camps do not have this leadership component, and it is what makes this camp very special.
Riley Apland, President of the LMHA explained, “It’s more than just a hockey camp, it has on ice skills and your general hockey skills, but it also has a leadership component. There was an on-ice session on Saturday morning, and then there was a leadership session. The session told Adam’s story, and it talked about what leaders do, as well as why it’s important to be involved in your community as a volunteer.”
There are only a few of these camps offered each year in Saskatchewan. Last year, the LMHA applied for the camp after much discussion with their Minor Hockey executive.
Apland said, “I thought it would be a great way to start the season, after having the type of hockey season we did last year. The camp looks like it is a chance to learn something else other than hockey, and there is no cost to our members (players and families).”
Riley explained that there is a donation that the LMHA will send to the camp, but that the foundation asks for this as a “pay it forward” type of set up. There are some communities that cannot afford to pay for any costs and this contribution helps the camp get to all communities and hockey families in Saskatchewan, regardless of their financial ability.
One unique part of the Adam Herold Legacy Camp is asking the players to contribute volunteer hours prior to January 8th when the camp will return.
The Adam Herold Legacy Foundation was established to provide opportunities to Saskatchewan youth to develop and refine not only their hockey skills, but also their leadership potential. The Foundation’s Hockey and Leadership Development Program provides top trainers for skill development, physical and mental training, coaching development and ongoing support for hockey programs in target communities, as well as, scholarships.
The Foundation’s goal is simple – to build better hockey players and, more importantly, to nurture and support strong community-minded leaders – just like Adam.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The camp will try to get to as many spots in Saskatchewan as possible,” Riley explained. “It was very special and I thought it went over really good. It allowed the parents to take part in the off-ice session including the leadership and team building sessions.”
Many kids do not get the opportunity to attend hockey camps. This camp had no fee for the players involved and it was brought directly to the town of the players. The opportunity to host the camp is rare and extremely beneficial to the community.
There was also a coaches session held on Saturday, where the LMHA coaches sat down over lunch to meet with the instructors to talk about the reality of coaching in today’s day and age.
“I’d like to thank Kelly and Brandi Hildebrant from Cameron’s Pump Service for supplying the lunch. Also, to the LMHA executives for helping bring this to town. I’d like to thank the Langenburg Central School for the use of their facility. There was a dry land training session on Saturday afternoon where Level 10 Fitness out of Regina held a training session for each age group. Also, Juli Mitschke, Langenburg Recreation Director, for getting the ice in and making sure we can still host this.”
Apland sees the importance of volunteers within the community, and youth are no exception. The camp requires volunteering within the community, and he appreciates seeing the youth getting involved in their town. “All the people in our past who helped build all this in town, it’s special. There were many volunteers before us. We need to keep volunteering and keep being involved in the community to keep the things we have and keep growing it.”
In closing, Riley mentioned, “I’m really happy we were able to bring this to our community. To provide something like this to our players and parents, it makes you feel good. The leadership and team building, I hope we can continue that. Not only as a hockey association, but as a community. I hope we can continue to work toward volunteering and being involved in the community.”
Keep an eye out for members of Langenburg Minor Hockey looking to do volunteer hours. If residents have available volunteer projects, please call Riley Apland from LMHA at 743-7681.
Riley would like to thank the Adam Herold Legacy Camp for accepting LMHA’s application for the camp.