PJ Gillen Elementary School in Esterhazy is putting on a Hockey Canada Skills Academy in the fall! The academy provides the first step for new players to gain confidence on the ice and learn how to play the game, as well as an opportunity for experienced hockey players to further their skillset. It is a skill development course, and is less team focused. It teaches the small skills that build a great hockey player.
The Academy is part of the Physical Education curriculum. Grades 4 and 5 (current grade 3 and 4 students) are welcome and there is a maximum of 22 students. All abilities and genders are welcome! The goal of the academy is to “Enhance a hockey student’s confidence, individual hockey skills, self-esteem and opportunities in BOTH academics and athletics.” Students will receive 1080 minutes during the school year, substituted for a portion of the necessary Physical Education minutes. The head instructor is Casey O’Brien, and he will head the on-ice time. The guest instructors include Bud Holloway, Dave Shields, and Adam Flick.
The academy will run from October 2021 to March 2022, consisting of 18 on-ice sessions. The Town of Esterhazy has graciously offered for temporary equipment storage at the rink for the day.
PJ Gillen Principal Kelsey Shields is excited for a great opportunity for the students to experience innovative programming. “We are fortunate to have such great community support. GSSD has welcomed this opportunity, as well as the Town of Esterhazy, working alongside our school to help make this happen. We are looking forward to providing this unique opportunity to extend learning outside of the regular walls of our school. It’s very exciting!”
PJ Gillen and the Town of Esterhazy are very excited about this program! You can reach out to Kelsey Shields for more information by email at kelsey.shields@gssd.ca.
By: Mallory Johnson