Okanagan Hockey School in Calgary

[Sample00]

Howdy
I have registered my son for the Okanagan Hockey School in Calgary for the beginning of August.
Does anyone have any experience with this school?
I have heard good things about it, but just wanted some input.
thanks

[Jake]

I've never been to the one in Calgary, but I went to it in Winfield BC and was coached by Alan Kerr.

To me it was just another hockey school, nothing special. I went to it in 2001-2002 though so maybe its gotten better. When I did it, it was an all day thing. We would skate in the morning with a figure skating coach, then go to dry land training, then to class room stuff, and then another skate in the afternoon. The dry land was just a big joke and so was the in class stuff for the most part. The nutritionist that came in I swear must have been working for powerbar.

[Wookie]

Went to the one in Penticton for years, probably 8, both brothers also went. Probably one of my best experiences with a hockey school. I was also a counselor;/instructor. It is also probably a mojor reason I was a decent player. However there must be a huge difference between the two, however one being run so well I'd imagine it reflects on the others. I'm actually considering going back to instruct this summer as a last hurrah job now that I'll be done school and will be joining a 12 month/year work force.

[Ch40s]

Yep, last year I attended the one in Calgary.

They have very good instructors, no doubt about that. Depending on your age and your main instructor (whom follows you throughout the day), you get worked pretty hard.

Typical hockey camp, but I'd say a lot more thought went into this one, compared to some other ones I've been to. The dry-land shooting setup was pretty neat, in the curling rink (that's where ours was), I clocked a steady 70 MPH slap shot .

Assuming you don't get brats in your group, it'll be a great experience for your kid.

Edit: Adding to Jake's comment about the slack dry-land. I had a pretty tough dry-land guy who worked us pretty hard, as did the rest of my instructors. Let's just say I was dead at the end of each day.

[Sample00]

Thanks for the insights guys...
My son is 8 and is a Goaltender...
He is excited about going.
so lets hope the experience is a good one for him.
if anyone else has any insights, I would appreciate hearing them.

[Jake]

I think I went to it in its very beginnings, its sounds like its gotten alot better. We didn't clock our shots or practice them at all during dry land. All it was, was jogging to a place near the rink and back. Some of the in class helped my technical game, but we also watched Mystery Alaska during one class session...