EDMONTON – Some lucky minor hockey players were given a taste of Edmonton Oilers style training as part of the Ford Drills and Skills Competition at Rexall Place Sunday.
14 teams were invited to take part from around the province, including players from Grande Prairie and Sylvan Lake. The teams were nominated by friends and family and chosen based on their volunteer work in the community.
A total of 280 atom, novice and peewee players were treated to a day of on-ice NHL training as well as fitness, nutrition and lifestyle classes.
The participants also got to tour the Edmonton Oilers dressing room and grill Andrew Ference with questions about the game.
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“It’s always important for us to give back to the community,” said Brad Ellard, Oilers Community and Fan Relations spokesperson.
The special day is meant to nurture a love for the game.
“Not every child makes it to the big leagues so it’s good to show there are other ways and other avenues to enjoy the sport,” Ellard added. “We celebrate the game in different ways.”
Ellard also says the day shows young players all of the possibilities a future in hockey can open.
“The game can take them to college, make them an instructor, so there’s all sorts of life skills they learn from the game and it can take them anywhere.”
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