Klippers Busy with Kids Camp
This is a busy week for the Kindersley Jr. Klippers as players have been coming in and meeting their new team mates and reacquainting themselves with past players. Oh, and they also have a “Kids Camp” going on all week on the ice in the Co-op arena.
Hockey enthusiasts from age 7 to 18 are able to spend some time with some current Klipper players and other players who have been invited out for main camp coming up and learn some valuable skills. Lunch is provided as they get a mixture of dryland training and hockey skills drills to help them in their pursuit of being better players. This camp runs from Monday the 26th through to Friday the 30th.
Assistant coach Tyler Traptow is back and looking in fine shape after off-season hip surgery. He said the first seven weeks was tough as he wasn’t allowed to do much and had to get around on crutches but as he got stronger and more endurance, he is now able to skate without pain. I was observing him with a young player and encouraging him and building him up and telling him that “you can do it.” And that can mean a lot to youngsters who may be full of self doubt about their skill level. Way to go Trap!
Trainer Cheyenne Epp is also back for her 3rd year and the players like that kind of continuity as they don’t have to adjust to a different person every season. Goaltender Logan Falk has been traded to a team in Manitoba. I spoke with returning players Ethan Hilbig, Cobe Perlinger, Kyler Smith, Russ Demo and Cody Jamon and they are all excited to come back and be a contributing part of the Klippers success.
Coach Clayton Jardine joked that he feels like the ringmaster at a circus but is just as eager to work with the young players and try to get them to stretch themselves and be the best they can be because who knows how far they will go?
I think after last season’s success in reaching the play-offs, there will be more expectations to finish higher in the standings. That’s the thing about the SJHL; you lose good players every year and have to replace them, hopefully with good players who are willing to learn the system and play their hearts out. And every team has to go through this “rebuilding” process every single year.
The coaching staff and the scouting staff have big voids to fill when they lose productive players. Are they up to it? I vote yes!
By Kevin Martin
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