By Tamica Garnett
The Junior Hockey Summer Camp held by Hikers Hockey Club commenced yesterday at 9am at the St. Stanislaus College Forum.
The camp ends Saturday and is open to all members of the public from six years of age.
This is the third year that the camp is being held and the second consecutive event since the inaugural event in 2007.
The event was not held in 2008 but was held last year.
Participants will be placed in three categories based on their level of competence – beginners, intermediate and advance.
The beginners’ class will start at 9am daily and the sessions will be conducted by Level One International Hockey Federation (FIH) accredited coaches Marvin Dannett, Chantelle Fernandes and Janella Munroe.
Assisting Dannett and Fernandes in the intermediate category will be national players Alex Gouviea, Shane Samuels and Rayon Branford.
And, for the advanced sessions, Dannett and Fernandes will be supported by national player Robert France and other volunteers.
The intermediate and advanced classes will run from 11am – 4pm.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport yesterday, Dannett said that the camp was about focusing on the development of hockey by bringing new players onboard.
“The camp is all about hockey development. It is developmental to introduce new players into the game; to develop the hockey population and that is what we are aiming towards with this camp,” he stated.
Fernandes added that they were hoping also to attract female participants.
Dannett, Fernandes and Munroe are back home from England where there are all fulfilling scholarships but have taken time out to assist with the programme.
Fernandes noted that this was the first time that all three will be teaching at the camp and she encouraged interested persons to come out and obtain a “fundamental insight into the sport of hockey.”
Fernandes stated that for the three years that the camp has been held on average it would cater to approximately 25 participants many of whom would progress by boosting their competence in the sport.
She pointed out that approximately three quarters, if not all, of the members of the national boys’ junior hockey team originated from this programme.
At the end of the camp a mini-tournament is usually held to give the players a chance to test their skills against others who are about the same level.
This aspect of the camp is expected to be conducted on Saturday.
