YORKTON - When it comes to being successful at hockey having a good shot goes a long way.
That is even the case at a young age.
So, it’s no wonder 49 youth hockey players were enrolled in a shooting clinic at the Kinsmen Arena in Yorkton on the weekend.
The camp was ran by Shoot to Score Hockey from Winnipeg featuring one time NHLer Jamie Leach.
“I think this is a good time (for a clinic), because the season has already started, but there’s never a bad time,” Leach told Yorkton This Week.
Having it now though allows participants to build some core skills which they can then utilize and develop farther over the course of their season.
Even over a couple of days, Leach said he can see youth making strides in their shooting.
“They have a lot more confidence,” he said.
The players were split into two groups for the clinic, group one had youth from U9 hockey to U11 hockey, while group two focused on U13 to U15 ages.
Leach said it’s always good to work with young players.
“The younger the better for shooting . . . to get the techniques down,” he said.
While Leach took the lead role, a major component was having local coaches involved too, including Yorkton junior Terrier goaltender coach Zach Rakochy, and various minor hockey coaches who helped instruct, and also learned drills they can use in their own practices.
“As much as it’s for the kids it’s more important for the coaches,” suggested Leach.
Leach said he wants minor hockey coaches on the ice helping with drills so they too “learn more about shooting ... I want to coach the coaches. He added, it needs to be skates on, up close learning. “You can’t learn from the stands.”
