An school based hockey program is expanding in Coaldale this fall to include two more grades.
The program originated in the fall of 2008 with the Kate Andrews High School and last year expanded to the R.I. Baker Middle School for grades 7 and 8. This year the program will take in grades 5 and 6 at Baker.
“It was a great success,” said Baker principal Cynthia Fritzler at the end of last season.
She said a survey of both parents and students indicated there was interest in seeing the program expand to include more grade levels. Baker’s proximity to the ice arena makes it perfect for students to simply walk over for on ice instruction.
“If it’s here we might as well use it.”
The students have two hours of ice time each week in addition to their own team practices.
“The kids love it.”
Bruce Bell a former NHL player directs the program for both the high school and Baker.
Now in its third year at the high school level, Kevin Holland at Kate Andrews said over 25 students are already signed up for this fall. He noted through out the province there seems to be an explosion of these types of program which combine school and a specific focus such as sports.
“I’m interested to see how long things can continue as money gets a little tighter.”
He said in the past the high school has lost two or three kids a year to other sports focused programs such as the Warner hockey school.
“It’s kept a lot of our kids who may have looked at other places,” he said of the development of a local school based program through both Kate Andrews and Baker.
He said it will be interesting to see how the program develops at the younger level with the Grade 5 and 6 students this year.
“I think where it can really benefit is at the younger age.”