Nearly every small town in Saskatchewan has a hockey rink and kids who dream of the big league. Some of them are extremely talented and some not so much, but every one of them can benefit from high-quality hockey skills training and leadership development. It’s not as if the realities of small town hockey programs is ‘somebodies’ fault, it is simply a sad result of shrinking populations distant from urban centres. As Saskatchewan becomes more and more urbanized, small towns suffer, and the opportunities become fewer. However out of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy of 2018, a Foundation arose to try and address that.
The Adam Herold Legacy Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2021-22 Hockey and Leadership Development Program. Adam was the youngest player killed in the Humboldt bus accident and while he was a talented athlete, he was also a humble hard-working small town kid who was always willing to help others and make his community and province a better place. The Adam Herold Legacy Foundation was established to honour his memory and inspire and encourage other Saskatchewan youth. In a press release the Foundation states that the Hockey and Leadership Development program “provides opportunities to Saskatchewan youth to develop and refine not only their hockey skills, but also their leadership potential…While hockey skills are an important part of the program, the camps also focus on teaching players about being leaders in their communities and the importance of giving back.”
Adam had a natural talent for hockey, but he also worked hard and had the strong support of his family, as a result Adam had many opportunities in his life that not everyone has. His hometown of Montmarte, SK is only an hour drive east of Regina on Hwy 48 which also afforded him with opportunities to grow and develop. Adam always wanted to understand the why behind the different skills drills. He didn’t rely solely on his natural talent, he always strove to do better. At the time of his death Adam was juggling his time between the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders during their playoff run, and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Humboldt Broncos. The Foundation offered their first camps just months after the bus accident. To date, camps have been held in Balcarres, Gravelbourg, Alameda, Torquay, Preeceville, Radville, Naicam, and Maple Creek.
The Foundation will select two communities, from those that apply to host the camps, for the 2021-22 season. Each camp will include three full days of hockey and leadership development, providing top trainers for skill development, physical and mental training, and coaching development. Not all areas of the province have the same access to high-quality skill development and supporting programs and many local hockey associations are too small to have dedicated hockey development staff. The Foundations goal through this program is to provide communities with a “high-quality development experience” for players and coaches. Ongoing support for hockey programs in target communities is also part of the Foundation’s commitment. It’s not just about hockey, though. Adam was one of those kids who could make everyone feel like they belonged, he was a gifted leader and the program also focuses on developing those attributes that make individuals good leaders. All participants are asked to complete volunteer work in their communities as part of that training. The motto of the Foundation is The World Needs More Captains.
“Adam was a kid from a small town who worked hard to not only be a good hockey player but to also be a good person and to make a difference. So we really try to show these kids they too can be leaders in their communities by working hard, being kind and helping others. These are attributes that will stick with them through life, way beyond their time on the ice.”
Any communities interested in applying for the camps can find more information on the Foundation’s website www.adamheroldlegacyfoundation.ca or contact [email protected]
Deadline for applications is April 9th, 2021.
