Kids from Estevan and area enjoyed the chance to get a lesson in hockey fundamentals from an elite development program this week.
Serdachny Power Skating and Hockey set up a camp at the Civic Auditorium from Monday to Wednesday where its group of coaches put 75 local kids through a program focused on skating and elite hockey skill development. While in town, the touring clinic also put members of the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins through classes on proper technique, form, speed and skill.
Steve Serdachny, CEO and president of Serdachny Power Skating and Hockey, said they ran both a power skating and skills camp as well as a stick handling and moves camp for the kids in Estevan. He said the three-day program was open to kids between the ages of seven and 15 years and no minimum ability requirement was needed to sign up.
“We have many players drafted (into the NHL that we teach), but we also really enjoy working with our younger players because that's the future of the game,” said Serdachny, who previously served as a skating and skills coach for the Edmonton Oilers. “I think hockey develops good young people and what we try to do is bring a skating and skill-based program that elevates players regardless of their level.”
Lloyd Sehn, a past executive member of the Estevan Minor Hockey Association, helped bring Edmonton-based Serdachny Power Skating and Hockey to the Energy City after meeting the instructors while his son attended one of their camps in Regina. He said the hope is they build a bit of a brand in Estevan getting area kids exposed to their processes and how they teach, so they can continue to set up hockey camps here in the future.
“Each age group pretty well maxed out,” said Sehn. “These guys are truly an NHL talent as far as coaching. They're training the Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and players like that, so the ability to bring a talent like that and offer it to our kids here in Estevan I think (has) been very well received.”
