Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by AP

YUKON BOUND – Canada’s goalkeeper Mike Smith blocks a shot during the world hockey championships semifinal against the Czechs in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 16. AP Photo/Sergei Grits

Mike Smith headlines Watson Lake hockey camp

Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith is part of a group of NHL players making a stop in Watson Lake next month.

By Marcel Vander Wier on July 7, 2015

Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith is part of a group of NHL players making a stop in Watson Lake next month.

The 33-year-old Canadian, who owns an Olympic gold medal from 2014 and a world championship gold medal from this past spring, will lead a small troupe of NHL players into the Yukon community.

The visit – scheduled for Aug. 1 and 2 – is tagged as the final stop on the 15th anniversary of the National Hockey League Players’ Association’s (NHLPA) Goals and Dreams tour.

Joining Smith for the event will be his Coyotes teammate B.J. Crombeen, and current free agent forward David Booth, who spent last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Also attending will be NHL alumni Mike Crombeen (B.J.’s father) of the St. Louis Blues and Hartford Whalers, and Brent Gilchrist, a former Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings.

The group plans to engage Yukon youth in the sport of hockey, encouraging healthy lifestyles through physical activity and teamwork.

“NHLPA Goals and Dreams has helped deserving children play hockey for the past 15 years, and I am proud to be a part of this upcoming event in August,” Smith said in a press release.

“Our whole group is excited to head north to help the children of Watson Lake by providing some new equipment and on-ice instruction.”

Youth from across the Yukon will be given the opportunity to take part in the hockey camp, free of charge.

NHLPA Goals and Dreams has also committed to donate $20,000 worth of youth hockey equipment to the community of Watson Lake, located 430 kilometres southeast of Whitehorse.

“The NHLPA Goals and Dreams tour stop is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for the community of Watson Lake, as well as for Yukon youth,” said Denina Paquette, president of the Watson Lake Minor Hockey Association.

“It’s important for us to involve as many youth as possible by eliminating financial barriers.

“We are working with the Yukon Amateur Hockey Association (YAHA), as well as recreational staff in the communities and rural RCMP detachments, to identify participants.”

“Hockey is healthy in Whitehorse and so by giving priority to rural Yukon, we hope to raise the profile of the game in the smaller communities and create excitement for our youth, parents and community volunteers,” added Watson Lake RCMP Const. Jean-Michel Sauvé.

“We want to grow the sport exponentially from where it is currently, which in turn could provide an opportunity for some youth to develop their skills to a higher level, and further their education while focusing on the sport in or Outside the Yukon.”

The camp will include on-ice clinics each day, player talks, a fishing derby, and a community potlatch.

Players and NHLPA staff will coach a Sergeant’s Cup recreational hockey game, which will include members of the RCMP and Watson Lake Silver Tip Oldtimers.

The project will also provide professional development opportunities for local hockey coaches.

“My experience is that anytime you get to be on the ice with other coaches, as well as professional hockey players, it’s a huge learning opportunity,” said Martin Lawrie, who was the coach of Yukon’s U16 hockey team at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and will be spearheading the drills and coaching development on behalf of YAHA.

“From YAHA’s perspective, we’re hoping to see a bump in minor hockey registration and a bump in interest.”

Launched in 1999, the NHLPA Goals and Dreams program has donated more than $22 million to grassroots hockey programs. More than 70,000 young players have received full sets of hockey gear, while the program has also assisted with many arena upgrades.

The event is being held in partnership with JDS Silver, ATCO Electric Yukon and Air North, Yukon’s Airline.

The group of NHL players is also planning a hunting trip, which will take place following the camp.

Be the first to comment

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.