Yukon hockey players were treated to a super clinic weekend at the Canada Games Centre hosted by BC Hockey. The weekend featured four camps, including a female hockey weekend, goalie camp, high-performance camp and, a grass-roots camp.

Ty Edmonds, one of the weekend’s instructors, has a unique connection to Whitehorse. Edmonds was born here and moved at the age of 10. It was his first time he has returned to Whitehorse since moving away.

“I was born here, moved to Carcross for two years, then back to Whitehorse,” said Edmonds.

“Then in 2006 I left and moved to Winnipeg. It is the first time being back since 2006 so it’s pretty surreal being back getting to see everything and how it’s developed over the years.

“I remember quite a bit. It’s changed a little bit in my mind but I went back into Riverdale and saw my old home and everything was pretty similar but you could tell there was a little bit of changes since I left.”

Edmonds, a goalie, got his start playing hockey with the Whitehorse Mustangs.

“Played with the Mustangs until I was just over nine then moved to Winnipeg,” said Edmond.

“Fortunately enough I got drafted in the Western (WHL) League, then I spent four years with the Prince George Cougars then a year at the University of Lethbridge.”

When he looks back at his time playing in Whitehorse he looks back at the coaching he received.

“I just had a lot of good coaches,” said Edmonds. “I was trying to paint all those memories again that I had but I had a lot of great coaches along the way that helped me develop. It’s tough. It would have been nice to grow up here and finish my hockey career here in Whitehorse.

“I got a lot of opportunities Outside and just coming back to Whitehorse and giving back and hoping to push those kids into the same situations I was fortunate enough to be in.”

Edmonds said he sees a lot of talent amongst the players at the camps.

“It is very high,” said Edmonds. “There are a lot of good coaches here and you can tell there are a lot of kids that develop. I coached actually four kids from Whitehorse this year on my minor midget team in Prince George. You can tell there is a high level of confidence in these players. The future is very bright for the program here in Whitehorse and the Yukon in general.”

During the super camp, Edmonds led a specific goalie clinic and said it is important to work with the coaches to help improve their goaltenders.

“It’s tough because a lot of people come up to me, and now I have been goalie coaching for a while, and say ‘I don’t know what to do with the goalies or where the goalies should be,’” said Edmonds. “It is something where it is good to have myself involved. That way I can help with the goalies first and foremost, then help some coaches, giving them drills and options to work with the goaltenders in practices.”

Edmonds said he hopes he inspires some kids to become goalies but believes that they should try their skills at all positions on the rink.

“I think every kid should have the option of going player or goaltender,” said Edmonds. “I think kids get into the net sometimes too early and that can kind of deteriorate them from the game of hockey. So I like to give every kid, or get coaches to give kids, every opportunity to play what ever position they want and then if want to switch to goaltender at a certain age by all means.”

Edmonds pointed to Dylan Cozens as an inspiration for the kids and said that Whitehorse is in a good position to produce more top level talent.

“You can tell he is an inspiration for these kids,” said Edmonds. “Guys like that move on and go to university, and college and the Junior ranks and the NHL in Dylan’s case. It is something where they inspire these kids and it helps them get to the next level. It is someone they can look back at and look up to, it helps push them to the next level and there is a lot of potential here for that.”

Edmonds said there are opportunities for the players in the Yukon if they continue to work hard.

“They have a great foundation here building it up,” said Edmonds. “There is a great foundation for these kids to improve and get to the next level. Unfortunately, in any case, you gotta move away to play junior hockey and move on. But I think they have a great foundation for minor hockey that can push kids to the next level and put them into the junior and pro ranks and really set themselves up for a good hockey career.”