BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Hockey star Paula Mailloux didn't hesitate to
jump at the chance to be part of the first- ever New Edge all
girls summer hockey camp.
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Paula Mailloux, a professional
hockey player who plays for the Ottawa Raiders, will be
taking part in the first-ever New Edge all girls summer
hockey camp. The camp runs from Aug. 15-19. |
In fact, Mailloux felt compelled to do it
because of her experiences of going through womens' hockey
programs right from scratch to professional player.
Mailloux is a professional player for the
Ottawa Raiders of the Women's National Hockey League.
"I am going to bring the knowledge of going
through the system and what it takes," Mailloux said. "I am
bringing a female perspective to the camp, and will teach the
participants the skills I know."
Mailloux was also a three-time medallist with
McGill University in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)
action.
New Edge is the brainchild of Zak Garafolo
and Matthew Albiani, two former junior hockey players and good
friends.
Garafolo played for the Espanola Screaming
Eagles of the NOJHL, and Albiani played four seasons with the
Ottawa 67s under the guidance of the legendary coach Brian
Kilrea.
They will be joined by Alison Ralph, a NCAA
Division I hockey player and Darren Michelutti, a former
Sudbury Northern Wolves player in running the camp.
Both players have vast knowledge of hockey,
and the shot at giving back to the community that helped them
achieve their hockey goals was too good to pass up.
"There really wasn't much for girls' summer
hockey camps in the Sudbury area, so I thought it would be a
great idea to hold one and open it up for the public," Garafolo
said.
"Both of us wanted to get involved in hockey
in Sudbury again. There's a lot for boys' hockey, but not
girls', so we felt this was the best way we could give back.
Girls' hockey is on the rise, Sudbury doesn't have all the
tools to support that growth, and we just want to help push it
forward."
New Edge is going to focus on skill
development and fun.
"Our camp isn't going to be a lot of
conditioning," Garafolo said. "A lot of camps are all about
conditioning and not much on implementation of skills and game
situations.
"Growing up, what we hated most about summer
camps was having to just skate and skate and skate. We're going
to concentrate on creative game situations drills."
Skill development isn't the only thing that
will be covered.
"We are looking at having a session for the
parents of kids, who are playing competitive hockey, with Paula
and Alison to discuss the various options available for 13- to
15-year-olds," Albiani said. "These two girls can give them
advice and help with decisions.
Paula said that when she was growing up, she
never had anyone to tell her what was good or bad about
university and college hockey programs.
They might help a few girls because they have
both went through it all."
New Edge will be run at Countryside Arena
from Aug. 15-19.
The camp is designed for girls nine to 18+.
The cost is $150. Phone 698-0005 or email [email protected]
to register. The last day for
registrations will be Aug. 1.
