Summer camp program puts kids alongside popular Wolves players

BY MATTHEW GILLIES

They're the future record-breaking, goal-scoring professional players fans will be cheering for and admiring; however, until that day, they must practice to hone their skills and they learn from their idols.

Children of novice, atom, pee wee, bantam and midget levels spent the week practicing their hockey skills alongside Sudbury Wolves players and coaches at the 2007 Summer Hockey Development Camp.

"The younger kids, they respect these players, some of them are their idols and someday they want to be where these players are - playing for the Sudbury Wolves' or the league," said Sudbury Wolves assistant coach Bryan Verreault.

"They've got a dream. They dream of going to the NHL like all young players do and these kids see how close our players are at this level achieving their dreams."

Young children participating in the camp, will learn how to handle their sticks and pucks, skate backwards, go through various warm-up techniques, and receive one-on-one training with Sudbury Wolves players like defenseman Ryan Crouch, right wing Kyle Tarini and draft pick Jeff Verreault.

The practice drills are divided into five different age groups ranging from novice, atom, pee wee, bantam and midget level players, who receive training and practice for a 90 minutes a day for five days.

Seven-year-old Cameron Lamour, who's been playing for the Walden house league team for one year as a goalie, said he loves the summer camp and likes having shots taken on him.

"I think this is good because if he plays in a house league, he doesn't get the kind of one-on-one training he gets here and this enforces his skills," mom Laurie Lamour said. "He loves it and he said he's sad that it's over."

Even Lianne Verreault, sister in-law to Sudbury Wolves assistant coach Bryan Verreault, sent her son, Matthieu, who plays for the Walden minor hockey team, to the camp.

The nine-year-old has been playing hockey for five years and has attended the hockey summer school for the past four years.

"It's educational for the kids," Verreault said. "They come out learning a lot, learning how to puck handle and stick handle. I would recommend this to other parents.

"This lets these kids talk to the players, learn from them and share personal experiences," Verreault said.

Interested parents can contact the Wolves' office at 675-3941 or email [email protected] for more information.