Chase might soon be overrun with hockey players with the opening of a new hockey academy.
Chase council heard Tuesday, July 9, that while many smaller communities are seeing their minor hockey dying, Chase’s might be seeing a surge in activity.
“We are bucking trends,” said Fox Hockey’s Rick Passmore, noting a hockey academy in Chase could mean some major changes for the good in the small-town hockey world.
The academy is expected to attract between 60 to 80 students annually. And these students, each bringing $5,000, would also be attending school. This would help fund new equipment such as computers, and potentially allow for additional classes to be added to the roster,” said Passmore.
While Chase hockey is in a much better standing than it was just years ago, Passmore says there is still room for improvement. He referred the Chase Broncos, who made it to the final round of the playoffs before narrowly missing Provincials in Merritt.
Chase hockey players are becoming more skilled, with a number continuing to play at junior level for the Heat, Sicamous Eagles and the Kamloops Storm. Passmore, however, wants to raise the bar. He plans to put more of a focus on younger hockey players, particularly those in Grades 5 through 7. He is working with Haldane staff to allow for students to have more ice time. Also in the works is a hockey life-skills class for Chase Secondary hockey players. This could potentially see a full-time teacher dedicated to teaching players the fundamentals of life.
While they would spend some time on the ice, the majority of class time would be used to teach players how to do laundry, cook meals and check the oil in their car. Heat head coach Brad Fox, says such a course is necessary as he has seen more than one 17-year-old boy who does not know how to work a microwave.
