Preparations are gathering steam for the 5th Annual Pro Players Hockey School to be held at the Ray Plourde Arena in Val Caron in August. For two weeks, beginning on August 13, over 150 boys and girls from the age of 8 to 16 will be hitting the ice as they hone up on their individual skills under the guidance of local professional hockey players.

Andrew Brunette, one of the leading scorers of the N.H.L.’s Atlanta Thrashers last year, will be heading up the crew of professional instructors. Andrew, who can be found every Tuesday and Thursday night toiling for Dupuis Auto of the Valley East Men’s Slo-Pitch League, feels this is one of the best ways for local players to give something back to the community.

“All of the instructors have achieved personal success in hockey because of the training and development we received as young people. By taking part in this hockey school, we can help boys and girls develop their individual hockey skills so that they will enjoy the sport and be the best they can be,” explains Brunette.

Week One of the two-week program will begin on August 13. The second week begins on August 20. All participants  will receive one and a half hours of ice  time for a fee of only $115 per week. Sessions will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

Various professional players will be in attendance to provide the instruction to the boys and girls, who will be placed in groups of no larger than 28 in order to keep the ratio of players to instructors as low as possible. It is expected that there will be seven instructors on the ice at any given time.

All of the instructors themselves will be taking part in a special conditioning camp run by Steve Richardson, owner of Valley Pro Sports, every morning from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Richardson puts the group of 15 to 20 professionals through a session which prepares them for training camps which are scheduled to open in early September. The professional school is open to the public. It is an excellent chance to catch a glimpse of some of the pros you will read about this coming winter.

Other instructors who are confirmed include: