One of the nation's most renowned hockey schools is now open for registrations. And to mark the 14th annual edition of the Niedermayer Hockey School, Edge School and Rob and Scott Niedermayer are giving away two scholarships, in a contest via the Daily Townsman. See details below.
Rob Niedermayer spoke to the Daily Townsman this week about the school, and its involvement in the community.
"We both attended hockey schools here when we were kids, and I know how much fun we had," he said. "So this is a nice way to give back (to the community), and you get to meet a lot of nice kids and see them come along in hockey.
The Niedermayer Hockey School, which runs in the first full week of August, is open to male and female players of all levels, aged six to 14. Players are grouped according to their skill level and age group, and spend eight hours a day on hockey matters, including on ice training, dry land training, read and react, cross training or pool time, hockey talk and lunch.
"The kids get to pick up on a lot of stuff, and it prepares them for the upcoming season," Rob said.
And the school draws young hockey scholars from far and wide, with an international reach.
“Some years there’ve been kids coming from Japan, from California, from all over,” Rob said. “It’s pretty amazing to see how far they come sometimes.”
The school also boasts a solid cadre of instructors. “We usually have some local kids, some who’ve attended the hockey school who’ve gone on to become instructors.” Rob said. “There’ve been quite a few (former Kootenay Ice players) who come back to help out as well. We’ve been pretty lucky that way.”
The Niedermayers donate proceeds raised through the school towards their foundation, the Niedermayer Family Fund, which provides $10,000 annually to help local charities and projects in the Kootenay area.
“It’s a good way to help out the community,” Rob said. “The community has been so good to us.”
The Townsman contest has two scholarships to the school to give away, worth almost $50 each. Every Tuesday (starting April 1 through May 6), a stylized numbered puck (1 through 6) will be hidden somewhere in the pages of the Townsman/Bulletin. See the accompanying advertisement every Tuesday to see what those pucks look like. Fill out the form that’s with the ad, and once you have the form completed, listing the page number where you found each puck, bring it in to us at the Townsman office, 822 Cranbrook Street North.
Entry deadline is May 21. The draw will be made shortly after. Good luck, all.