Lajeunesse offers brand new hockey skills academy

Ecole Secondaire E.J. Lajeunesse has added a Hockey Canada Skills Academy to their long list of sports programs, giving students with a passion for hockey as a new gym experience.

During the 2013-14 season, there was 108 Hockey Canada Skills Academies in Canada and 3,500 students were enrolled in a Hockey Canada Skills Academy in the 2014-15 season. The academy located at Central Park Athletics in Windsor is now home to 62 new students. Since September, the students, ranging from grades 7 to 12 have learned in a French setting how to develop hockey skills with highly trained staff. They also benefit from a balanced academic and sports program, learn to achieve a higher academic performance as well as benefit from a program authorized by Hockey Canada.

“Students take the traditional bus to school (Lajeunesse), grab their equipment and then hop on a bus that takes them to Central Park Athletics,” said Thomas Couvillon, principal of Lajeunesse. “There, they have classes and the secondary panel has three ice sessions a week where the elementary has two a week. Every day, one of their courses is related to hockey, fitness and development.”

Couvillon said the school board Conseil Scholaire Catholique Providence is always interested in meeting student needs. He said the idea started when a Hockey Canada Skills Academy was launched in Woodstock last year had major success.

“It’s a program that’s directed by Hockey Skills Academy from Hockey Canada,” said Couvillon. “Brent and Chris Bondy, teachers at the academy, both went to Calgary to get specialized training. It’s all about skill development. You don’t have to be a high end hockey player to be a part of the program.”

At the secondary level, students pay $325 for the year while at the elementary level students pay $490 a year. Along with the cost students are guaranteed a minimum of two hours of ice time a week all year long as well as more of a focus on developing their skills.

“Most athletes are working on things that are best for the team,” said Bondy. “Here, you’re individually working on your hockey skills which most coaches don’t have time for and it gets neglected throughout the year. If you’re not practicing your skills, how are going to improve them?”

Along with developing the hockey skills of student athletes, Lajeunesse is also striving for student success in the classrooms.

“Academics take priority,” said Bondy. “It’s great to be on the ice and have the students involved but we can’t neglect the idea of the importance of the classroom. They are taking the same amount of time in class as the traditional grade school student would be, as well as the high school students but instead of having recess, they’re on the ice.”

Brent Sylvestre, a teacher and on-ice instructor at the academy said he loves coming to teach every day because he can easily relate to the students.

“At the end of the day, it’s a hockey gym class. We can relate to the students because this is exactly what we were like. I can’t see the academy being a disadvantage for the students,”said Sylvestre.

While the program is only a month and a half old, Bondy said he is already seeing signs of a successful program.

“I can’t even count how many parents I’ve had tell me that their son or daughter say they genuinely love the program,” said Bondy. “As a teacher and coach, that’s all I can ask for.”