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News Advertiser
www.NewsAdvertiser.com
AUGUST 5, 2020
Hockey Hub Continues to Attract Top Quality Talent Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Viking is synonymous with hockey. It’s the ‘Home of the Sutters,’ one of Canada’s most prominent and successful hockey families. The famous band of brothers who made their own mark in the National Hockey League in the ’70s and ’80s. The jersey’s of Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Ron and Rich are prominently displayed in the Carena’s lobby along with photos and other memorabilia. Out on the ice are a group of elite hockey players who are being put through the paces during a special development clinic. It’s close to plus 30 degrees Celsius outside, but it’s nice and cool inside. Hockey dad Lorne Firkus watches his 13-year-old son Slade as he goes through the drills during the three-hour session. Lorne and his wife Shelly, who hail from Irma, have three boys and one girl who have all been involved in the sport of
hockey from an early age. “All of my kids starting playing hockey at the age of three,” says Lorne. Right now Shelly is away at a hockey camp in Kelowna with their 16-year-old son Jagger. The couple are used to travelling in all directions for games and clinics in the summer. Lorne says it’s nice to be able to have this camp in Viking, only an hour away from home. Last season Slade played for the Viking Red Wings in the Hockey Super League and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the season was cut short due to COVID-19 and the team lost out on playing in Provincials, which would have been the highlight of the year. But Lorne says he is very glad they can attend a camp like this, given the pandemic. He points out that Darryl, (Gagnon), the manager of the Carena, has done all the legwork for the clinic and commended him on all of the health and safety measures that were put in place for the players and their families. The players have been on the ice since July 6 and are soon to wrap things up. Lorne says clinics like this really make a difference in terms of development, and it’s a great way to hone their skills. Slade also trains off-ice in Wainwright with the Huxley Hockey Conditioning. “We are really fortunate Huxley, IHD
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