Valpo Parks Youth Hockey Celebrates Second Season on the Ice

Valpo Parks Youth Hockey Celebrates Second Season on the Ice

Since the opening of the William E. Urschel Pavilion in Valparaiso, skating has been on the minds of Valpo residents and the Valpo Parks Youth Hockey program was the natural conclusion of a town eager to get out on the ice. So, for those of you in the area with a love for hockey that are looking to get your children started with the fundamentals of the game, there is no better place to start than with this youth hockey program, staffed with individuals who are passionate about the sport. 

 There are two different age groups available for children entering the program: 8U and 13U, with the first group being available for 5-8 year-olds, and the latter for 9-13 year-olds. The season usually starts the weekend after Thanksgiving  and runs through until March, allowing the kids plenty of time to practice and hone their skills on the ice, though parents will want to sign up early as each age group has 40 available slots. 

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"I just want to bring hockey to Valpo in an accessible way. It's not such a big money and time commitment so that people who want to experience hockey get to experience it," explained coach Ben Labovitz. "Hopefully this will give young kids a chance to meet other kids that are interested in hockey in Valparaiso and nearby." 

The program has been growing as well. up to around 70 this year from 52 the previous year. As for the preparation this provides for the children in the program, they follow the USA Hockey ADM (Athlete Development Model) which uses station-based practices to make sure that the kids are getting practice at every element of the sport. 

This could be seen with the players on the ice on March 8th, who rotated between mock games and other stations that tested their skills and helped to prepare them for the game. Kids from 5-13 could be seen gliding across the ice, cheering and laughing as they scored goals and felt the combined improvements of another season of playing. 

"It changes a lot every practice, so, we try to focus mostly on skills at the young ages, and at the really young ages, it's all about the skating. We have all kinds of drills we do every practice," said Labovitz. "For the younger kids it's about the ABC's (Agility, Balance, and Coordination). You're prepping them for the next level. There are so many skills they have to learn, and we have lots of different age groups and skill levels." 

As for the best place to learn more or sign up, you can go online here or call Valpo Parks at 219-464-5144.