Rockland District High School Students to Study Hockey in September 2011

                    (Pictured above: Rockland District High School student David Denomme rounds a pylon during
                    one of the drills offered during an orientation day to showcase the school's new Sports Study
                     Program.) 

(Rockland) – Students at Rockland District High School can now add an H to the 3Rs of education – for hockey.

Beginning in September, the school will offer a new course called the Sports Study Program (SSP) through which students will learn all about Canada’s national game, from on-ice drills to develop their individual skills to lessons in sports nutrition.

Rockland Principal Olga Grigoriev said staff and students are looking forward to the course, which is being offered in partnership with a new private hockey school near Rockland called the Canadian International Hockey Academy (CIHA). About 25 Rockland students attended an orientation session about the program on Monday at the Jean Marc Lalonde Arena in Rockland. They were able to don their equipment and get a flavour for the kinds of instruction they will receive from CIHA coaches should they enroll in the course.

Grigoriev said the program will be a good fit at the high school, which has a reputation for strong athletics programs.

“This hockey program will bring our kids new skills both on the ice and off,” said Grigoriev. “They will learn about discipline and the character values of perseverance and respect.  All these things come through sports education.”

Matt Mault, a spokesman for the academy, said offering the program is a way the school can give back to the community.

“This is our way of opening our doors to the community, and offering community kids access to our facilities, our coaches and our hockey rinks,” said Mault of the academy, which officially opens in September.

The 10-month SSP program will be delivered over the 2011-2012 school year by qualified CIHA staff to students from both Rockland District High School and nearby L’Escale Catholic Secondary School. It will allow the students use of the $27 million first phase of the facility, complete with its two NHL regulation rinks, so they can benefit from the same high-quality instruction CIHA students will enjoy.

The Grade 11 program will be offered in two consecutive semesters and those who graduate will earn two phys. ed. credits toward their high school diploma.

Rockland Vice-Principal Randy Stevenson, who helped organize the SSP program at his school, said students will take the course five days a week, and will be on ice at the academy two to three times a week. The on-ice training will focus on individual skills development. The students will spend the rest of their time with off-ice training – including weights and aerobic training – and will also receive instruction in sports nutrition. Once a month the students will enjoy a talk by a guest speaker.

Students must pay a course fee of $300 per semester to participate.

This is a great opportunity, because it allows kids a chance to earn credits by pursuing something that really fits with their personal interests and aptitudes,” said Stevenson.

Students are excited about the course.

David Denomme, a Grade 11 student at Rockland, is looking forward to the program as a way to help him meet his goal of making it to a team at the Junior level.

“I think this is great,” the Midget-level player said of the program. “I want to get as much ice time and training as I can.”

He hopes to learn more about off-ice training and nutrition as he attempts to bulk up before trying out for a Junior B or C team.

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For more information, please call:

Randy Stevenson
Vice-Principal
Rockland District High School
613-446-7347