Caledonia Park School in Leduc is launching the Leduc Hockey Academy this September, offering students in Grades 5 through 7 a new way to develop their skills on the ice. The program will take place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the Leduc Recreation Centre.
The academy is partnering with Serdachny Power Skating and Hockey to provide professional instruction. The company is led by Steve Serdachny, who has served as the skating and skills coach for the Edmonton Oilers for the past 12 seasons.
Unlike community programs that focus primarily on game play, the academy will concentrate on individual skill development, such as skating technique and stickhandling. Caledonia Park School principal Donavin Simmons noted that the program aims to support both athletic and academic growth. He pointed to research suggesting that students who participate in school sports are three times more likely to perform in the top 25 percent of their core subjects and have higher graduation rates.
Registration for the academy is now open. An identification skate has already been held to help coaches place students into groups based on their current ability. Participants will join the school’s sports community, which Principal Simmons refers to as the LHA Vikings.
Caledonia Park School is part of the Black Gold School Division, which is the seventh largest public school division in Alberta. The school is located at 3206 Coady Blvd in Leduc and currently serves students from Kindergarten to Grade 7.
