A controversial summer hockey camp that teaches youth how to scrap on skates is attracting censure from critics who fear the youngsters are being groomed for hockey mayhem. Organizers defend the fight camp, saying it teaches players to protect themselves.
Trevor Lakness, GM of Puckmasters, says they're not trying to make more fights in hockey. "What we're doing is if kids get into fights, they're not going to get hurt, they're going to know how to protect themselves."
A Hockey Canada spokesman calls the program unnecessary.
The Regina camp is the brainchild of Lakness and Minnesota Wild enforcer Derek Boogaard, who has had 26 fights in 113 games during his first two seasons with the team.
The two-hour lesson, which is held at the Puckmasters training facility and costs $40, instructs players from ages 12 to 18 on the art of on-ice fighting.
"Kids now go out on the rink and now they have the confidence that 'If I do get into a fight, I'm not going to get my butt kicked'," Lakness said.
Instructor Derek Parker said the mandate of the school is not to teach kids how to become teenaged bruisers, but to avoid black eyes themselves. "To get the most out of your players, you have to take the fear away so at least they can protect each other," he said.
The camp includes a fight tape that is a compilation of Derek Boogaard and his brother Aaron's junior and professional fights as well as television play-by-play that breaks down the science of the on-ice brawl. The tape also shows the Boogaard brothers demonstrating the hockey fight "code," where they are seen easing up and skating away once their opponents fall to the ice.
After the film, students undergo a strenuous workout that includes cardio and crunches. Finally, they get on their equipment, a full-face shield and one boxing glove as instructors demonstrate proper technique.
When the program first began, concerned parents began spoke out against it, some describing it as "barbaric" and a "goon school." Lakness defends the school from those critics, saying it's for the benefit of the young players. "It's no different than karate -- why do people put their kids in karate? It's protection, it's an art."
Despite the controversy, organizers say they want to run a similar camp next off-season. "We'll keep doing this clinic as long as there's a demand for it. As long as there's fighting in the NHL," Lakness said.
"If they're there teaching kids at the ages of 12, 13, 14 to defend themselves, that's fine," said Wayne Gretzky. "I took boxing classes when I was 10. It didn't pay off for me."