Someday , I ’ d like to play hockey at Balmoral Hall and I believe this program is helping me with both academics and hockey
STARBUCK HOCKEY ACADEMY time helps me develop as a player . I want to take the game of hockey as far as I can and the extra time on the ice , rather than in the gym , is better for me . I feel it ’ s developing my skills and sharpening my senses .”
Jayna Veldhuis is a 13-year-old Grade 7 student who plays with the boys Macdonald Pee Wee Silver team . Her bus trip every morning takes about 15 minutes and she can barely wait to get to school .
“ I like it here because the academics are really good ( she gets 90 ’ s in her classes ) and the on-ice program is very well run ,” she said . “ Someday , I ’ d like to play hockey at Balmoral Hall and I believe this program is helping me with both academics and hockey .”
Someday , I ’ d like to play hockey at Balmoral Hall and I believe this program is helping me with both academics and hockey
Curt and Cliff Ketchen are the gentlemen who deliver the skills instruction and they take their roles very seriously . In fact , no two men in Manitoba are more proud of their alumni than Curt and Cliff . From Madison Bowey of the Washington Capitals organization to Jenelle Kohanchuk of Canada ’ s National Women ’ s Team and to NCAA Division I players Kurt Keats of the University of Massachusetts and Tess Bracken of Dartmouth College and to Nick Henry of the WHL ’ s Regina Pats , the Ketchen ’ s have helped Starbuck Hockey Academy turn out some great Manitoba hockey players .
“ It ’ s a pretty special spot here ,” said Cliff . “ This goes back many years for us . It ’ s the 17th year of the program and it ’ s actually my second time around . When I was in high school , playing for the Triple A Midget Warriors , I scheduled my course load so that in the first year of the program , I could help my dad Curt get the program up and running .”
“ I carried on with my playing career and Curt continued to grow the program every year . He ’ s had instructors come on like Jake Gnidziejko , a goaltender with the Winnipeg Blues , who love to get out on the ice and work with the kids .”
“ There is definitely a focus on building student-athletes here ,” continued Cliff , who is a CPA and has an accounting degree from Niagara University where he played NCAA Division I hockey himself . “ Academics is number one and hockey is a close second . The kids understand that if they aren ’ t putting their best foot forward on the academic side , they ’ re going to miss out on their ice time .”
As for the kids in the academy , it would appear there is no place they would rather be .
“ It ’ s a good experience ,” said Grade 7 student Peyton Bateman who plays for the Pee Wee A1 Stonewall Blues and travels about 45 minutes a day to Starbuck . “ The schooling is great and the on-ice
Avery Pickering is a 10-year-old , Grade 5 defenseman from St . Adolphe who travels about 45 minutes each day to attend Starbuck Hockey Academy . She is already considered one of the top Grade 5 players ever to enter Starbuck .
“ My parents gave me the choice ,” she said . “ I could have gone to my local school or come here and I felt I ’ d have an advantage both with academics and with hockey if I came here . I think this has been very helpful for me .”
And isn ’ t that the point ? Starbuck Hockey Academy helps . It provides a great classroom experience with 100 hours of extra ice time . If you ’ re a young aspiring hockey player , it doesn ’ t get any better than that . n
The Starbuck Hockey Academy is accepting applications for grades 5 , 6 , and 7 in the 2017-18 school year . For more information on enrolment , please contact principal Mark Wiehler at 204-735-2779 .
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