There’s a new hockey league in town and its focus is on the fun of the game.
Panorama Recreation has launched the Youth Hockey League. For kids from age 6 to 12, the league will teach them the fundamentals of hockey — skating, passing, stick handling, shooting and more — with the emphasis on fun.
Instructor Patrick Dibbs, himself a former Junior B goaltender for the Columbia Valley Rockies of the KIJHL, says the focus is on young players as they start out in hockey. It’s an inexpensive way to see if the skater — and their parents — enjoy the sport.
“This is new this year,” Dibbs said. “It’s for boys and girls and we have enough players right now for two teams to play in scrimmages and games.”
Dibbs is teaming up with fellow instructor Lisa Lynam in the program, which runs once a week from now until Dec. 17 — Wednesday afternoons on the same ice where the Peninsula Panthers Junior B team plays. Both instructors still play hockey and are happy to pass on their knowledge and skills.
With the school year getting off to a slow start, Dibbs said they hope to get the word out to parents about the league. Signing up at any time is just fine, he said, and the cost of registration will be pro-rated based on when they signed up.
Dibbs said the league is a safe environment for new and inexperienced players. It’s a non-contact league, following in the footsteps of similar programs on the ice in Oak Bay and Saanich.
“It’s a first step for families and kids, to see if they are going to like hockey,” Dibbs said, adding there are no tryouts and players must at least be able to skate the length of the ice.
For more, visit panoramarecreation.ca or call 250-656-7271.