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Sports

Whalers Summer Hockey Camps: Plenty of Smiles and Instruction

Camps Run at Compuware Arena through Aug. 19

The first week of the Plymouth Whalers Summer Hockey Camps at Compuware Arena is in the books.

Based on the comments of a handful of parents who watched carefully this week, the camps (a three-day and five-day) this week were a success. Here’s a sampling of opinion:

Gretchen Granica, Saline (Aiden, 6):“We heard a lot of good things about the school. It seems like Aiden’s learning a lot and having a great time. When the Whaler players see that there’s something to work on, they pull them aside and give them further instruction. I like that. I think we’ll definitely be back in the future.”

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A three-day camp - held earlier this week - attracted a variety of ages and skill levels:

Lynn Pratt, Livonia (Brad, 13): “He’s the oldest one out there. We’re both loving it and don’t want it to end. The camp is so instructional and encouraging and my son loves all the instruction and information he’s receiving.

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“His favorite Whaler is the one that is instructing him (Alex Aleardi). He talks about him all the time. Alex is really nice, funny and has a good sense of humor.

“Brad’s a roller-hockey player and this is only his fourth time ever on the ice. (Before), he didn’t have confidence and he wanted to play ice hockey. So we decided to do this camp and see what he had to learn. Now, he has confidence and feels really good.”

The camps are not restricted to boys.

Jody Perris, Farmington (daughter Gabi Mitchell, 10): “This is her third year coming to three-day half-day Whalers camp. She really enjoys the instructors. She likes the relationships she builds and then being able to watch them play their games (during the season). She learns a lot in the drills and the different skating techniques.”

“Her main reason for coming back is the Whalers. They’re a lot like kids, especially during the off-ice sessions when they play dodge-ball and soccer. The Whalers relate so well to kids.

“I think it’s a great program. What makes it so nice is the players are out there, coaching the kids.”

The combination of the summer hockey camps — plus the OHL mode incorporated in the EA Sports NHL '11 video game — had a hand in creating a new Whalers fan:

Audra Murdock, Bloomfield Hills (Duncan, 6-and-a-half): “Duncan’s loved this. He’s a little shy, but he likes the coaches a lot. He thinks they’re funny, likes all the ice-time and the drills that they’re doing. Sometimes, he’s not so crazy about doing hockey drills, but here, he’s ready to come every day.

“At home, Duncan has the (EA Sports' 'NHL Slapshot') on Nintendo Wii. He used to just play the Red Wings against anyone else, but now, he plays the Whalers against someone else, like Saginaw or Sudbury. Now, he’s excited to come to a Whalers game this season." 

Whalers Summer Hockey Camps run through Aug. 19. Find out more by clicking this link.

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