MHPSD opens new dual-sport training facility

By BRENDAN MILLER on December 6, 2024.

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

The Medicine Hat Public School Division welcomed members of the community Thursday to the grand opening of its new training facility for the 76 Hockey and Ringette Academy, including an official ribbon-cutting event.

The division worked with Source for Sports to bring an artificial training ice as well as three full-sized nets with goalie backdrops. The facility, located in the strip mall at 140 Maple Ave., also features a weight room and area for stretching and plyometrics.

“We’ve got a great facility here, we can do lots of different things,” says Corey Sadlemyer, who helped develop the academy’s curriculum and programming.

This year the division has 150 students enrolled in its new dual sports academy, which is for students from Grade 4-9 who are interested in developing on-ice skills while maintaining their quality of education.

MHPSD says sports academies also inspire students to engage with their studies.

“If we can tie that love for a thing (hockey or ringette) and they’re being switched on to connecting to curriculum and learning, then I think we can connect with the whole child,” says Sadlemyer.

On average, students enrolled in the academy will access the facility twice a week for training. The space will also be used by other public schools and rented out to local sports teams.

It is designed to accommodate three groups of students who can all work on different aspects of their training and skill development at the same time.

Members of MHPSD’s board of trustees attended the ribbon-cutting, including chair Catherine Wilson, who said the division is honoured to open the specialized training facility after responding to public feedback that encouraged creation of the 76 Hockey & Ringette Academy.

“This space represents our commitment to providing exceptional athletic and educational opportunities to enhance student learning,” Wilson said. “As we cut this ribbon, we look forward to the future where our students are inspired to work hard as athletes, learners and leaders.”

Academy students will participate in a minimum of 36 on-ice sessions throughout the year, as well as attend classroom sessions focused on sport performance, leadership, mental health and developing high sporting intelligence.

The program is led by Ken Dzikowski and provides students a blend of on-ice activities while focusing on academic excellence.

Dzikowski, who played six-years of pro hockey in Germany from 1998-2004 following four years of NCAA hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, says they began envisioning the facility eight months ago as a way to provide students the feeling of training professionally.

“We wanted to provide them with an opportunity on what it would feel like to be a professional hockey player, or a high-end program and team in Ringette,” said Dzikowski, who says the facility mimics those which many professional teams use.

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