photo by Nick Gerhardt

The puck slips past a goalie at hockey school inside the City Arena Wednesday during a one-on-one drill. Hockey camp concluded this week at the City Arena for the high school team and younger players.

Albert Lea hockey finishes summer camp

By Nick Gerhardt | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Saturday, July 26, 2008

Albert Lea boys’ hockey coach Roy Nystrom has been holding his hockey school for so long that even he can’t remember how long he has been conducting the school.

What’s more important for Nystrom is that his players learn the fundamentals of hockey in order to prepare for the high school season.

“You can teach a forecheck in five minutes, but if you can’t skate you’ll have trouble,” Nystrom said.

Nystrom’s hockey school ended Friday at the City Arena with more than 100 players from squirts to high school players participating.

“The camp that we have now is important because we have a lot of kids coming up from bantams that are learning our system,” Nystrom said. “All of our drills are game-like, we have specific drills with specific purposes and we teach all of them this summer.”

Players worked on one-on-ones and two-on-two situations during the week, but Nystrom avoid any team drills.

“All fundamentals,” Nystrom said. “We don’t mess around with any team stuff.”

Nystrom has had plenty to consider this summer as the Tigers lost a dearth of talent to graduation, most importantly its two goaltenders.

“The talent is certainly here,” Nystrom said. “We’re definitely going to have to fill those two goaltenders roles.”

Many of the players on the squad have stayed sharp this summer by playing in a summer league in Kasson where many of the Big Nine teams play as well.

Nystrom has six senior forwards returning and believes they will help lead the team.

“We have quite a few guys coming back now,” Nystrom said. “I think that we have the nucleus of a good team.”

Albert Lea traveled to Eagan over the weekend to play in the Eagan Summer Hockey Tournament. There, the Tigers faced historically strong programs like Bloomington Jefferson and Elk River. Nystrom said he is excited to see what his squad can do at the tournament.

“They’re working hard and our work ethic is pretty good,” Nystrom said. “The skills are there and the attitude is there.”

Albert Lea played Bloomington Jefferson Friday night and Elk River on Saturday.