Attention, parents of potential hockey players: One of the best sports values around this fall and winter can be found on the ice at the Albert Lea City Arena.

Thursday, September 06, 2001

Attention, parents of potential hockey players: One of the best sports values around this fall and winter can be found on the ice at the Albert Lea City Arena.

The Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Department’s &uot;new&uot; Squirts in-house hockey program has a fee of only $40. Equipment rental, if necessary, is another $40.

The intent is to develop the skills of as many hockey players as possible, according to Steve Falk, who is taking a year leave of absence from the Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey coaching staff to direct the program.

Falk said the low cost isn’t the only selling point, though it’s a key one.

&uot;The fact is if a parent and player choose not to travel, the player will still receive three to four hours of ice time per week, which includes skill sessions, practice and games,&uot; said Falk. &uot;All for only $40. In comparison, some traveling programs can cost $500 or $600 per player.&uot;

Other features of the program – which has primarily 9 and 10-year-olds, and some 8-year-olds – include equal ice time and instruction for all participants, no traveling or tryouts, weekly sessions with the ALHS coaching staff and players and weekly games on Saturday.

The program is tentatively scheduled to run Oct. 21 to March 1.

Albert Lea will still have a traveling Squirts team, though it won’t be chosen until later in the season. All potential players for the traveling team will participate in the in-house league.

There are three registration sessions for the program, the first being tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at the City Arena. The others are Saturday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m., also at the City Arena.

&uot;After 11 years of high school coaching, I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with our youth,&uot; said Falk. &uot;We need to build our numbers so that at the high school level of play we can be more competitive. This program has been successful in many communities. I’m sure we will have the same success this year. Hopefully, the kids will come out and enjoy the great game of hockey.&uot;