Passing for more than grades

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This article was published 24/09/2018 (2751 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Starbuck Hockey Academy students are eager to finish their homework because if they don’t, they won’t get ice time.

“It motivates the kids and gives them a reason to get their work done,” said Blair Adamson, who teaches Grade 8 and is one of four coaches at the academy.

The Starbuck Hockey Academy opened in 2000 and is a certified Hockey Canada Skills Academy. This year, 60 students in Grades 5 to 8 recently began their hockey training. They get one hour of on-ice coaching each day for 100 days and receive academic instruction through Starbuck School.

“We draw from all over the place,” said Starbuck School principal Dale Fust.

Students come from many of the surrounding communities, with some coming from as far away as Stonewall and Niverville. The Red River Valley School Division offers bussing with a main drop-off location in Oak Bluff.

The two-storey Consolidated School building dates back to 1910 and is attached to the Starbuck sports centre containing the hockey rink and curling rink. The academy’s older students have home rooms in the Consolidated School building, but walk across a school field to attend classes in the main school building. That’s where the younger students have their home rooms.

While the academy’s coaching duties used to be partially contracted out, this year the academy’s four teachers are responsible for all academic and hockey instruction.
Adamson, who has taught at the academy for eight years, believes he has a great job since he can combine his passion for education with his love of hockey.

“I loved the whole concept of it,” he said. “You can have good rapport with the kids when you can shoot pucks with them.”

Adamson’s hockey experience includes stints in the Saskatchewan and Manitoba junior leagues, playing on the Melfort Mustangs, Neepawa Natives and Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
He’s joined this year by Sean Pettinger, who played in the MJHL with the Swan Valley Stampeders before accepting a hockey scholarship to the University of Wisconsin- River Falls. After returning to Manitoba, Pettinger played on Manitoba’s Allan Cup team, The Southeast Prairie Thunder.

Tim Morison offers goaltendering experience and instruction. He has been part of many championship teams while coaching the Pembina Valley Hawks, and an assistant/goalie coach for teams that won AAA Bantam/Midget championship titles including a silver and bronze at the Western Canadian Championships.

Sanford native Amanda Schnell is the academy’s first female teacher and coach. She played on the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey team for five years, winning the Canada West championship in her final year.

Fust said there are five female students now attending the academy, and they train alongside the boys.

“Any of the girls we’ve had, they hold their own,” Adamson said.

Adamson said the academy students are generally high-achievers who have learned to focus on their school work while also playing sports. Most spent their evenings playing in various leagues.

Adamson noted that the school’s Grade 7 students finished first in last year’s annual science challenge at the University of Manitoba, competing against teams from across the province.

“We get a lot of high-level leaders who can meet our high expectations,” Fust said.

The students must pay $1,300 to attend the academy and their parents usually get involved to help out when needed.

After 18 years, the academy remains successful, Fust said. Most of the students who register in Grade 5 continue through to Grade 8.

“We’re really happy with the program we deliver,” he said.