Players from across the Lakeland are taking advantage of spring hockey through the Lakeland Lightning Hockey Club.
Since 2013, local hockey players have been fortunate to have a spring hockey association to call their own.
Running from April to the end of May, the Lakeland Lighting Hockey Club offers players a place to continue improving their hockey skills, even during the off-season.
“We started a team to play spring hockey because there were no options here, and kids were having to travel to the city to extend their winter season. It limited the kids who maybe couldn’t afford it, or didn’t have time to go to the city every weekend, so we decided to build it here,” explained Lakeland Lightning founder Darcy Skarsen.
Since then, the organization has grown exponentially.
They went from a one-team wonder to having over 12 teams in their organization last year, including two all-female teams.
Skarsen, and other Lighting officials, were focused on offering spring hockey at an affordable cost to players of all ages and skill levels.
Getting on board early on, coaches Rick Swan and Larry Draper admired the Lighting’s perspective.
“It’s a spring team that Larry Draper and I wanted to be involved with to support the development they’re getting every year in the winter season. We wanted to get involved and give back whatever way we could,” expressed Swan.
As head coach for the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs, Swan admitted it was also a good opportunity to witness potential future Pontiacs in action.
“These kids had the opportunity to move away and play at the AAA bantam level, but they felt it was better for their development to stay here and I fully support that. They’re accomplishing great things. There are so many players that have a bright future in the game of hockey.”
For those players who have grown up watching the Pontiacs, knowing one day they could fill their skates is enlightening.
“It’s great. When you’re a young guy and you put on a Bonnyville Pontiac uniform in initiation… it’s their dream to one day be able to play for their hometown Jr. A team,” Swan said. “It’s exciting and special to have a small town produce that many good players who eventually get to play for the club that they have dreamed of and have watched their whole lives.”
The Lakeland Lighting also hosts an annual summer camp. This August, it will be commemorating five years in the community.
In order to mark the occasion, Skarsen said they’re planning on kicking it up a notch by offering special rates to their loyal players.
“We have a need for affordable summer camps in the area. We didn’t really have any where you didn’t have to pay and arm and a leg to go, which was the real first driver for the camp,” explained Skarsen. “We also really wanted to show off what we have in this community, and we still make sure it’s important to use only local instructors.”
That includes Swan and Draper, who are proud of the local talent that comes through the camp.
Overall, the goal of the Lighting is to offer the chance for players to expand their skills right at home.
Skarsen said, “We have lots of talent here… and we want to keep that in the area. We don’t want to watch them go and play elsewhere.”