The Kootenay Hockey Academy continues to grow in Cranbrook and is helping keep young players in the community.
“We’re giving kids the opportunity to stay in Cranbrook,” said Bucks president and co-owner Nathan Lieuwen.
“We did a couple of surveys to the academy parents and one of them was if the academy wasn’t here would you move away for hockey. Seventy-five per cent of the answers were yes they would.”
Former MLA Tom Shypitka says his son has come back to Cranbrook now that the option is available.
“I sent my own son to the Kelowna Academy for two years starting at the age of 14 because there was nothing here for him in the Kootenays,” he said.
“My son decided to leave Kelowna this year and to give the KHA a shot. In the five months that we have been with the program I can validate that the KHA is top notch with incredible coaching, training and education.”
Lieuwen says having a hockey academy here also reduces the number of much-needed professionals leaving.
“We’re happy to provide this service now and be able to keep some of the professional parents of these kids,” he added.
“I know a few years back we lost some doctors and it has an impact on our community.”
The KHA recently partnered with Purcell Collegiate, with the school becoming the primary education provider for the players.
Purcell Collegiate will also recruit student-athletes from outside the Kimberley-Cranbrook area to play for the academy.
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