Houlton Fall hockey clinic kicks off season

The Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association (SAMHA), in cooperation with the Atlantic Hockey Group, kicked off the season with the second annual Dave McCarthy Fall Hockey Clinic.  
    Charlie Bourgeois, along with three of his instructors from Atlantic Hockey Group of Moncton, N.B. gave four days of instruction in power skating, passing, shooting, as well as checking for the older group.
The players were divided into two age levels, Novice/Atom and Peewee/Bantam, and each category separated into groups of eight with one instructor per group.
“With a full month of early ice again this year, this really helps the kids get back into the swing of things, before games begin in early November,” said Bourgeois. “They gain so much by being given that type of concentrated instruction over those four days, and the coaching staff picks it up from there.”
Bourgeois also donates a full scholarship to his hockey academy every year to a player who participates in the clinic. This year’s winner was Brandon Dunn.
“We are so very thankful to Berny and the staff at the civic center who always go above and beyond to help accommodate us,” said Bourgeois.     Also to Chuck Sanderson who provided housing for the instructors, and everyone from players, parents and volunteers who made this event possible. A sincere thanks also goes to the McCarthy family, Dave was very respected by all of our organization, who would do anything to help the players, as he believed that is why we are all there. We are so grateful that they have allowed us to carry on his memory in this way.”