And so quickly comes the end of our second day here in Queenstown, New Zealand.  As it often happens in day 2 of a kids hockey camp, the players hit the ice this morning with a better understanding of what to expect.  The result was a fantastic day of great hustle, learning, and fun.  We filled the day with lots of small area competition and games, to which the players and coaches seemed to respond very well.  Although we’ll see many of the players throughout the week, this afternoon brought the end of the first weekend segment of our trip.  No weekend camp is complete without the classic team photo.  We’d like to that the coaches, local senior players from the Southern Stampede, and parents of all the kids for making the weekend a rewarding and very memorable experience for Boe and I.

 

 I enjoyed catching the godfather of the weekend, Ross Burns, sitting back for a moment and taking it all in.  I sensed the same satisfaction that Boe and I feel when we see camp in full swing, with kids having a great time, local coaches and players contributing, and parents smiling as they look on.  Our classroom sessions have included stories from hockey around the world, an insight into Canadian hockey development, and some hockey knowledge trivia.  We really appreciated the inclusion of players, parents, and coaches, and hope that we were able to share with the Kiwi hockey community a bit of hockey insight from across the world. Ross and Charlie, thank you for taking the risk to bring us here, and we look forward to an excellent week ahead.

 

 

Apparently no hockey camp in Queenstown is complete without lunch at the local golf course, Jack’s Point.  A little sunshine, stunning views of the “Remarkables” in the background, great food, and some classic local hospitality with Coach Andy set the table for a great afternoon session.  We find ourselves commenting on the majestic mountain ranges that surround the town.  Tomorrow we’re set to run a coaches’ night, but not before a day of mountain biking in these stunning surroundings.  Check back tomorrow for more, or follow our blog using our Facebook Page, Leslie Global Sports.[fblike layout=”standard” show_faces=”false” action=”like” font=”arial” colorscheme=”dark”]