Aberdeen’s premier ice hockey team has encouraged youngsters to take to the ice and train with one of the world’s leading development and skating coaches.
The Aberdeen Lynx Ice Hockey Club, which attracts over 1,000 people to home games alone, welcomed highly sought-after Canadian with NHL coaching and playing experience, Tim Preston, to the Linx Ice Arena recently to help train local children taking part in a summer camp.
Mr Preston, who is the co-founder and head on-ice instructor at Impact Hockey Development, a leading North American training platform, is challenging 52 youngsters to take to the ice and get involved in the second most supported sport in Aberdeen.
The coach offers on- and off-ice programs designed to develop and aid hockey players to reach their potential across the globe.
Mr Preston, who has previously trained Olympic gold medallists, works with a broad base of professional and amateur players in the NHL, AHL and a number of other hockey leagues.
He is the skills and skating coach for the Vancouver Canucks prospects and is also the head coach for the Pacific Junior Ice Hockey League Aldergrove Kodiaks.
After enjoying a successful hockey career, including five years playing for the Seattle Thunderbirds, Tim has a mountain of experience to share.
Vice chairman of the Aberdeen Lynx Ice Hockey Club, John Colley, said: “Junior development is extremely important to the Lynx’s overall future achievements.
“It’s fantastic to have someone as experienced as Tim join us and pass on his knowledge and expertise not only to the kids, but to myself and all of the other coaches too.
“It’s a lot easier said than done to motivate more than 50 children, but Tim’s work ethic is incredibly professional, and the kids seemed to want to just get stuck in – it’s great to see them on the ice enjoying themselves.”
Mr Preston said: “It is great that the Aberdeen Lynx has organised this summer camp and I’m pleased to be able to teach the kids some new skills and techniques and to give them my help and advice.
“It is really important to develop players as young as possible with the correct techniques and this type of summer camp can do just that.
“Time on the ice is vital for kids to be able to practice and develop their skills, the more time they get on the ice the quicker they will improve and progress.”
Head coach of the Aberdeen Lynx, Rod Ramsay, has worked over the past year in developing the junior team, organising opportunities like the summer camp, to develop and enhance skills.
Mr Ramsay was heavily involved in organising Tim’s visit and hopes to continue developing the junior squad, who will then potentially go on to play in the Aberdeen Lynx Ice Hockey team in the future.
As well as organising the summer camp, the club is also hosting its first awards dinner dance on Saturday 16 August to help raise funds for the junior development programme, before kick-starting the new season in early September.
Funding and sponsorship are crucial factors that restrict the club when it comes to presenting opportunities like the camps to the junior players.
John said: “We are extremely grateful to our camp sponsors Frasermedia, Town and County apartments and Sport Aberdeen for all of the support on this project.
“The kids have really enjoyed the camp and we couldn’t have made this project happen without their backing.”