Former Ottawa Senators captain Laurie Boscman hopes this week’s Hockey Ministries International Camp in Williams Lake will help improve its participants in more ways than one.
“On the ice, hopefully there’s two or three things on a technical level that they’ll take away and continue working on leading up to the season,” Boschman said Wednesday.
“Off the ice we hope they understand a little bit more about the relevance and importance of the Bible and that will hopefully help them in their lives.”
Hockey Ministries International is a worldwide organization which provides chapel programs in 25 leagues in North America including the NHL, WHL, OHL, QMJHL and various other professional and amateur leagues.
The organization also offers Christian hockey camps worldwide throughout the summer months.
This week Boshman’s group is in Williams Lake at the Cariboo Memorial Complex for its camp, which began on Sunday and wraps up Friday. About 30 kids are taking part in the camp, which includes an on-ice portion along with a live-in chapel portion at Columneetza secondary in the mornings and evenings.
“So far it’s been a great couple of days,” Boschman said. “We’ve got two groups of boys and girls and we’re having lots of fun.”
Skills being worked on include skating, shooting, passing, puck handling and how to implement those skills in game situations.
As for the chapel program, Boschman said faith played an important role during his 14-year NHL career which saw him play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Edmonton Oilers, the Winnipeg Jets, the New Jersey Devils and the Ottawa Senators.
“For me it was an extremely important element,” he said. “It helped keep me focused and helped me prepare on and off the ice.
“It also helped me be a good teammate, a good husband, a good father and my faith really helps me achieve that.”