Nolan teaches life skills and slap shots in Hobbema

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Although Ted Nolan has had some difficulty getting back into coaching at an NHL level, the one -time Coach of the Year has been filling some time with more rewarding work.

After what he calls a "disappointing year" of waiting for a head coaching job in the NHL, Nolan is back on the ice and back to calling out drills, offering encouragement and pushing his players to be the best they can.

Instead of from behind the bench of the Buffalo Sabres, more recently Nolan was coaching from Hobbema's newest ice rink on the Ermineskin First Nation.

On Aug. 18, Nolan was in Alberta to coach for a day at the Aug. 17 to 21 Miyo-Wahkotowin Community Education Authority's first annual hockey school.

Bringing his NHL experience to 60 participants ranging in age from 10 to 17, Nolan said the opportunity was an all-round rewarding experience.

"I get as much enjoyment out of it with the kids as the kids do with me," he said.

Nolan, who left the Buffalo hockey franchise 18 months ago, has his own consulting company that offers motivational education. He has worked with several First Nations across Canada and has offered his leadership training, goal setting workshops and motivation classes to many large groups including the Assembly of First Nations.

His suit and tie job comes in handy when teaching the skate and jersey crowd.

Mixing some words of advice for life into puck handling drills is a good way to get a message out to young people without preaching to them about the right path they need to take, said Nolan.

Following an hour long skills training session with groups of skaters split into three age categories, Nolan spoke to them about the importance of succeeding at whatever they attempt, on the ice or off. He told them to listen to what others told them and not to be put off by failure.

To one group of youngsters, the young coach told them how he couldn't turn left on skates properly until he was 21. He told them he never stopped trying, and with a lot of attention and some people to help, he finally managed to perfect the skill.

So while the youngsters all probably realized they learned some new moves or perfected some rusty skating manouveurs, so basic life skills were probably learned also.

"Through hockey, you can subtely slip a message in," said Nolan.

Ernestine Saulteaux, whose son Levi, 13, was in the hockey school, said she sees the benefits of hockey and what it can teach the children.

"I truly believe it builds their self esteem and it keeps them out of trouble," said Saulteaux, a single mother who said that although the sport can be costly, it keeps her kids happy, and that is what is important.

"If my kids are happy, then I'm happy," she said.

Also happy were the organizers of the hockey school.

Randy Ermineskin, the program designer for the hockey school and the physical education teacher at the Ermineskin school, said the event is a big success.

"This has been a learning experience for us," he said.

Participants in the school came from as far away as High Prairie and Calgary. With the support of the four nations of Hobbema, Ermineskin said the players got the opportunity to learn some new moves and new ideas about hockey and life from a top calibre instructor.

"The skills he is teaching them are excellent," said Ermineskin about Nolan.

Nolan was one of 12 instructors at the camp. Other coaches included collegiate and provincial level Native hockey players, including Brent Dodginghorse of the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey Association.