Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/100814
JANUARY 2013 THE NHL���S BEEN MIA: IT���S TIME TO HIT THE ICE By Sheldon McRae, APTN Communications Coordinator Grab your sticks, dust off your pads, sharpen those blades and lace up those skates! APTN���s world premiere of Hit The Ice will get hockey fans rallying in their living rooms, as young men chase their dreams on the rink to be part of the best all Aboriginal hockey team ever. Watch these guys as they blow away coaches with their savvy skills; all the while representing and making their communities proud from across the country. From its beginnings, this series is truly unique by utilizing online initiatives. The 20 talented prospects were initially recruited through ���virtual tryouts���. The team members were then placed in a rigorous, high calibre training camp; challenged to develop their training and hockey skills; and experienced growth as a team and on a personal level. Fans will also be given the opportunity to improve their own skills via the series website. Hit The Ice takes hockey top-drawer with a leading-edge website catering to viewers and hockey enthusiasts, alike. Viewers can keep upto-date on the prime players and leading coaches spearheading the players to their highest levels with online profiles. Videos are also available featuring skills and behind the scenes footage. For the enthusiast wanting to further their own rofile on ice talents, creating an online profile gives them access to ���A-1��� knowledge of 39 different me. hockey skills used anytime during a game. Users reas will be given an overview of three areas for g training and skills development: teaching videos led by the series��� coaches, an animated drill and a skill assessment. Users can start off at any level from initiation to midget, selecting their skills such as skating, shooting and puck control. One���s skill development can start here before taking it to the rink. The winning part is they���re in control of their own learning. Take yourself to the next level at aptn.ca/hittheice and get in on the action now. Stay tuned in as the prospects are fo r c e d to play an unforeseen team, under the watchful eyes of junior scouts. The final game could result in players being invited to a junior training camp. Hit The Ice premieres Thursday, January 10 at 8:00 p.m. MT on APTN West. Always check your local TV listings for show times or APTN���s online schedule at www.aptn.ca/schedule!