Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy Wraps Ups the 2015-2016 Season

The Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy (WJHA) wrapped up 25 weeks of programming for 13 schools, 31 classrooms, totaling over 625 students! The program is quite the undertaking juggling up to 6 ice sessions, 6 lunch times, 12 dressing rooms, 12 bus pickups/drop-offs, 13 staff, 15 volunteers and 150 kids properly dressed in hockey gear- all in ONE day!

The WJHA was a recent recipient of the NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, which allowed the program to expand deeper into the grassroots community, and give our students more opportunities to play hockey. This year the WJHA introduced two minor hockey teams with students in grades 4 and 5. They competed in the Winnipeg Minor Hockey League and a couple of tournaments throughout the season. We’d like to thank our coaches and volunteers who were so dedicated to the teams, often carpooling the students to and from the rink. Also, thank you to the families that supported the students and were their biggest fans! The WJHA will look to expand to 4 minor hockey teams next season.

As the students age through the WJHA, we introduce once-a-week After School Program. Beginning in grade 4, students expand their WJHA participation to twice a week. The After School component for grades 4 through 8 students includes floorball in their school gymnasium, and classroom sessions that includes topics like; character building, goal setting, nutrition and tutoring. Field trips were always a monthly highlight; the students loved Sky Zone, skating on the Forks River Trail, trip to Pan Am Clinic and many more. Our High School students also participate in a once-a-week After School program. Students are introduced to resume building, first time job opportunities, post-secondary education, how to make healthy snacks, guest speakers, tutoring and many field trips!

Looking forward, students in the WJHA will be invited to attend Camp Manitou this summer for a week at camp. Students will spend half of their day at MTS Iceplex honing their hockey skills, and the other half enjoying outdoor camp adventures!

Thank you all staff, school champions, volunteers, students & families for making it a memorable 2015-2016 WJAH season!