Midget hockey players and their parents received a comprehensive look at what is being offered on and off the ice by the CFR Chemicals Airdrie Bisons AAA midget team during a session in Cochrane, June 26.

The session walked the players through the hockey and educational components and outlining options for billeting. Head coach Dan Gendur says much has changed over the years since he played junior hockey and the programs incorporated not only develops hockey skills but lifeskills they can use in juniors and beyond.

"I think what the program is going to do is to prepare these kids for moving on to the junior levels of hockey," says Gendur.

In addition ot the Bisons hockey operations, education and skills development are an extension of the 'AAA' midget hockey experience and is being made possible through a new partnership between Global Sport Academy and the Rocky View School Division.

Jeff Ovens, vice-president of business development for the Global Sport Academy Group, said its exciting to be offered the opportunity to build the program within all three Airdrie high schools and Bison players will be attending George MacDougall High School.

It's a credited course that involves academics as well as sports specific training and runs the duration of the school year for grade 10 to 12 male and female midget hockey players.. 

"For the foreseeable future we want to focus on executing and providing quality programming for the midget hockey players to help them become better people first, better students and better hockey players and focus really on the long-term aspirations of these student athletes," says Ovens.

"I see this as being the future of triple 'A' hockey as we try to compete against private schools and sports schools that are providing sports programming through the school day. I think if triple 'A' can incorporate their teams within the school system there are some powerful things that could happen."

Gendur said the session in Cochrane was a good opportunity to meet potential players. He told the crowd there no preconceived notions of who will make the roster.

A session in Airdrie the following night was especially well attended by players from the Airdrie area and from as far away as Drumheller..

More may be held elsewhere in the zone, says Gendur.

The Bisons training camp opens with a rookie camp on Sept. 2 and the main camp starts Sept. 4. The  final roster will be named on Sept. 22.