Hockey player returns to Canada to teach the game

Hockey is a game of skill and experience. To gain experience, one must first hone the proper skills and techniques to be successful.  Coaching is the key aspect in player development. Having the right coach could be the difference between making the big show or not.

Chris Belanger, a former pro hockey player, is back in the Niagara region and wants to get youngsters back in the game of hockey.  Recently the number of players in the Niagara Falls Minor Hockey Association has been dwindling.  Belanger, with his business partner Tim Booth, instructor and director of operations, have a new perspective on how children are taught the game with their hockey school, Blue Steel Performance Hockey (BSPH).

“We believe kids adapt, listen, learn and become better with confidence and good support.  That’s what we believe in here,” says Belanger.

Thirty-seven-year-old Belanger, a Welland native, began playing organized hockey at five years of age and hasn’t stopped since.

In 1991 Belanger received a full scholarship to play defence for the Western Michigan University Broncos, but suffered a broken ankle after playing two games.  He was drafted in the ninth round of the 1991 National Hockey League by the Hartford Whalers, now the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I wasn’t expecting to be drafted,” says Belanger.  “I broke my ankle that year and only played two games.  I was rated in the first round when the season opened up.  After breaking my ankle, I didn’t even go to the draft.  I found out the following day that Hartford drafted me.”

Belanger ended up in Edmonton, Alta., playing exhibition games with the Oilers, but did not make the lineup.  He would play three years with three separate minor league teams before getting an offer to play overseas in 1994.  Spending 13 years playing in countries like Austria, Italy and Switzerland, Belanger developed his skills.

In 1999 Belanger was scouted to play on Team Canada’s Spengler Cup team.  He played in six consecutive Spengler Cup tournaments and is the only Canadian to ever do so.  During his time with Team Canada, Belanger would win two gold and one silver and bronze medal.

“Playing for my country, standing on the blue line with the crest and hearing O Canada was just unbelievable,” recounts Belanger.

Now Belanger is back and wants, along with Booth, to get Niagara Falls on the hockey map.

“We are going to be teaching things that can work in any league, all over the world,” says Belanger.

BSPH, to run out of the Bob Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, is a school that will strive to be the best by being different, according to Belanger.  It will offer courses for ages eight years and up.  Belanger and Booth have endless knowledge about the game and plan to put it to work through their school.

Booth has been coaching minor hockey in Niagara Falls for more than 10 years and has a spectacular track record with players and parents.

The pair realize that enforcing a positive environment is an important factor when trying to get through to young people.  The idea is to build the child’s confidence from the inside out, and the skills will stem from there.

“If you break the confidence in a child, he or she may never get it back,” says Booth.  “Hockey is a great team sport, to learn life skills in general like respect and positivity.”

The school will offer a 10-week course because the owners believe it will take that amount of time before results and changes will be noticeable.  Belanger and Booth plan to enforce skills such as skating, angles and conditioning.  Another unique drill will be game time situations, which will test the player’s knowledge and training.

BSPH will be collecting used equipment from anyone willing to donate.  The plan is to clean the equipment and make it available for youth who want to play, but don’t have the funds to buy gear.

“The kids shouldn’t suffer because of poor a economy,” says Nadine Murray, CEO and head of administration for BSPH.

Belanger and Booth will use their hockey experience to make the experience as personal and unique as possible.  They also offer one-on-one player consulting.  The key goal is developing good, young hockey players.

“It’s going to be a positive place to be, no name calling, no ‘you can’t do this’.  It will be helping the kids believe in themselves,” says Belanger.

For more information and updates on Blue Steel Performance Hockey visit the website at www.bluesteelperformancehockey.com.

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You can also see this article in the Niagara Falls Review @ http://nfreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2200200

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