PLAY Hockey Hub

2024 PRIME Camps: A Resounding Success in Shaping Hockey’s Future Stars!

Written by PLAY Hockey Hub Team | Aug 15, 2024 1:59:49 PM

This August, both the PRIME Blue and White as well as Green and White Camps proved to be an incredible experience for nearly 300 participants from all across North America. From sharpening their skills on the ice to making lifelong friends, our camps have left a lasting impact on everyone involved. 

The 2024 Prime Blue & White Camp hosted 160 players in three groups (2008-2010, 2011 & 2013) at the beautiful Pegula Ice Arena on the campus of Penn State University while the 2024 Prime Green & White Camp hosted 130 players in two age groups (2010 & 2012) in East Lansing, Michigan at the campus of Michigan State University. PLAY Hockey Staff including Nick Betz and Joe Templin administered and organized the events with the help of many key team members.

Nick had this to say about the event “We feel there is a significant value to a young athlete, having the opportunity to spend a long weekend on the campus of a top NCAA Division I hockey program, surrounded by top instructors and talent. Beyond the highly competitive atmosphere of the camp, we bring in professional coaches from various backgrounds to run on and off-ice sessions held in world-class facilities such as Pegula Arena (Penn State) and Munn Arena (Michigan State).”   

According to Joe, “Our on-ice sessions focus heavily on skill development with our position specific skates and team sessions.  We also educate our players through off-ice lectures that consist of video or presentations from nationally recognized organizations like College Hockey Inc. “ He states ”All in all, we feel our camps really stoke the fire that burns within our athletes and shows them an attainable goal that is not that far in their future. I think the most gratifying part of our camps is seeing the reaction of a young prospect when they have their first viewing of the arena or locker room at our camp.  That look of awe is priceless..”

 

Here’s a look at the highlights and successes of this year's camp.

Skill Development and Education

One of our primary goals at every PRIME Camp is to help young athletes improve their hockey skills. This year, we saw remarkable progress:

  • Coaching Excellence: Our talented coaching staff included top tier Coaches and Staff from NCAA Div 1, AHL, USHL, and the U.S. NTDP coaches who provided personalized instruction to each player.
  • Skill Stations: Campers rotated through skill stations focusing on skating, shooting, passing, and puck handling.
  • Scrimmages and Drills: Daily scrimmages and drills not only enhanced the campers' technical abilities but also their understanding of game strategies and teamwork.
  • Off Ice Development : Each Camp includes a minimum of two Classroom Sessions / presentations from nationally recognized organizations like College Hockey Inc..
  • Guest Appearances: Sean Hogan - Executive Director of College Hockey Inc., visited the camp, educating parents and athletes about opportunities that NCAA college hockey provides men and women, both on the ice and in the classroom.
  • Fun Events: Off the ice, campers enjoyed competitive “non-hockey” activities such as Spike Ball, Wiffle Ball and Kickball, which added an extra layer of fun to the camp experience.

Parent Feedback

The feedback from parents and campers has been overwhelmingly positive:

The opportunity to meet so many great families and the experiences for him on and  off the ice is one that our family will never forget!”

“Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the opportunity for my son.  He had a blast and thought it was awesome. He felt it was GREAT hockey and picked up a lot of things as well as made new friends.”

“I just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that the camp was great! Very well run! The boys all seemed to have a great time, made some new friends and it was nice to see that every team ended up with at least 1 winning game.”

Looking Forward

As we wrap up another successful year at PRIME Hockey, we are already planning for next year. We aim to make it even better with more advanced training programs, exciting events, and a continued focus on developing well-rounded athletes and people.

Stay tuned for announcements about next year’s camp dates and registration details. Follow us at @primehockeyna on Instagram or at https://playhockey.com/prime-hockey  for the latest updates and join our community of hockey enthusiasts.

Thank you to all the campers, parents, coaches, and staff who made this year’s PRIME Camps a huge success. We look forward to seeing everyone back on the ice next year!