The Boulder (Colorado) Hockey Club has been so successful in recent years that it’s “maxed out,” according to Director of Hockey Operations Chis Lockrem. Even if the association wanted to add more players, it simply couldn’t.

Part of the reason the club is “maxed out” has to do with the BHC’s Player Leadership Program.

“Too often, teams put Cs and As on kids’ chests, automatically tag them as leaders, but nobody gives them the tools to lead,” Lockrem said. “Nobody ever sits there and asks ‘How can you be a better leader?’

“In today’s society, you hear about bullying. Nobody gives kids the tools to say ‘I see kids bullying kids. How can I, as a leader, defuse the situation and help out this kid?’”

What the BHC does is separate older kids (e.g., squirts through midgets) into smaller groups and set up skits where kids are asked what they would have done in certain situations.

Next, the kids act out how they would defuse the situation.

“One of our biggest things is we’re not only teaching kids hockey but also how to be valuable members of society,” Lockrem said. “Obviously you learn these things through sports.”

Another point of success for the BHC is utilizing USA Hockey’s American Development Model.

“We’re firm believers in hockey requiring a multitude of different skills,” Lockrem said. “We’re firm believers in the American Development Model. More kids have more touches with the puck. It’s done wonders for us.

“People ask us how can you keep 75 kids on one ice surface and they’re constantly moving? Well, they’re constantly moving so they don’t have time to get distracted.”

As part of embracing the ADM, the Boulder Hockey Club also converted parents who initially doubted its benefits. The proof was easy to see.

“Our players are touching the puck more often,” Lockrem said. “If you didn’t have the ADM and you have that one great player, others wouldn’t be touching the puck. It’s easier to say to Joey, ‘Take the puck up the ice.’ But that wouldn’t really be helping Joey or the other kids.”

At times the BHC has as many as six stations on the ice with three involving games that also teach skills.

“They learn how to pass a soccer ball into the net,” said Lockrem. “They’re learning how to stop and start and be agile. They’re learning puck support, moving through space, creating 2-on-1s.

“They’re learning skills but don’t realize it, because they’re playing a game.”

Try-hockey-for-free sessions also have enabled the BHC to attract kids who might not be all that familiar with the sport.        

“It’s enabled us to get more kids involved on one sheet of ice and makes it more affordable for kids to play hockey,” Lockrem said. “Every time a kid tries it, he has fun, and having fun correlates to long-term participation.

“We use all the marketing tools that USA Hockey provides to hold these events. Some kids don’t feel it’s a viable sport. But, now, we show them it’s a great sport.”

In order to accommodate the growing number kids who want to play for the BHC, the organization is in the process of building another arena, which will enable it to continue expanding, while at the same time practicing and playing at Boulder Valley Ice.        

The Boulder Hockey Club is fielding 16 travel teams ranging from squirt C through midget major AA. And this doesn’t include 8U, where the focus is on introducing fundamental skills..

One of the underlying factors for the BHC’s ongoing success is its dedicated staff.

“You can’t underestimate the quality and passion of our staff,” Lockrem said. “They enjoy the game and realize the benefits that are given to our kids. The passion of our staff gets kids excited.        

“They’re excited to get on the ice. That’s why there’s a passion in our club for kids to play the game.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.