Game action on Wednesday at the Bert Hunt Arena for the end of the program's semester.

Just finishing up their third season, the Hockey Canada Skills Academy here in Moose Jaw continues to grow and give the opportunity to sharpen or learn hockey skills for kids that may not normally get the chance.

53 students from the schools on South Hill in the Prairie South School Division took part in the program this year, ranging from grade four up to grade 12, and of all varying degree of hockey skill.

“It's really growing,” said Jeff Kitts, a teacher at Riverview Collegiate and one of the instructors for the program.  “This year we expanded to grades four, five and six, so we're up 53 (students).”

Wednesday afternoon was the third annual year-end game with the young elementary group hitting the ice first and then the junior and senior groups taking to the ice after for the only game of the season the kids play.

“It's a celebration of the success from throughout the semester,” said Kitts.  “It's (also) a celebration of the program because the kids put in a lot of time and a lot of organization goes into it, so we just want to give everybody a pat on the back.”

Game action on Wednesday at the Bert Hunt Arena for the end of the program's semester.

Over the three years of the program so far, it's given kids that have never had the opportunity to play organized hockey the chance to suit and learn new skills, while kids that do play minor hockey get those added hours on the ice to hone their skills and add new ones as well.

“From the hockey kids that are registered in minor hockey, we see a lot of development through them and their stick skills get worked on,” said Kitts.  “We've got probably 15 kids this year that strapped on the skates for the first time and can now skate backwards, forwards, pass the puck, stick handle and all those skills that are necessary.”

Brandon Harris, a grade 11 student at Riverview, has been taking part in the program for all three years and never played organized hockey before signing up for the class.

“You really learn how to play,” said Harris.  “You don't learn how to properly shoot or properly hip check someone out on the outdoor rinks... I always liked to play hockey outside in the outdoor rink and I thought this would be more fun and I actually got to learn.”

Harris is just one example of the kids that have gone through the program in the three years.

There's also players like Kate Scidmore, who played hockey for years before taking the program the last two years in grade seven and eight.  She's now playing hockey with the Swift Current Wildcats in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League.

“It's improved my game immensely,” said Scidmore.  “I can honestly say that it's helped me get (to Swift Current).”

Scidmore is leading the team in scoring with seven goals and is sitting second on the team with 12 points.

Game action on Wednesday at the Bert Hunt Arena for the end of the program's semester.

The students will get about 60 hours of on-ice work throughout the semester with the class counting as a credit at the students' school, whether that be Empire, Westmount or Riverview.

“Typically your on-ice session is we get on the ice, go through warmups, we'll work on skill based activities, move into some drills that will get some team work and then we like to get some type of game simulation going,” said Kitts.  “The programs not about games, but eventually you need to learn how to do a face-off and that sort of thing.”

Kitts added however that the biggest draw for the kids is getting to spent part of their day at the rink with their friends.

“The kids love it, for them they get away from the school, for your elementary kids they get away from that classroom environment and into something unique,” he said.  “For all the kids it becomes their team, even though its a class, it's their team.  They get over here and they get to see the team and get on the ice with the team.”