Growing hockey league supports talented young athletes in Winnipeg

Two elite hockey academies that play in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) are battling it out in Winnipeg.

The CSSHL provides student-athletes across the country a chance at making it to the next level.

“It is school-based, and that’s our main focus is we’re building not just athletes, but students,” explained Jeff Borse, the head coach of U17 RINK Hockey Academy in Winnipeg.

Atticus Cruz, a centre for the U17 team added, “RINK is a great opportunities for development, it really pushes you to get to the next level, development in the gym with the coaches with the environment is awesome. And how everything is scheduled to school in the morning, then come to the rink and put the work in, I think it’s awesome.”

RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg first joined the league in 2016. Since then it has expanded to having five boys’ teams and one girls’ team.

It provides Winnipeg hockey prospects a specialized schedule with school from 8-12, and then hockey training from 12-4:30, allowing flexibility to juggle sports and studies.

“What we’ve found is the structure, that’s put in place for these athletes gives them routine day after day.  And we’ve found that they can compartmentalize and focus on their school when they need to and on their hockey and training when they need to,” said Borse.

“Winnipeg hockey players aren’t the only ones benefitting, the league features like-minded academies from all across Canada, offering similar flexibility.”

Jacob Kuntz, a forward with the Edge School Mountaineers in Calgary says, “They keep us rolling like whenever we’re away, like I know we go some places like Montreal for a week, and we’re gone in February, so we just always have to be on top, and our teachers know that so they give us a leeway on our homework and due dates, and its really well run.”

Cruz added, “They give help at the rink here, if we need help with school work they give us time, we’ll get tutors, and yeah it’s really set up well.”

And the support in the classroom allows the athletes to focus on their game, so they can try to reach their lofty personal goals.

“Next step just thinking either Blizzard, like MJ, going to the DUB, or just here U18 prep would be unreal. And coaches here in the gym really pushing me is helping me a ton,” said Cruz.