Nine juniors from Benalla Hockey Club joined in with a great group of 23 junior players in Shepparton on Sunday, February 5 for the first session of the regional North West Lightning Junior Academy for 2023.
Head coach Jamie Pain travelled from Mildura to help out local coaches Xavier McBain and Angus Cole from Strikers, and Lee Manning from Benalla Hockey Club.
The kids hit the ground running with some serious warming up, then remembered their standard hockey skills and learnt some new ones, such as reverse jinking.
Finishing with a double-header drill into Benalla’s Annie Ferguson as goal keeper, the juniors worked hard and all improved throughout the two-hour training session.
The kids involved in the Academy on Sunday came from Benalla, Euroa, Goulburn Valley Grammar, Mooroopna and Strikers Hockey Clubs.
Benalla Hockey Club is hosting a free come and try afternoon on Thursday, March 2, with everyone welcome to borrow some gear and have a go at hockey.
Kids from five to 12 years old are from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, with teens and adults from 6pm to 7pm for a fun hit around.
More information can be found on Facebook at Benalla Hockey, or email benallahockey@gmail.com