Above: The mighty M1s! (L-R) Elijah Swanson, Katie Carpenter, Brody Bronikowski, Landon Sheils, Wyatt Clay, Jacob Carpenter. Back: Coach Nate Sheils.
It has been an exciting hockey season for the Cook County Youth Hockey program. The teams began the season in November with practices on the new rink. It quickly became apparent that even though these kids are little that they have a big love for the game of hockey. Every year it is amazing to see how the newest skaters quickly go from using a chair for balance to skating down the ice, developing their skating and stick handling skills.
The M1s and M2s both had a busy schedule, with each team playing in four jamborees throughout the season. They attended jamborees in Duluth, Two Harbors and Silver Bay. At each game these kids have played their little hearts out, with enthusiasm and team work they pass the puck down the ice to their teammates, cheer each other on and learn what it is all about to be part of a team.
The hockey program has been fortunate to have two returning coaches this year. Nate Sheils coaches the M1 team and Pat Pierre is the coach of the M2 team. These men patiently work with their players, encouraging them with stick handling, puck shooting and skating drills to help the players develop the hockey skills that they will need for the games. The kids work hard, and have a great time doing it.
Left: The energetic M2 team has played its heart out this season. (L-R, front) CJ Luehring, Andrew Hallberg, Cy Oberholtzer. (L-R) Patrick Pierre, Ryan Christiansen, John Pierre. In the back is Coach Pat Pierre. (Not pictured Kole Anderson)
It is common to see five or six kids begging to stay after practice to free-skate or keep perfecting the new moves that they have learned at that night’s practice.
Cook County Youth Hockey thanks all of its sponsors for their dedication to Cook County Youth Hockey. Without that support the organization would not be able to offer such a valuable program to our community’s children. Hockey mom Lynn Sheils said, “The sport of hockey not only teaches lifelong wellness and recreational skills but also teaches cooperation, communication and teamwork.”
This year’s generous hockey sponsors include: Grand Marais State Bank, North Shore Federal Credit Union, Grand Portage RTC, Gene’s Foods, Grand Marais Motors, Steve’s Sports, North Shore Mining, Como Oil and Propane, Arrowhead Electric Cooperative and North Shore Oil and Propane.
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