Each participant takes part in a 15 minute interview, in front of scouts, managers and psychologists to ensure they are mentally ready for the demands of the NHL. There is also the physical testing that each player must complete.  The players are run through a variety of exercises designed to test the athletes strength, stamina and explosiveness. Some of the test include the Wingate Cycle Ergometer (peek power output), VO2 Max testing, Body Composition, Long Jump, Vertical Jump, Curl-ups, Grip strength, Bench press, Push-ups and Push/Pull strength.

Walters who currently plays for the Everett Silver Tips is currently ranked 69th by central scouting.  The 6.01″ 195 pound defenseman from St. Albert has just completed his 2nd year with the Tips scoring 6 goals and adding 12 assists. Troock, ranked 67th, plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds has also completed his second year.  Troock, a 6.03″ 203 pound forward, from Edmonton played 58 games with the T-Bird’s and scored 14 goals and added 12 assists.  Troock was also a member of Canada U-18 National team.  Congratulations to both Nick and Branden on there accomplishments and best of luck at the Combine and Draft.

The STM Hockey Academy would like to Congratulate Brayden Burke and Cole Gammer on being selected in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.  Burke was selected 145th by the Red Deer Rebels. Gammer was selected 197th by the Tri-City Americans. Both Burke and Gammer played for the CAC Bantam AAA team in Edmonton and both have been apart of the STM Hockey Academy for the last 3 years. The WHL Bantam Draft selects the top players 97 born players in Western Canada.

The STM Hockey Academy has had a number of WHL Drafted players in the past.  Some of those player currently play for WHL teams.  Branden Troock who currently plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds recently represented Canada with the U18 National team. Troock is also currently ranked 67th in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Nick Walters another STM Alumni was selected by Everett and has just finished his second year with the Silver Tips. Walters is also an NHL Draft prospect as he is currently ranked 69th.  Just last year STM had two players drafted Micheal Zipp (Everett) and Cameron Hughes (Swift Current).

 The players participating will have the opportunity to showcase there talents to the Hockey Alberta Staff in hopes of being selected to move on to the U-16 summer selection camp.  They will also be playing in front of a variety of scouts from the WHL, AJHL and NCAA.  

Along with the students one of the STM Staff members will be coaching again this year.  Dan Glegloff will be head coach of Alberta’s Northwest Team.  This is Dan’s second year as head coach and third year in the program.  Good luck to Dan and all the students participating.  Make sure you checkout the game which are broad casted on line at: http://www.hockeyalberta.ca/albertacup.

KC: What’s your favourite part of coming to STM?
CK: Going to the hockey academy in the afternoon. It’s also pretty good to get to come to see my friends every day.

KC: What’s your traditional game day routine?
CK: Before the game I normally go outside and take 50 shots right before the game, and we warm up by running around the rink and stretching.

KC: What do you like to do on off days?
CK: Play video games or go swimming or skiing.

KC: What’s your favourite food?
CK: Ribs.

KC: How many ribs do you eat in one setting?
CK: Normally just half a rack.

KC: Pick a hockey player in the NHL who you emulate and tell me why?
CK: Ryan Smyth, just because he’s a great sport and he knows where to go, he’s always at the play before it’s there.

KC: You’ve been in the academy for year and half now, what’s one thing you’d like to continue developing in 2012?
CK: My puck-handling, I want to get back into regular hockey.

WB: Congratulations Brett on being selected POTM for March. How do you feel about the award?
BG: I feel good and very happy I received it.

WB: What are your thoughts on it being Pittsburgh?
BG: Its ok, I would rather of have a Chicago Jersey.

WB: Now Brett, why Chicago?
BG: They are my favorite team, I like the players and the way they play.

WB: Where are you currently playing hockey?
BG: Yes, I am currently playing hockey on a 3 on 3 team, with all my buddies.

WB: What do you think about STM?
BG: I love the Academy especially playing hockey in the afternoon’s

WB: Now, Brett what do you do to get ready for a game?
BG: Well I usually rest and have a meal.

WB: Do you have any specific pre-game meal?
BG: Usually Pasta, usually any kind, I am not picky.

WB: Well Brett, thank you for your time.  I look forward to having more interviews in the future.

KC: What’s your traditional game day routine?
JG: I drink some kind of fruit juice, yogurt to get prepared. I eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it keeps me awake.

KC: What do you like to do on off days?
JG: I would play my xbox, we have an outdoor skating rink to go to. I go play dodgeball every Friday too.

KC: What’s your favourite food?
JG: Those apple-pear things, what are they called, Asian pears? I think? I like those.

KC: Pick a hockey player in the NHL who you emulate and tell me why?
JG: Sidney Crosby because he likes to play hockey and I heard him say that he used to imagine what it would be like to do something he loved to do and get paid for it.

KC: You’ve been in the academy for half a year now, what’s one thing you’d like to continue developing in 2012?
JG: Faster skating, everytime I go on the ice I’ll just keep trying to improve.

KC: What’s your traditional game day routine?
RH: Have an hour, half-hour snooze, I eat spaghetti, and then I listen to music in the car on the way to the game. Just thinking about the game the whole day.

KC: What do you like to do on off days?
RH: Go downstairs and watch TV on the couch. Or go down to the pond and play hockey.

KC: Any actual hobbies outside of hockey?
RH: I play lacrosse. Does floorball count?

KC: Sure buddy.
RH: My brother and I play floorball in the basement.

KC: What’s your favourite food?
RH: Hot wings.

KC: Pick a hockey player in the NHL who you emulate and tell me why?
RH: Patrick Kane because he’s always got his head up and he’s always moving and he has good hands.

KC: You bring a fun and positive attitude to school every day, is this a conscious choice you made at some point?
RH: I just want to be like that, I guess. I don’t know, you get to see your friends every day and you have time to fool around with your friends.

KC: You’ve been in the academy for half a year now, what’s on thing you’d like to continue developing in 2012?
RH: Backwards skating. Every time we do it I’ll try my best and I’ll try defense out in some of the drills.

KC: Would you mind elaborating on that a little bit?
TH: It’s just fun, I get to do something that I love everyday, I get to improve on my skills. I’m not in class, I get to be on the ice in the afternoon.

KC: What’s your traditional game day routine?
TH: It depends if it’s on a weekday, just wake up and go to school, do what I have to do at school, go on the ice at school. Then I’d go home after, watch TV for a little bit, eat something, go to sleep, wake up, get ready and drive to the game.

KC: What do you like to do on off days? Are you a gamer?
TH: Yeah, I’m a gamer, NHL12. I’m trying to play COD right now too.

KC: Any actual hobbies other than video games?
TH: I don’t know, watching TV, some days I train for track, other days I just sleep.

KC: What’s your favourite food?
TH: I’d have to go with steak.

KC: Pick a hockey player in the NHL who you emulate and tell me why.
TH: I’d have to go with Ovechkin because he’s so exciting and he always does something out there to create energy for his team.

KC: Well said. You bring a positive attitude to school every day, is this a conscious choice you made at some point?
TH: I just try to be myself, there’s no point in being negative.

KC: You’ve been in the academy for half a year now, what’s one thing you’d like to continue developing in 2012?
TH: My skills.

KC: All of them?
TH: Yeah, all of them, there’s always room for improvement.