Keewatin Patricia school board students learning more than just hockey

The Keewatin Patrica District School Board is crediting hockey for helping students to succeed.

The board recently expanded a Hockey Canada skills program to schools in Kenora, Sioux Lookout and Dryden. Students head to the rink and learn to play hockey during the school day.

Board spokesperson Scott Urquhart said the program is teaching young people valuable lessons.

"Hockey is a vehicle to get to many other things," he said.

"Really, you're getting to things like initiative, goal setting, getting along with others as well as mentorship."

Urquhart said about 300 students are taking part in the program and, for many, this is their first time playing the sport.

They brought in the program because they were looking at student engagement, participation, and looked at the skills academy as a way to have kids participate.

"When you go to the rink, it's pretty special and amazing to see kids and the involvement that they have," Urquhart said.

"We're seeing things like improved attendance [and]  relationship development. We're seeing all of the early indicators of all of the kinds of things that we're trying to do everyday in our schools."

Every season, thousands of young players take part in a Hockey Canada Skills Academy, combining hockey with their education. There are more than 100 Hockey Canada Skills Academies across Canada, from Port Alberni, B.C to St. Johns, N.L.