The back to back weeks of Reebok Minnesota Hockey High Performance 15 Boys' and Girls' Summer Festivals are underway, and the top 15 year old boys’ hockey players in Minnesota are tearing it up at the recently renamed Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on the St. Cloud State University campus.

The Reebok Minnesota Hockey High Performance 15 Summer Festivals provide the top players in Minnesota the opportunity to train and compete against players of similar age and skill level for an entire week.  The boys’ camp started on Saturday, June 8th and will run through Thursday, June 13th. Then, the ladies get their turn as the girls’ summer camp will be held June 15-20. 

“In terms of the friendships they make and the overall hockey experience, this camp is like no other these kids will experience as a youth hockey player,” said HP 15 Boys Program Manager, Scott Dornfeld. “Our coaches and counselors are always excited about coming to camp. They know how great an experience it is for these kids because some of them participated in it not so long ago, and others have been helping with it for almost 20 years.”

During the camp, the players follow a fairly similar schedule each day.  They have two ice sessions, usually a practice in the morning and a game in the afternoon or evening.  In between on-ice sessions, players are exposed to a variety of other activities ranging from a Rag Ball tournament (a modified version of softball) to dry land training.

“There’s a lot more to this camp than just on-ice training,” said Dornfeld, who has been helping with the camp for the past nine years. “We also take the time to educate these kids on what to expect from the recruiting process, NCAA eligibility and this year they will get to try out the Hockey IntelliGym.”

Throughout the camp, the players and coaches focus in on developing every aspect of their game.  Even away from the ice and education sessions, the players are constantly in learning environment.  Camp counselors are brought in from various colleges and can provide the players with insight into the next level of hockey.

"These players are not only getting to interact and perform in front of college coaches and scouts, but they have the chance to talk with current college players," said HP 15 Girls Program Manager, Nancy Wefler. "The ability to get that first hand information from someone experiencing it right now has a big impact on these girls."

By developing these players’ physical and mental game, the HP 15 Summer Festivals helps prepares them to take the next step in their hockey careers.  The camp can also act as a catalyst for additional development opportunities as it is used to select the players and alternates who represent Minnesota at the USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp in Amherst, NY on July 14-20. 

Player selected for the national camp will also have the opportunity to participate in the Herb Brooks National Prep Camp.  The prep camp is held July 9-12th in Blaine, MN to prepare them for the competition they will face at the national camp.

For more information on the Reebok Minnesota Hockey High Performance 15 Summer Festivals, visit the Boys’ and Girls’ web pages on the Minnesota Hockey website.