Student Athletes, LPS Director of Education Sherri-Lynne Pharand, and Thunder Bay Kings President Brent Rau - (CJ Goater/Acadia Broadcasting)
Lakehead Public Schools is launching a hockey academy pilot program.
LPS Edge: Excellence in Hockey and Academic Skills Academy is getting underway in September and it is initially being offered for students who will be entering Grade 9 at that time.
“This pilot program is the latest in a number of pathways to graduation (that) Lakehead Public Schools continues to offer for students who want to focus on their passion and specialized skills without sacrificing a quality, well-rounded education,” said Director of Education Sherri-Lynne Pharand. “LPS Edge will allow students to reach their full potential both on the ice and off academically in a safe, supervised environment, and we know the program will be as successful as the achievements of the students participating.”
The program is being offered to a total of 60 co-ed students during the 2025-2026 school year.
“It will be hosted at Hammarskjold High School beginning in September for Semester One, and in Semester Two, beginning in February, it will be held at Westgate CVI,” added Pharand.
The partner helping operate the program is the Thunder Bay Kings Hockey Club.
The club will be providing coaches to assist.
“The Thunder Bay Kings are very excited to partner with LPS in offering the on-ice instruction component of the LPS Edge: Excellence in Hockey and Academics,” said Thunder Bay Kings’ President Brent Rau. “It is so important to provide students with opportunities to focus on their sport of choice, allowing them to hone their skills to reach their hockey dreams.”
Eligible students will participate in a total of 80 to 100 hours of on-ice instruction.
On-ice learning, along with skills development and strength conditioning, will count as two physical education credits toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
The rest of the credits will be taken in a typical classroom setting.
The hope is that students will be on the ice for two to three days a week.
“So it’s not focused on the games and the tournaments,” explained Pharand. “Not to say we won’t have some of those, but its intention really is skill development and growth, so it’s for athletes who really wish to hone their hockey skills.
The hope is to expand the program to support students’ entire high school journey.
“As long as our students are finding the program beneficial to them and are enjoying the program, that it has the high standards that we expect of all of our courses and that they are successful in all of their Grade 9 credits, not just the phys-ed credit,” explained Pharand. “Then those are indicators that we would be able to and be looking to expand grade 10 through 12 as well.”
The school board plans on releasing more information on the registration process in the near future.
