DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Dozens of Central Illinois kids are working on their hockey skills this week at the Decatur Civic Center.
The camp is run by the Decatur Blaze and Blaze Head Coach and Owner Zac Pearson.
"I want them to come here and have fun. That's why I preach everything they do, I do with them," Pearson said. "The other thing is is I want them to learn things they haven't learned before."
Pearson played Division I and professional hockey before becoming a coach, going on to coach at various professional levels.
"Just having someone who's played at those high levels to teach them little nuances that they haven't had before [is valuable]," Pearson said.
All week long, the kids are going through full days of on ice work, video breakdowns, off ice workouts, to eventually back on the ice. It is meant to mirror the days of a professional hockey player.
"These kids are also going to see a little taste of what, if they were to play for me, are going to see," Pearson said. "We're doing full days, and a lot of these kids, they're tired. So, it's kind of a wake-up call for them to see if they really want to do something with hockey; this is the kind of commitment you have to put in."
The Decatur Blaze has 13 home games coming up this season at the Decatur Civic Center.
You can find tickets and a schedule by clicking here.
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