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Terriers alumni team up for hockey camps

Two former Yorkton Terriers have teamed up to offer a unique camp at the Farrell Agencies Arena in Yorkton this week.

Two former Yorkton Terriers have teamed up to offer a unique camp at the Farrell Agencies Arena in Yorkton this week. Derek Serdachny and Lynden Sammartino, who helped the Terriers claim a league championship in 2006, have brought their separate hockey schools together to offer local kids the chance to learn all aspects of hockey.

Serdachny, who runs Serdachny High Performance Power Skating & Hockey camps, started his camps in Yorkton at this time last year. 

“We focus more on the fundamentals of skating,” he explained. “Our goal is to make them faster, stronger, smoother skaters.” 

He said they teach their students technique in stick handling and puck skills, and what kids need to know about being a smart hockey player. For the older age groups, they also work on body contact. 

When he’s not hosting his summer camp, or teaching during the school year, Serdachny also does private lessons and sessions with local teams including the Terriers, and he’s hoping to work with the RawTec Maulers this year as well. He’s made his way out to places like Sturgis and Kamsack to do sessions with their minor hockey programs. 

“I’m trying to stay local. It’s kind of my way of giving back,” he said. 

At this time of year, bulletin boards all around Yorkton are plastered with various hockey camps that are offered before the new season starts. 

Serdachny said what makes his camp different is having instructors who really care about the kids. 

“I think that’s something that’s missing from a lot of camps and it’s something we strive for. Parents appreciate that we show that we really care about their kids’ improvement,” he said. 

Serdachny has instructors around him who are familiar with some of the local kids, and who know how be positive role models. 

Special to this year’s camp was the partnering with Lynden Sammartino Goaltending Consulting. 

“I’m not the biggest goalie specialist, so my goal was to get a goalie coach to Yorkton who knows what they’re talking about,” said Serdachny. That’s why he chose Sammartino, who spent three years as a Yorkton Terrier from 2005-2008 at the same time as Serdachny. 

Sammartino, who lives in British Columbia and works as the Victoria Royals goalie coach during the hockey season, said it didn’t take much convincing for him to come back to Yorkton for the week.

“To come and be able to give back to the young kids of the community – that was the biggest thing that drew me out here,” said Sammartino. He also said it didn’t hurt that he got to see some of his former teammates.

Sammartino has been involved in the hockey world since his days with the Terriers.

“I’ve been running goalie schools for about 10 years since I finished playing in Yorkton, from novice kids up to guys who are in the NHL now,” said Sammartino. 

He said the biggest thing his goalie school offers, especially to the younger kids, is learning the fundamentals of the position and simplifying the game. For the older kids, he focuses on refining the knowledge they already have and advancing from there. 

Both Serdachny and Sammartino agreed that it’s nice to be reunited on the ice at the FAA again. 

“It’s brought back a lot of memories – a lot that I haven’t thought of in a while,” said Sammartino. 

“It’s been fun. I’m pretty excited for the week,” he said on Monday. 

The Serdachny/Sammartino camps wrap up on Friday, August 18.