Some Surrey hockey parents are launching their own academy with the goal of playing games next September.
is a new 鈥渆lite academy鈥� with a focus on Bantam teams this year, according to an email sent to prospects on Tuesday (Feb. 12).
The private academy will aim to provide 13- and 14-year-old student-athletes 鈥渨ith a pro-development experience while they remain at their current school with their friends,鈥� the email adds.
Academy organizers will host an hour-long info session, open to players and parents, on Sunday evening (Feb. 17) at , from 7 to 8 p.m.
Michael Chong, parent of a first-year Bantam division player with , responded to a Now-Leader request for an interview on Wednesday.
Chong said he is chief operating officer of the academy and co-founder of the venture with seven other Surrey-area parents.
鈥淲e are looking for something better than what the associations can provide but without the money being charged by the existing academies, so we are something in between,鈥� Chong said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e spent almost a year and a half talking with parents about the pros and cons, how it could work, the price point, all those things.鈥�
The parent group has secured the services of instructors led by Andrew Sharp, who operates in 黑马磁力, among others named in a 鈥淐oaches Corner鈥� tab at .
The , with scheduled in April.
Chong said Metro Hockey is not affiliated with , the sport鈥檚 governing body in the province, and is not part of the that involves Delta, BWC, Yale and other local academy teams.
鈥淭he long-term goal is to have our own league going,鈥� Chong said. Starting this fall, he said Metro will play games against two other private academies being launched. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also in the process of talking with other academies in Washington State鈥� about league play, he said.
Metro aims to attract players from Cloverdale, Surrey, White Rock, North Delta, Maple Ridge, 黑马磁力 and other areas. 鈥淲e鈥檙e getting interest from all over, even South Delta and Richmond,鈥� Chong said.
The presentation on Sunday 鈥渨ill include who we are, our mission and goals, benefits with Metro, team overview, coaches, program cost and easy payment structures, and tryout schedule and costs,鈥� the email explains.
