GPAC Partners With Academy
By JORDAN PARKER
Daily Herald-Tribune
A new partnership with the The Academy will provide hockey players with the Grande Peace Athletics Club new on-the-ice opportunities.
“This season, we have integrated with The Academy. This hybrid program is a pilot project we’re doing together,” said GPAC President Tyler Stojan.
“This will push further development and allow us to compete with bigger clubs.”
He said he’s expecting it to be a huge success.
“We want to create and mould the best hockey players and environment possible. Our players practice in the morning and can now do more to hone their skills,” he said.
“We have new instructors and will have so much help. We now have an arsenal of amazing hockey people, and they’ll be irreplaceable to our kids.”
GPAC also has some pretty exciting events going on its own. The AAA Storm team’s recent game against the Team Canada women’s Olympic hockey squad marked a huge occasion.
There will also be a Bantam AAA All-Star game on Jan. 13, 2018.
“The western league is considered the best, and there will be great draft-eligible players around for the action,” he said.
“Doing these sorts of things is just great exposure for Grande Prairie.”
He said GPAC has managed to grow and strengthen as an organization through the years.
“We have developed coaches and that has translated into the success of the kids. They have gotten competitive, and people are keeping their eye on us,” he said.
“It’s been a long process and a lot of man hours have gone into this. But with a new board it’s been amazing.”
Stojan recently became the new president of GPAC, and is making the most of his new opportunity.
“It’s such a fantastic position. It’s been a lot of work, but there’s been a huge response. Kids in the Peace Region depend on us,” he said.
“I am happy to be surrounded by people involved for the right reasons. We want to push for development of players on and off the ice.”
As for The Academy, Stojan is excited for the opportunity.
“We’re only going to get stronger as the years go by. With this partnership, players don’t need to leave to develop. We have an elite program right here.”
