View a photo gallery from the camp.

At Winterhawks Skating Center in late July, hockey players could be found participating in on-ice practices, games, dryland training workouts, video sessions and visits from guest speakers.

Was it early training camp for the Winterhawks?

Actually, they were hockey players from ages 6-14 taking part in the annual Portland Winterhawks Hockey School.

For five days, close to 90 kids were immersed in all aspects of hockey, both on and off the ice. Led by Winterhawks Assistant Coach Kyle Gustafson, Winterhawks players Taylor Peters, Brad Ross and Seth Swenson, prospects Brayden Low and Adam Smith, as well as numerous local coaches, the week-long camp is designed to give players a head start in their upcoming season.

“We go into the camp with two goals: make the kids better hockey players, but more importantly, make it fun,” said Gustafson. “As has been the case every year, we feel we were successful on both fronts. We saw great improvement in the kids’ skills during the week, and we had terrific response from the kids and their parents.”

“This is the second year we’ve done it. We come up from Klamath Falls for the week and it’s a great school,” said Kevin Heaton, father of two kids in the camp. “The instructor-to-kid ratio is phenomenal and the guys teaching them give 100% effort to the kids and are really patient…They get not only the ice time, but the video (sessions), talks, guest speakers, dryland drills, conditioning. I think it’s a very rounded course and they do a really good job for the kids.”

On the ice, kids worked on a variety of skills. Along with the hockey camp staples like passing and stickhandling, they also went over transition breakouts, defensive positioning and much more. Those new skills were then put to use in everyone’s favorite part of the camp: games.

And while on-ice work was important, the team also wants to show kids how much goes into being a hockey player. That’s where the other aspects of the camp, like dryland training and video work, come in.

“We don’t just throw pucks on the ice and let the kids go at it,” said Gustafson. “We’re trying to immerse kids in everything that goes into being a successful hockey player, even up to including tips on nutrition and fitness.”

The emphasis on nutrition and fitness is an important component of the educational aspect of the camp, with guest speakers coming in specifically to talk about those subjects.

The camp has grown every year, and draws hockey players from as far away as Alaska, California, and even Missouri. In addition to the overall hockey experience, part of the appeal is the participation of the Winterhawks’ players, who came up going to camps themselves.

“It’s my second year here (at Winterhawks Hockey School) and it seems like the kids really enjoy coming out and skating with the Hawks,” said Peters. “I did camps when I was young and they really pay off.”

In addition to the current players, former Hawks are part of the camp too. Winterhawks alumnus, former NHL player and current Boston Bruins Assistant General Manager Jim Benning had his son enrolled in the camp and came away impressed.

“It’s great for the kids. Their skills get better, the instructors are good so overall I think Kyle and the staff do a great job. The kids get better as the week goes on,” said Benning.

With the camp growing each summer, parents won’t want to miss out on the 2012 edition. Details will come later in the year, and you’ll want to make sure you sign up early and save your spot.