Sports

Former Bruin Running Youth Hockey Skill Camps

Young players can learn from Lynnfield native Ken Hodge, Jr.

Some of the area's next generation of hockey players will be building their skills with help from Lynnfield native and former NHL player Ken Hodge, Jr.

Hodge has begun running a hockey skills camp out of Peabody's McVann skating rink, focusing particularly on groups of about 20-25 younger players aged 6-10. The skills camps, one of which just started this week, will run in 10-week sessions, and Hodge indicated that walk-ons are welcome.

"I'm dipping my toe in the water to check it out and see what kind of response I would get out of this," Hodge told Lynnfield Patch.

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Players will be working on their edge work, side work, puck handling, and many other hockey skills with Hodge. The former NHL player credits current Chicago Blackhawks skating coach Paul Vincent, also a Massachusetts resident, with helping him build up the skills and insights needed to teach young players.

Those who would like to participate in Hodge's hockey sessions or learn more can email him at khodge10@yahoo.com.

Find out what's happening in Lynnfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A Distinguished Hockey History

Hodge is a Lynnfield native who graduated from St. John's Prep in Danvers in 1984 and who currently resides in Newburyport. He was drafted number 46 overall that year by the Minnesota North Stars, and made his NHL debut with that team in 1988.

From there, Hodge played for the Bruins between 1990 and 1992, scoring 30 goals and 29 assists his first year on the team. He also played the 1992-93 season for the Tampa Bay Lightning and was a member of various IHL and AHL hockey teams during a professional career that spanned more than a decade.

Hodge's father, Ken Sr., a longtime Lynnfield resident, also played nine seasons for the Bruins in a 300+ goal career that included time with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and other teams.


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