There’s no ice yet in Central Otago, but Alexandra Flames junior players have already started training for the season.

A youth development coaching clinic with the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation (NZIHF) was hosted in Dunedin last weekend for players from age seven through to 18, who were invited to take part from all over the country.

Featuring coaches from USA Hockey, this was the third time NZIHF was able to fund the American coaches to come out to New Zealand to help up-and-coming players, coaching co-ordinator AJ Spiller said.

Alexandra Ice Skating Club’s kiwiskate coach Rebecca Cowley also attended with her three children who play ice hockey, and her skills as a former figure skating competitor have proved valuable at helping the younger players with power and refining their edges.

Last season she swapped her skates after a young player challenged her to do the same tricks with ice hockey skates on.

“I can bring the skills from figure skating into ice hockey and teach them how to increase their power, agility and balance, while I learn the game play and the drills from our visiting American coaches.”

In season, she spends an extra four hours a week in Alexandra teaching ice hockey players how to have speed, and control on the ice, and other clubs have now come calling.

Rebecca’s been asked to help at future youth development camps in Tekapo and Queenstown for some private power and edge classes in coming months, as her skills have started to become recognised.

The best ice hockey players have also been taught how to use their edges properly, and those who completed kiwiskate programmes were at a distinct advantage, she said.

Rebecca, who is also a keen snowboarder, skier and snowblader, said there was simply not enough winter for her to be involved in everything she loves - as well as being a mother, berry grower and bakery owner with her husband Joel.

“If I had to choose one thing and do it all the time, being on the ice with children would be it.”

But, don’t make her choose between teaching figure skating (kiwiskate) and ice hockey. That would be like favouring one child over another.

“It fills me with joy being on the ice,” she said.

Last season she taught 3000 kids how to skate through the Central Otago primary schools programme, and now adding ice hockey onto that, her winter’s looking pretty full.

Alexandra’s IceInline plans to open its rink with the new roof for an extended two-week season from May 10.