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The Edmonton Oilers and Cenovus Energy teamed up Monday to host the highly anticipated Edmonton Oilers Hockey Clinic. Over 300 minor hockey coaches from across Oil Country gathered at the Sutton Place Hotel to hear an array of speakers from the Oilers, Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta, sharing advice, tips and drills for grassroots hockey.

“I think any good coach will identify

Oilers Coach Tom Renney was one of the many speakers at Monday's Coaches Clinic

with those areas of the game that a player needs to improve on because at the end of the day, all a player wants is ‘help me get better coach, help me improve and allow me to do this for a long time and enjoy the game because of it,’” said Oilers Head Coach Tom Renney.

The free, one-day clinic presented by Cenovus Energy featured interactive sessions and the opportunity to gain valuable developmental experience from the pros. Guest speakers included Oilers Head Coach Tom Renney, Alumni and four-time Stanley Cup champion Grant Fuhr, General Manager Steve Tambellini, Oilers Skating and Skills Coach Steve Serdachny, Goaltending Coach Frederic Chabot, Kevin Bathurst (Hockey Canada) and Dave Brown (Hockey Alberta).

Along with the presentations, the participants were exposed to drill and technique demonstrations and were encouraged to ask questions.

“I know we were talking with my co-coaches that are here and we’re going to be using some of the drills we learned today at practice tomorrow,” said Brad Budinski, Coach of the Sherwood Park Outlaws. “I brought a couple more people with me this year because I enjoyed it so much last year.”

While the day was filled with an abundance of hockey knowledge, the minor hockey coaches weren’t the only ones walking away with something gained. Oilers General Manager Steve Tambellini summed up his thoughts on the clinic.

“This is the rewarding part when you get a chance to speak to people that are giving back their time from a grassroots level of hockey to our young players, boys and girls, that are interested in the game. It’s such a significant part of these young players’ lives when you have a coach that cares about not only the preparation but just putting you in a spot where you enjoy it and enjoy coming to the rink and being with your teammates. I applaud all those people that put in time with our youth.”