A Look Inside Bob Hartley’s “High Intensity Hockey Camp”

Bob Hartley runs his camp at York City Ice Arena (Photo by Kyle Mace)

At first glance the York (PA) City Ice Arena’s rink looked like it was simply holding a summer time hockey camp. There is no indication that the man running the camp has some incredible coaching credentials. This week, Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley is running his annual Bob Hartley High Intensity Hockey Camp. Hartley coached the Hershey Bears to their eighth Calder Cup title in 1997. He still loves Central Pennsylvania returns every year for his camp

“I’m trying to get across my passion. I love this game. This game has been so good for me. It’s basically given me everything I have. Not only is it a great game on the ice, you meet so many great people. With hockey camp we meet great parents and great kids. Some of my former players have come back like Eric Perrin and Paul Jerrard. The York City Ice Arena is a wonderful facility. It’s easy to run a good camp. These kids have a chance to meet other kids from Canada, Switzerland and from all over the United States. It’s a life experience”

Hartley is returning to the NHL after an absence of five years. After winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001, Hartley went onto coach the Atlanta Thrashers from 2003 until the start of the 2007 season when he was fired after an 0-6 start. He went onto a career as a tv commentator with RDS in Canada before becoming Head Coach of the ZSC Lions in Switzerland, where he won the National League A title last season.

Now Hartley is back in the NHL reunited with his former Hershey President, now Calgary GM Jay Feaster. “It’s great. It’s the best league in the world. I had lots of fun in Switzerland. It was a great year. We won the championship in game seven with 2.5 seconds left. It was a great cultural experience. Plus the hockey is totally different. To be in Calgary, with Jay Feaster, my [President] who I won a Calder Cup with in Hershey, I think we have a great partnership. He’s one of my best friends and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Hartley is hoping to take the next step with Calgary. The Flames just missed out on the playoffs, losing the 8th seed to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles.

“I think that’s great motivation for us. The Kings finished five points ahead of us. They took the last spot and here they are Stanley Cup Champs. We have a great core of players and some great kids coming up. Calgary is a great hockey community. There is no way we are going to miss the playoffs for four straight years.”