Flames Practice Fighting Techniques

“As we did in the past years, we’re just trying to teach the kids to defend themselves,” head coach Bob Hartley explained after practice. “That’s what we’re trying to teach our young players.”

The players – which included centres Paul Byron and Corbin Knight, right winger Ben Hanowski and left winger Trevor Gillies – paired up and sparred under the watch of an outside instructor and threw punches without the intent to connect.

Hartley added that the purpose of the instruction wasn’t to use them as an aggressor or fight instigator. “If you’re going to drop your gloves you have to know the dangers,” he said.