This past weekend, the Yellowknife Ice Volleyball Club reached an exciting milestone — we held our first-ever Summer Camp, and it was an incredible three days of volleyball, learning, and connection.

Hosted at the Sir John gym, the camp brought together 24 players from across the Northwest Territories and beyond. We were especially excited to welcome two athletes from Hay River, and one player who happened to be in town from British Columbia!

Over the course of three full days, the gym was alive with energy. The players brought an impressive level of focus, competitiveness, and heart to every session. Whether it was drills, gameplay, or team discussions, they showed up ready to work, learn, and push themselves and each other to get better.

What stood out most was the willingness to be coached. Players asked a lot of great questions, embraced feedback, challenged themselves, and responded with effort and enthusiasm. It’s not easy to make noticeable improvement in just a few days, but that’s exactly what we saw. The growth in skills, communication, confidence, and overall play was impressive. This is only the tip of the iceberg for what these players are capable of.

As coaches, it was a joy to work with this group. Their positivity, competitiveness, and willingness to make changes created a great environment to learn and grow. The future of volleyball in the North is bright, and this weekend only confirmed that.

A big thank you to all the players who attended, to their families for supporting them, and to everyone who helped make this camp possible. We’re proud of what we accomplished together and we’re already looking forward to what’s next.