By Kristi Patton /
Okanagan Hockey Academy has their new female Midget program on the right track with the addition of two national team members.
Canadian gold medalist Gina Kingsbury and former women’s national team member Rebecca Russell will make up the coaching staff for the new program during the 2010/11 season. The pair will also run the Okanagan Hockey School’s female prep camp this summer—both of the programs are based out of Penticton.
“The Okanagan is such a beautiful place, I’m excited to make this move out west and join Rebecca for this exciting initiative,” said Kingsbury. “We’re both extremely excited to build the women’s team on the solid foundation of the men’s programs there. The facility and the staff are so great and I have no doubt that this new program will become a leader in women’s hockey in Canada.”
The decorated member of the Canadian women’s national team is fresh off winning a gold medal at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and will take on the role of assistant coach. Russell, who is taking on the task of head coach, played for the U-22 Canadian national team and attended senior national team camps in 2005 and 2007, spent five seasons with the Calgary Oval X-Treme in the WWHL and recently worked as an assistant coach for the Canadian U-22 and University of Calgary women’s teams.
“I’m very excited to join the team at OHS and to be a part of the new female program there. It will be a great thing for women’s hockey and I’m very happy that they’re willing to start this new women’s program,” said Russell.
The OHS’s new female prep camp is for girls born between 1993 and 1997, currently playing at an elite level. The OHA’s new female Midget program is open to girls born between 1993 and 1995, currently playing at a AAA level.
Hockey Canada’s director of female hockey said the programs are great news for female hockey in B.C.
“It is great to see elite players like Gina and Rebecca stay involved in hockey as coaches. This generation of players has a wealth of experience to draw from and I know they will play a large role in growing female hockey in our country for years to come,” said Healy.
Andy Oakes, president of OHS and OHA, said the addition of the women’s programs meets their mandate of encouraging achievement in every player to reach their full potential.
“By branching out into women’s hockey we hope this mandate will help to increase the level of play in Canada,” said Oakes. “The young women that make the decision to join OHA will have the opportunity to work with world-class staff and facilities to enhance their development.”
For more information on the female midget program visit www.hockeyacademy.ca or to sign up for the summer prep camp visit www.hockeyschools.com. |