You may think Team Canada only has hockey on the mind at the World Under-18 Championship in Finland.

But that isn’t the case.

Since 2002, Hockey Canada has brought an education consultant along with the team to the tournament, to help the 17 and 18-year-olds keep on top of school work from the almost three weeks of class they’ll miss.

This year is no different, as Allan Matthews is part of Team Canada’s staff at the tournament. Matthews will organize at least six study halls over the course of Canada’s pre-tournament camp and the 11-day event.

“They’ll have at least six sessions and we’re encouraging them to use their down time to read and work on this as well,” Matthews says in the lobby of the Sokos Hotel Ilves in Tampere. “The policy group feels it’s very important that they not lose out on their education because of coming to this tournament.”

Matthews adds that teachers from schools across Canada have helped by giving the players homework for the trip. Some of them have tests to write, others have Hamlet to read – not an easy task on the best of days, so you can imagine how hard it can be when you’re playing in a world championship.

» 2007 World Men's Under-18 Championship