CALGARY, Alta. – Shattuck-St. Mary’s School has won its second consecutive World Sport School Challenge gold medal, defeating the Czech Republic’s national under-17 team 3-0 in the Prep Division gold medal game, while Okanagan Hockey Academy is the first-ever Varsity Division gold medallist after a 5-2 win over Rothesay Netherwood School.

Both games were played Wednesday at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

In the Prep Division gold medal game, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, Minn.) got a 27-save shutout from Anthony Brodeur and a goal and an assist from Ryan Norman to remain undefeated all time at the tournament and hand the Czechs their first loss. Brett Boeing and Alex Rodriguez had the other goals for Shattuck, which did all of its scoring in the first period.

In the Varsity Division gold medal game, Okanagan Hockey Academy (Penticton, B.C.) avenged its lone loss of the tournament, getting two goals and an assist from Brett Young and three assists from Max Fritz to beat Rothesay Netherwood (Rothesay, N.B.). Erik Hamelin, Daniel Nault and Drew Carter also had goals for Okanagan, which scored three times in the third period to break open a 2-2 game.

In Wednesday’s bronze medal games, Germany’s national under-17 team beat the Edge School for Athletes (Calgary, Alta.) in the Prep Division, while the Edge School for Athletes (Gold) beat Banff Hockey Academy (Banff, Alta.) 3-0 to finish third in the Varsity Division.

In its second year, The World Sport School Challenge was developed in line with a commitment made by Hockey Canada’s officers and branches, “to service sport schools and create a positive and flexible infrastructure that meets the needs of this Hockey Canada customer,” one of six priorities of focus the organization committed to in August 2011.

Across the country, Hockey Canada currently endorses about 10 sport schools, which have formal partnerships with educational institutions with the aim to enhance learning opportunities for students while also developing their hockey skills.

For more information on the 2013 World Sport School Challenge, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wssc, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/wsschallenge and www.twitter.com/hc_wssc.

CALGARY, Alta. – After semifinal wins on Tuesday, Shattuck-St. Mary’s School and the Czech Republic’s national under-17 team will meet for the gold medal in the Prep Division at the 2013 World Sport School Challenge, while Okanagan Hockey Academy and Rothesay Netherwood School will play for gold in the Varsity Division.

Both games will be played Wednesday at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. The Varsity Division gold medal game will be played at 2 p.m. ET/noon MT, followed by the Prep Division final at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT.

The defending champion, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, Minn.) booked its spot in the Prep Division gold medal game with a 7-1 semifinal win over the Edge School for Athletes (Calgary, Alta.), led by two goals from Brett Boeing. The Czech Republic earned its berth with a 4-2 victory over the tournament’s other international entry, Germany’s national under-17 team. The Czechs spread around the offence, with eight players picking up at least one point.

In the Varsity Division, Okanagan Hockey Academy (Penticton, B.C.) scored three times in the final 8:29 and got two goals from Oleg Potemkin to beat Edge School for Athletes (Gold) 6-3 in the first semifinal, while Rothesay Netherwood School (Rothesay, N.B.) used a goal and two assists from Mitch Byrne to top Banff Hockey Academy (Banff, Alta.) 7-2 in the late game.

Three of the four teams playing in Wednesday’s gold medal games enter undefeated at 4-0. Only Okanagan Hockey Academy had a blemish on its record – it dropped a 7-1 decision to Rothesay Netherwood School on Sunday and needed to beat Edge School for Athletes (Maroon) 5-0 in a Monday quarter-final to reach the semis.

In Tuesday’s fifth-place games, Okanagan Hockey Academy beat Banff Hockey Academy 5-4 in overtime in the Prep Division, while Edge School for Athletes (Maroon) beat the Swiss International Sports and Education Center (Cochrane, Alta.) 5-1 in the Varsity Division.

Both gold medal games can be seen live via webcast through FASTHockey at hockeycanada.fasthockey.com. Fans can watch all the action for free by following three steps:

STEP 1: Visit hockeycanada.fasthockey.com and sign up for a free FASTHockey account.

STEP 2: Like the World Sport School Challenge on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wsschallenge.

STEP 3: Just prior to the game, click the HC on FASTHockey link on the World Sport School Challenge Facebook page to watch.

In its second year, The World Sport School Challenge was developed in line with a commitment made by Hockey Canada’s officers and branches, “to service sport schools and create a positive and flexible infrastructure that meets the needs of this Hockey Canada customer,” one of six priorities of focus the organization committed to in August 2011.

Across the country, Hockey Canada currently endorses about 10 sport schools, which have formal partnerships with educational institutions with the aim to enhance learning opportunities for students while also developing their hockey skills.

For more information on the 2013 World Sport School Challenge, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wssc, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/wsschallenge and www.twitter.com/hc_wssc.

CALGARY, Alta. – Ten prep and varsity sport school teams, along with two national under-17 teams, are in Calgary for the 2013 World Sport School Challenge, which runs Dec. 28 to Jan. 2 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park.

In its second year, The World Sport School Challenge was developed in line with a commitment made by Hockey Canada’s officers and branches, “to service sport schools and create a positive and flexible infrastructure that meets the needs of this Hockey Canada customer,” one of six priorities of focus the organization committed to in August 2011.

After a six-team event last year, the World Sport School Challenge doubles in size for 2013 with separate six-team Prep and Varsity divisions, each competing for a gold medal.

The Prep Division includes defending gold medallist Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, Minn.), Banff Hockey Academy (Banff, Alta.), Edge School for Athletes (Calgary, Alta.), Okanagan Hockey Academy (Penticton, B.C.) and national under-17 teams from the Czech Republic and Germany.

The Varsity Division features Banff Hockey Academy, two teams from Edge School for Athletes, Gold and Maroon, Okanagan Hockey Academy, Rothesay Netherwood School (Rothesay, N.B.) and the Swiss International Sports and Education Center (Cochrane, Alta.).

The six teams will each play three preliminary round games. The top two teams will receive an automatic bye to the semifinals, while the third-place and sixth-place teams, and fourth-place and fifth-place teams, will meet in the quarter-finals.

All games played on Rink A at the Markin MacPhail Centre, including quarter-finals, semifinals and the bronze medal game  in the Prep Division and gold medal games in both divisions, can be seen live via webcast through FASTHockey at hockeycanada.fasthockey.com.

Fans can watch all the action for free by following three steps:

STEP 1: Visit hockeycanada.fasthockey.com and sign up for a free FASTHockey account.

STEP 2: Like the World Sport School Challenge on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wsschallenge.

STEP 3: Just prior to the game, click the HC on FASTHockey link on the World Sport School Challenge Facebook page to watch.

Full tournament ticket packages for the 2013 World Sport School Challenge are available for just $50 each (plus applicable fees). That price includes admission to all 32 games in the Prep and Varsity divisions, including 16 preliminary round games, four quarter-finals, four semifinals, two fifth-place games, two bronze medal games and two gold medal games.

Across the country, Hockey Canada currently endorses about 10 sport schools, which have formal partnerships with educational institutions with the aim to enhance learning opportunities for students while also developing their hockey skills.

For more information on the 2013 World Sport School Challenge, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wssc, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/wsschallenge and www.twitter.com/hc_wssc.

by Tyson Giuriato

From playing inline hockey on the beaches of the Turks and Caicos Islands to playing in the 2013 World Sport School Challenge, it’s been quite the journey for Oliver Wolf.

Located southeast of the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands is a small British Overseas Territory that doesn’t exactly scream ice hockey. In fact, the game is non-existent; the closest arena is about 600 miles away in the state of the Florida.

With temperatures that rarely dip below 18 ͦC and remarkable sandy beaches, the island of Providenciales – the largest of the Turks and Caicos Islands – is a dream vacation for some and a great place to grow up for others, such as Wolf, who moved to the island when he was four years old.

“Living in Providenciales was incredible,” said Wolf. “Just the environment itself was something else, always sunny, beautiful beaches and always something to do.”

With no ice hockey on the island, Wolf started playing inline hockey when he was six years old in the newly-formed Provo Hockey League and worked his way up to eventually play for the Turks Islanders national inline team for three seasons. The 17-year-old was captain of the Islanders for two seasons and got to travel to cities like Atlanta, Ga., and Raleigh, N.C., to compete in tournaments.

Although Wolf was enjoying the inline game, he wanted the experience of playing on ice, and at age 15 that was something that he and his parents started taking seriously.

After some research, the family discovered the Banff Hockey Academy, nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Banff, Alta. After an online interview with BHA president Billy Doherty, Wolf decided to head to Toronto for two weeks and partake in Roger Neilson’s Hockey Camp. This wasn’t the first time Wolf had been on the ice, having skated the odd time in a public skating environment; however, it was the first time playing ice hockey.

“I wanted to see how I would handle the transition from inline to ice and make my final decision on whether or not to go to Banff,” said Wolf. “The first time I stepped on the ice at the camp I was like ‘What did I get myself into?’

“I handled it well and was in Banff that September.”

With his family still residing in Providenciales, Wolf visits the island in the off-season and around Christmas. He says hockey has come a long way since he was a kid, when it was just a few people getting together to play ball hockey at some old tennis courts.

“Eventually so many people were playing they created an inline league and built a facility for us,” said Wolf. “It’s grown so much over the years and has become a part of the island now.

“The most popular sport on the island is soccer for sure, but hockey is a close second.”

Like most of the players competing at the World Sport School Challenge, Wolf will look to catch the eye of scouts in attendance in hopes of continuing his hockey career.

“I’ve always wanted to play hockey at a higher level,” Wolf said. “My dream is to play in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport one day.”

CALGARY, Alta. – Shattuck-St. Mary’s School has won the first-ever gold medal at the World Sport School Challenge, beating Finland 5-3 in Saturday’s gold medal game at the WinSport Canada Athletic & Ice Complex.

Willie Raskob led the way with a natural hat trick for Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, Minn.), turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead midway through the second period as Shattuck avenged a 4-3 preliminary round loss to the Finns on Wednesday. Zach Stepan and Hunter Fejes scored the other goals for the Sabres, while Kyle Hayton made 39 saves between the pipes.

Artturi Lehkonen scored twice for Finland, which entered the game as the tournament’s lone undefeated team and had outscored its opponents 36-7 in its four games. Jimi Kuronen had the other Finnish goal, opening the scoring on a first-period power play.

Earlier Saturday, Patrick Koys scored twice and added an assist and Matej Paulovic, Kristian Horvat and Robert Lantosi each had a goal and a helper as Slovakia won the bronze medal with a 5-2 victory over the Edge School for Athletes (Calgary, Alta.). Cam Amantea scored both goals for the Edge School.

The World Sport School Challenge was developed in line with a commitment made by Hockey Canada’s officers and branches, “to service sport schools and create a positive and flexible infrastructure that meets the needs of this Hockey Canada customer.” This is one of six priorities of focus the organization committed to earlier this year.

Across the country, Hockey Canada currently endorses about 10 sport schools, which have formal partnerships with educational institutions with the aim to enhance learning opportunities for students while also developing their hockey skills.

For more information about the 2011 World Sport School Challenge, follow along via social media at www.Twitter.com/WSSChallenge and www.Facebook.com/WSSChallenge, and please visit www.HockeyCanada.ca/WSSC.

CALGARY, Alta. - The 2011 World Sport School Challenge is set to start Boxing Day, Dec. 26, at the Winsport Canada Athletic and Ice Complex, the new home of Hockey Canada and its national teams.

The inaugural international tournament featuring six teams kicks off with Finland's under-17 team facing the boys' prep team from Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy (Kelowna, B.C.) at 1:30 p.m. MT, Slovakia's under-17 team taking on Edge School for Athletes (Calgary, Alta) at 5 p.m. MT and Okanagan Hockey Academy (Penticton, B.C.) playing Shattuck-St. Mary's School (Faribault, Minn.), also at 5 p.m. MT. The puck drops on the gold medal game Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. MT.

The World Sport School Challenge was developed in line with a commitment made by Hockey Canada's officers and branches, "to service sport schools and create a positive and flexible infrastructure that meets the needs of this Hockey Canada customer." This is one of six priorities of focus the organization committed to earlier this year.

Full tournament ticket passes for the 2011 World Sport School Challenge are available via www.HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, for just $40 each. That price includes admission to all 17 games, including nine preliminary round games, quater-finals, semifinals, the bronze medal game and gold medal games. Day passes to the tournament are available for $10 each.

Across the country, Hockey Canada currently endorses about 10 sport schools, which have formal partnerships with educational institutions with the aim to enhance learning opportunities for students while also developing their hockey skills.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Please contact Kevin Bathurst, manager of school programs for Hockey Canada, at [email protected] or (403) 710-2203 for any interview requests.

For more information about the 2011 World Sport School Challenge, follow along via social media at www.Twitter.com/WSSChallenge and www.Facebook.com/WSSChallenge, and please visit www.HockeyCanada.ca/WSSC.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that tickets for the inaugural World Sport School Challenge, taking place Dec. 26-31 at the WinSport Canada Athletic and Ice Complex at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, will go on sale starting today.

The World Sport School Challenge was developed in line with a commitment made by Hockey Canada’s officers and branches, “to service sport schools and create a positive and flexible infrastructure that meets the needs of this Hockey Canada customer.” This is one of six priorities of focus the organization committed to in August.

Full tournament ticket packages for the 2011 World Sport School Challenge are available starting Nov. 1 via www.HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, for just $40 each. That price includes admission to all 17 games, including nine preliminary round games, quarterfinals, semifinals, the bronze medal game and gold medal game. Single-game ticket prices will be announced at a later date.

This event will bring together six teams from western Canada, northern United States and Europe, including boys’ prep teams from Edge School for Athletes (Calgary, Alta.), Okanagan Hockey Academy (Penticton, B.C.), Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy (Kelowna, B.C.) and Shattuck-St. Mary’s School (Faribault, Minn.), along with national under-17 teams from Finland and Slovakia.

“Hockey Canada is excited to host the first-ever World Sport School Challenge in our new home at Canada Olympic Park,” said Scott Smith, chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “We believe hosting this international tournament is a fantastic way to address one of Hockey Canada’s top priorities for the 2011-12 season and to foster and support our growing relationship with sport schools.”

“The World Sport School Challenge will give students attending Canadian sport schools the chance to play at a higher level, refine their skills and show the country they can excel internationally,” said Andy Oakes, event chair and president of Okanagan Hockey Academy. “Having Hockey Canada proactively work with sport schools to make this happen adds much to the development of many up-and-coming young players, who may one day end up wearing the maple leaf on their jerseys.”

Across the country, Hockey Canada currently endorses about 10 sport schools, which have formal partnerships with educational institutions with the aim to enhance learning opportunities for students while also developing their hockey skills.