CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada is pleased to announce a dynamic partnership with the Okanagan Hockey School. This new partnership will give Hockey Canada and the OHS the opportunity to host a series of hockey schools in Europe.

The Okanagan Hockey School is entering in to its 46th year of operation and is one of the world’s longest running hockey schools. With a focus on providing leading edge, top quality hockey instruction in a positive, supportive environment, the Okanagan Hockey School has a reputation for providing young players with a diverse and well-round camp experience.

Hockey Canada Okanagan Hockey School instructional content will focus on the fundamental skill areas of the game – skating, stickhandling, passing, shooting, bodychecking and team concepts. In the coming months, OHS will work with Hockey Canada to build an instructional staff comprised of experienced Canadian hockey personnel based in European hockey settings.

“Hockey Canada has long been the player development leaders in this country,” said Scott Smith, chief operating officer for Hockey Canada, “and we are excited to partner with one of Canada’s leading hockey school operators in the Okanagan Hockey School to investigate opportunities to enter the European hockey school market.”

In the first year of a three-year agreement between Hockey Canada and the Okanagan Hockey School, negotiations are underway with a number of potential locations in the European hockey community. Hockey school programs are planned for a variety of locations across Europe during this three year agreement.

“Okanagan Hockey School is very excited to enter into this partnership,” says Andy Oakes, president of Okanagan Hockey School. “Hockey Canada is the leading organization in the game of hockey and we are extremely proud to be a partner. The Okanagan Hockey School has already started negotiations and will work to finalize the first site to deliver a ‘gold standard’ hockey experience.”

For more information on the Okanagan Hockey School, visit www.hockeyschools.com.