CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Friday that five Canadians will travel to the Vierumäki Sport Institute in Vierumäki, Finland for the 2015 IIHF Hockey Development Camp and Global Skills Challenge Summit.
Two players will take part in the 2015 IIHF Hockey Development Camp from July 4-11. Benoit-Olivier Groulx (Gatineau, Que./Hockey Quebec) and Simon Elsliger (Moncton, N.B./Hockey New Brunswick) were selected by their respective branches to represent Hockey Canada at the international youth development camp.
The camp is focused on player development and education programs, specifically aimed at assisting each national association achieve nationally identified objectives, leading to global growth and development of the game. The IIHF’s Development and Coaching Committee lead all the programs, along with IIHF instructors and mentors.
Since the inception of the IIHF Hockey Development Camp, Hockey Canada has sent a total of 49 participants to events hosted in Nymburk, Czech Republic and Vierumäki. The goals of the IIHF Hockey Development Camp were established by the IIHF Coaching Committee in 1998 and have remained intact throughout the delivery of eight men’s development camps.
In addition, Carson Focht (Regina, Sask./Saskatchewan Hockey Association) and Sahara Lafferty (Yellowknife, N.W.T./Hockey North) will represent Canada at the Global Skills Challenge Summit from July 5-10.
Focht and Lafferty were selected by their respective branches to compete in the event, which includes six skill competitions: fastest lap, shooting accuracy, skating agility, fastest shot, passing precision, and puck control. The top 15 male and 15 female athletes will advance to participate in the Skills Challenge at the 2016 Youth Olympic Winter Games, which will be held Feb. 12-21, 2016 in Lillehammer, Norway.
Rounding out the Canadian contingent in Vierumäki is Corey McNabb, director of coaching and player development with Hockey Canada. McNabb will serve as one of six camp mentors assigned to support coaches travelling to Vierumäki to experience their own development opportunities.
For more information on the 2015 IIHF Hockey Development Camp and Global Skills Challenge Summit, CLICK HERE.