TORONTO, ON – Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) President Joe Drago and Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Commissioner David Branch are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2009 OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence.
There will be five programs held over a three-day weekend in the following locations: Kitchener (April 24-26 – Kitchener Auditorium), Oshawa (May 8-10 – General Motors Centre), Sudbury (May 8-10 – Countryside Arena), Barrie (May 22-24) and Windsor (May 22-24 – WFCU Centre). Players will participate in intense, high performance on and off ice training sessions, as well as seminars with keynote speakers on topics such as sports psychology, nutrition, drug & alcohol awareness and strength & conditioning.
The OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence is a development experience designed to educate and inform players and parents. The goals of the program are to introduce players, families and coaches to high performance hockey, the Program of Excellence and the Ontario Hockey League; to create a unique and special life and hockey experience for all players and staff involved; and to develop hockey players, coaches and trainers both on and off the ice.
This program is the only OHF and OHL combined sanctioned event for the 1994 age group in Ontario. The programs in Kitchener, Oshawa, and Windsor will consist of six teams for a total of 120 players at each program (72 forwards, 36 defencemen and 12 goaltenders). The programs in Barrie and Sudbury will consist of four teams for a total of 80 players at each program (48 forwards, 24 defencemen and eight goaltenders). The program is open to all male players who were born in 1994 and are registered within the OHF; priority will be given to players competing at the AAA Level. All teams will be coached by OHL and OHF Member Partner personnel.
“I wish to emphasize how pleased I am to see this partnership with the OHL continuing so successfully. The many positive comments have made us feel we are on the right track and that we should consider expanding the program even further,” said Drago. “In its first two years, the Under 16 Program of Excellence truly established itself as a premier development opportunity for the participants. After the pilot project in Kitchener and Oshawa, we introduced a Northern component in Sudbury and now we look forward to building on this success as we expand to include Barrie and Windsor for 2009.”
“Canada and Ontario’s success on the world hockey stage is largely due to the tremendous teamwork not only on the ice, but off the ice. We are extremely pleased to once again partner with the Ontario Hockey Federation for the third consecutive year to provide the Under-16 Program of Excellence in 2009,” stated Branch. “Given the outstanding success in the first two years of the Under-16 Program, we are most pleased to see the continued growth of the U-16 Program for the benefit of OHF players, coaches, trainers and families in providing a first class development opportunity, both on and off the ice.”
For more information on the OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence, including a sample itinerary and to complete an application form, please visit www.ohf.on.ca or www.bestofbothworlds.ca/development.
