BC Hockey announced Thursday, May 27 the 27 players invited to attend the Team BC Summer Camp. The players were selected at the conclusion of the Provincial Development Camp that was held in Salmon Arm from May 20-24, 2010. The Team BC Summer Camp is the fourth stage of the selection process for Team BC that will compete at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.
"Provincial Camp this year was definitely the most competitive we have seen in some time. The athletes came in well prepared to meet the challenges put before them and selections were very difficult to make,” said Team BC director of operations Bruce Tuck. “The camp staff, which included the Canada Winter Games coaching staff, focused on combining the ability to compete in all situations with an introduction to individual skills and team tactics that will be carried through the selection process. A very positive step was taken towards success at the Canada Winter Games in February."
The five (5) day Provincial Development Camp in Salmon Arm included intense on-ice practices and games. In total 12 one (1) hour intersquad games were played over the course of the Camp.
The off-ice component of the camp focused on:
- Individual skills led by Hockey Canada Skills Coach Aaron Hoffman
- Fitness training led by Strength and Conditioning Coach John Colvin
- Lectures on journaling, mental preparation, team systems, individual skill development, nutrition and training
The 27 selected players will now advance to the next stage of the selection process for Team BC, a Summer Development Camp held on the Nadan Army Base in Esquimalt. The players and coaching staff will come together again in September to participate in a preparation tournament. At the conclusion of the tournament the final cuts will be made and the 20 players selected to Team BC will be announced.
The BC Hockey U18 level is the final step in the BC Hockey Female High Performance program and the athletes in attendance at the camp represent the best BC has to offer in that age group. Many have progressed through the U16 program where they were introduced to training techniques and expectations that they have carried forward to the U18 level. The U18 championship is also the first step in the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence. Athletes will be evaluated in location for possible inclusion in further Hockey Canada programming.