The Okanagan Hockey Academy is partnering with the Western Hockey League and Sport Testing Inc. in a series of WHL Combine Camps.
These camps are aimed to assist minor hockey players with their skill development by participating in a new state of the art testing system.
The WHL Combine Camps, which will be held throughout Western Canada and the United States beginning in April, will consist of a full day of on- and off-ice testing, instructional tips, a player development seminar, and a presentation on the WHL player experience. The camps will initially be open to bantam and midget-aged players. All WHL Clubs will have access to the test results for scouting purposes.
“The WHL is fully committed to assisting players in the minor hockey system with their skill development,” said WHL commissioner Ron Robison. “We believe the WHL Combine Camps will place further emphasis on the importance of developing fundamental skills while allowing our young prospects with the opportunity to compare their progress with other players in the system.”
The WHL Combine Camps will be operated on behalf of the WHL, by the Okanagan Hockey Schools. Under its agreement with the WHL, OHS will provide the highest quality instructors and testing personnel for each WHL Combine Camp.
“Okanagan Hockey Schools is extremely pleased to be partnering with the WHL and Sport Testing Inc. to provide leading edge testing for players in Western Canada and the Western United States,” said president of OHS Andy Oakes. “The players that attend these camps will receive tangible test results that will help them choose their development streams to best further their careers and growth as players. This information will prove to be invaluable during their advancement in the game of hockey.”
The testing systems for the WHL Combine Camps will be supplied by Sport Testing Inc, a Toronto-based global leader in sport testing systems. The Sport Testing Inc technology includes the most advanced athlete testing solution in the industry today.
“We are very pleased to be working with the WHL and Okanagan Hockey School on providing our solution to these WHL Combine Camps,” said president of Sport Testing Inc. Jonathon Hollins. “We see this as a great evaluation tool for all young aspiring athletes to know where they are today, and where they need to be tomorrow. We believe our system will serve the individual talent level for these young prospects.”
The testing conducted at the WHL Combine Camps will consist of a series of on- and off-ice tests that will enable a player to compare their individual results, through the Sporttesting database, with other players from around the world. The results will identify the strengths of a player, as well as areas where improvement may be required.
WHL Combine Camps are scheduled to be held from April to August 2014 in Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Brandon and Winnipeg. In addition, WHL Combine Camps will also be held in Minneapolis, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix and Anaheim.
The WHL conducted a series of highly successful pilot projects recently which clearly indicated there was a high demand from young prospects and their parents for a combine camp program in Western Canada and the United States.
For further information on the WHL Combine Camps go to www.whl.ca/page/whlcombines and for more information on Sport Testing Inc. contact www.sporttesting.com.
