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Does anyone else feel rushed these days? Overwhelmed? Under pressure? Tired of bad news, images of war, politicians yelling and tweeting, the cost of breakfast? And on top of that... no time for anything? Of course.
So where's the break? Probably not in and around the holiday season... not really anyhow... although family and mashed potatoes and maybe a bit of eggnog help slow things down a little, right? Maybe. Maybe not, especially if you're involved in hockey! Somewhere along the way the holiday season grew into hockey tournament season.
Is that good? Bad? Exciting? Exhausting? Like most things, it's probably a bit of all these. The time commitment to our game, especially these days (and this time of year) is all about balance. And perspective. And appreciation for how hockey adds to our lives. Of course, tournaments can be great fun, sometimes delivering life-long memories, but there is nothing much relaxing about them!
So, however you choose to navigate the holiday season, find your balance. If you choose to make room for our game, remember BC Hockey's values; Fun, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence. Watch for evidence of our first value, especially. Look for the smiles and laughs and celebrations. After all, T'is the season.
See you at the rink,
Cameron Hope - Chief Executive Officer
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Program of Excellence Recap | |
Photo Credits: Erica Perreaux / Hockey Canada Images | It's been a busy few months for Team BC's Program of Excellence! The Male U16 team made the trip to Red Deer, Alberta, to hit the ice at the 2023 WHL Cup, while the Women's U18 team stayed closer to home and made their way to Dawson Creek for the 2023 National Women's Under-18 Championship. | |
2023 National Women's Under-18 Championship | |
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Photo Credits: Erica Perreaux / Hockey Canada Images
Women's U18 Team BC was in action at the 2023 National Women's Under-18 Championship in Dawson Creek from November 5-11, 2023. Team BC finished with a record of 4-2-0-0 and had victories over Team Ontario Blue and Team Manitoba in the preliminary stage.
Team BC then took on Team Saskatchewan in the quarterfinal where they came away with a 5-3 victory, before dropping the semifinal game against Team Quebec 7-3. Team BC bounced back in the bronze medal game and skated to victory capturing BRONZE in front of the lively home crowd in Northern B.C.!
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Congratulations to Morgan Jackson (Comox Valley MHA) who was awarded Top Forward of the 2023 National Women's Under-18 Championship!
Jackson finished the tournament tied for first in scoring with 10 points (4g-6a) in six games!
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Red Deer, Alberta, was the host of the 2023 WHL Cup from October 18-22, 2023, where Male U16 Team BC finished in fourth-place. Team BC was victorious in two of three round robin games, and were taken down by the eventual champions, Team Manitoba, in the quarterfinals. They took the ice against Team Saskatchewan in the bronze medal game, where they fell 6-2. | | |
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Congratulations to Liam Ruck (South Okanagan MHA) (7g-4a) and Markus Ruck (South Okanagan MHA) (2g-8a), who finished first and second in tournament scoring. The Ruck brothers were also named to the 2023 WHL Cup All-Star Team. | |
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From September 16-24, 2023, we celebrated National Coaches Week with a contest where we asked our members to nominate an outstanding coach in their area who they believed should be recognized for the great work they do! The three winners were celebrated on social media, and were gifted a swag bag from BC Hockey.
The three winners were:
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Adam Hill - Abbotsford Female MHA | |
Kelsey Firkus - Chilliwack MHA | |
Nathan Jacobson - Greater Vernon MHA | |
Congratulations to Adam, Kelsey and Nathan, and a big thank you to all of the amazing coaches that we have in B.C. and Yukon! | |
World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend | |
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The 2023 edition of the IIHF World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend was a huge success!
During the month of October, there were 12 minor hockey associations in B.C. and Yukon that hosted events to celebrate the occasion:
- Comox Valley MHA
- Fernie MHA
- Lillooet MHA
- Prince George MHA
- Summerland MHA
- Sunshine Coast MHA
- Tri-Cities Female IHA
- Vancouver Female IHA
- West Kootenay MHA
- West Vancouver MHA
- Whitehorse MHA
- Williams Lake MHA
Check out a few of the events below that took place to celebrate World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend!
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The Comox Valley Lightning hosted Campbell River MHA for a fun scrimmage to Celebrate World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend. | |
Starting off with a meet and greet between younger and older players, Williams Lake MHA held an on-ice development session to celebrate World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend. | |
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Tri-Cities Female IHA hosted a BBQ night with all 27 teams from the association in attendance to celebrate girls' hockey!
| Fernie MHA brought together U7-U11 girls of the association for a day of hockey. With some older female players as mentors, the girls took part in a skills/drills session, followed by a scrimmage. | |
The West Kootenay Wildcats celebrated their four growing programs by hosting a fun skate. The U13 and U15 teams then hit the ice for a game with the younger teams in attendance. | West Vancouver MHA hosted their third annual "Girl Power" event to celebrate World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend. New players took part in a "try-it" session, while experienced players hit the ice for a skills session. | |
Countdown Underway to Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in Victoria | |
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Photo Credits: Kevin Light
A ceremonial puck drop at the WHL Victoria Royals game on Nov. 17 marked the start of the official countdown to Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada.
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We are less than two months away from Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, taking place January 17-20, 2024, in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, capped by a 12.5-hour marathon broadcast on Sportsnet.
A schedule of events is now available, including many opportunities for young hockey players to participate in activities and clinics that celebrate the game. Among the many fun features will be “BC Hockey Try It Clinics,” on January 20th. These free ball hockey sessions are open to anyone interested in learning the game in a fun and welcoming environment. Visit victoriahockeyday.ca/events to learn more about all the activities planned.
A Celebrity and Alumni Classic set for January 19th at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Tickets are available HERE. A Gala dinner is also set for January 18th at the Victoria Conference Centre and tickets can be purchased HERE.
Other highlights announced include:
- The temporary installation of the “Hockey for All Community Rink” at Ship Point, a state-of-the-art artificial ice rink built by CAN-ICE, a company co-owned by former NHL® player Danny Gare, who will also take part in the festivities.
- Appearances by hockey legends Cassie Campbell-Pascal, Wendel Clark, Lanny McDonald and Darcy Tucker.
- Multiple events featuring the Stanley Cup, including a visit to Songhees Nation.
Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada will be hosted by Ron MacLean and feature Sportsnet’s all-star roster of NHL® hosts, analysts and reporters leading up to— Canada’s biggest single-day hockey celebration on January 20th, when all seven Canadian NHL teams are in action on Sportsnet.
Go to victoriahockeyday.ca for more information and sign up for the latest news HERE.
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BC Hockey Partners with Johnson Insurance | |
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BC Hockey is delighted to partner with Johnson Insurance to provide you the travel insurance plan that’s packed and ready.
BC Hockey members have access to great travel coverage with MEDOC® through Johnson Insurance.
For often less than the cost of purchasing insurance for multiple trips separately, you can enjoy an unlimited number of trips during the policy year. You’ll always be prepared.
With MEDOC®, you’ll receive:
- Emergency medical coverage
- Trip cancellation, interruption, and delay coverage
- Baggage protection
- And much more!
Give Johnson a call at 1-866-606-3362 or visit Johnson.ca/MEDOC to get a quote and finalize your coverage. Remember to mention BC Hockey as your group to get the discounted group rates!
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The holiday season is quickly approaching, which means gatherings of all sorts are on the horizon, including in the rink! This time of year, there are always plenty of tournaments happening in all corners of the B.C. and Yukon, and that is no exception this year.
Are you thinking of bringing your team to a tournament this holiday season? To stay in the loop on all of the tournament news, head over to the Tournaments page on the BC Hockey website.
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VFIHA Indigenous Crest Design | |
In early November, Vancouver Female Ice Hockey Association (VFIHA) unveiled a new jersey featuring an Indigenous crest, designed by Debra Sparrow. These jerseys will be worn by four VFIHA teams this season!
In 2022, VFIHA's Indigenous Liaison Committee sent out a call for proposals for the creation of an Indigenous jersey crest as a way to celebrate, share and educate VFIHA members on Indigenous culture and to create an opportunity to build a bridge between the association and local First Nations.
Click below to read more about VFIHA's Indigenous jersey, Debra Sparrow, and the inspiration behind the design.
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With the hockey season in full swing, there is lots going on surrounding BC Hockey. Check out some additional Quick Hits below:
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Take your weekend from good to great with Sandman's Weekend Best offer. Save up to 30% off the Standard Rate on your Friday, Saturday and Sunday stays at participating Sandman and Sandman Signature Hotels. Plus, members of their loyalty program, RSVP Rewards, save an extra 5%. If you're not already a member, sign up here for free to unlock perks every time you stay. Sandman Hotel Group has something for everyone - whether you're looking for a city break, country retreat, coastal getaway, or something in between.
Book Now
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Ski Bus: Skip the drive and enjoy the ride to and from Mount Washington. Whether you need a lift, traveling with a large group, or simply don’t want to drive, our ski bus service can pick you up or drop you off at any of our 12 locations on southern Vancouver Island. Bundle & Save with our 6 Pack Bundle deal! These Bundles offer Mount Washington Ski Bus tickets at 40% off the regular one-way price for each ticket. Receive enough tickets for 6 round-trips (12 one-way trips). This is a great offer for families and frequent travellers.
Book Now
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BC Ferries Connector: Taking BC Ferries Connector is a convenient, hassle-free way to get you home or away for the holidays! With increased services over the holiday season, we are guaranteed onboard the sailings on which we operate. This means you can spend more time enjoying whatever it is that has you travelling this holiday season! We offer multiple pick up and drop off locations both in Victoria and Vancouver, including hotels and the YVR Airport for those looking to fly away to see friends and family, or someplace warm!
Book Now
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BC HOCKEY
6671 Oldfield Rd.
Saanichton, BC V8M 2A1
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