Worldwide excursions foster improvement, expertise and camaraderie
From April 13-21, Area Hockey Canada despatched two youth groups on worldwide excursions as a part of their expertise improvement pathway. The U16 girls’s group traveled to Hradec Králové, Czechia, whereas the U18 girls’s group headed to Cardiff, Wales. Each excursions offered invaluable worldwide on- and off-field experiences for the younger athletes, specializing in improvement, publicity, and group tradition.
U16 Czechia Tour – Hradec Králové, Czechia
The U16 girls’s group featured athletes from throughout Canada. Previous to departure, group members met just about to familiarize themselves with coaching, journey, and recreation methods. Departing from Vancouver and Toronto, many gamers met their teammates for the primary time through the connecting flight in Paris.
In Czechia, the main focus was on improvement and enjoyable. For many gamers, this was their first worldwide expertise, and so they embraced the problem enthusiastically. After a few coaching periods, the group performed in opposition to Czechia’s U18 girls’s group. The collection ended with a 0-0 tie, a 1-0 win, and a 1-1 tie, showcasing the group’s means to implement teaching methods successfully. The gamers have been inspired to belief themselves and their teammates, leaving every thing on the sector.
For a lot of of those U16 athletes, this was their first publicity to worldwide competitors. Area Hockey Canada is pleased with our U16 athletes for dealing with that problem head on. Click on right here to listen to testimony from athletes who’ve gone by way of the event pathway and pursued a profession in faculty, college, membership and nationwide degree hockey.
Thanks to our wonderful employees group, Lacey, Andrea, Pam and Freya and all of the mother and father and household that traveled with our group!
Canada takes on Czechia in a three-game collection in Hradec Králové. Photographs/Felicia Chang
U18 Wales Tour – Cardiff, Wales
The U18 girls’s group traveled to Wales for a three-game collection in opposition to the Welsh U18 group. Earlier than the collection, they performed a aggressive tune up match in opposition to Swansea College, leading to a 2-1 loss however offering invaluable studying experiences. Led by coaches Mike Van Iderstine and Krissy Wishart, the group had sturdy practices that ready them for the collection.
The primary match in opposition to Wales, captained by Elle Ferros, resulted in a 5-0 loss. Regardless of the defeat, the group’s spirits remained excessive. The second recreation, led by Sabine Keon, noticed targets from Sutton Van Dyke and Izzy Prior, ending in a 4-2 loss. The ultimate recreation on Easter Sunday, captained by Maisie Fulton-Stephenson, showcased the group’s progress and dedication, although they confronted one other loss.
A spotlight of the tour was the post-game interplay with the Welsh group, the place gamers bonded over lunch, made TikToks, and performed soccer. The Welsh group and employees have been welcoming and accommodating, contributing to the success of the journey. The U18 gamers returned residence in excessive spirits, having constructed a robust group tradition and discovered invaluable abilities.
Among the athletes on this group have now toured twice, final yr with the U16s after which once more this yr to Wales with the U18 group. This continuity builds belief within the course of and stacks worldwide expertise previous to transitioning to the junior nationwide and senior worldwide hockey. Congrats to all athletes on a profitable spring youth tour
Thanks to our wonderful employees group, Mike, Krissy, Kayley and Jadyn and all of the mother and father and household that traveled with our group!
Area Hockey Canada might be sending a 3rd and last youth girls’s tour to France from Could 1-10. That U18 group will face France in a four-game check collection. Keep tuned to the Area Hockey Canada web site and social media for updates from the France tour.
Canada and Wales play a three-game collection in Cardiff, Wales. Photographs/Supplied
