Best of Both Worlds

Development

Please be aware that the application period for the Under-16 Program has closed.  If you wish to be considered should additional players and/or staff be required, please email u16@ohf.on.ca.

The 2010 OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence will feature five programs held over a three-day weekend in the following locations: 
Kitchener (April 23-25 – Kitchener Auditorium)
Oshawa (May 7-9 – General Motors Centre)
Sudbury (May 7-9 – Countryside Arena)
Barrie (May 14-16 – East Bayfield Arena)
Windsor (May 14-16 – WFCU Centre)

 Under Armour is a proud sponsor of the OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence.
  
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 include:  to introduce players, families and staff 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 players and staff both on and off the ice.

Players will participate in intense, high performance on and off ice sessions and seminars.  On-ice sessions include two practices and three games. Off-ice sessions include seminars with keynote speakers on topics such as sports psychology, nutrition, and fitness.

The programs in Kitchener and Oshawa 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, Sudbury, and Windsor 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 1995 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. 

Trainer Job Description

2009 Event Recap

The 2009 OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence wrapped up with programs on May 22-24 in Barrie (East Bayfield Arena) and Windsor (WFCU Centre).  There were a total of five programs with the three other locations being Kitchener (April 24-26 - Kitchener Auditorium), Oshawa (May 8-10 - General Motors Centre) and Sudbury (May 8-10 Countryside Arena, Laurentian University). 

There was a feature panel that participated in a question and answer session at each program with unique guest speakers  which included Steve Spott (General Manager & Head Coach – Kitchener Rangers), Rob Kitamura (Director of Central Scouting & Player Development – OHL), Mike Foligno (General Manager & Head Coach – Sudbury Wolves), Stan Butler (General Manager & Head Coach – Brampton Battalion), Drake Berehowsky (Assistant Coach – Barrie Colts & Team Ontario Under-17), and Troy Smith (Assistant Coach – Kitchener Rangers & Team Ontario Under-17). 

Approximately 520 players from across the OHF took part in the program, which featured OHL personnel leading each team with the support of coaches and trainers from OHF Member Partners:  ALLIANCE, GTHL, OMHA, NOHA and OHA.

Testimonials from Participants

“I have worked in professional hockey for 10 years and the CIS for 10 years, and I can honestly say this was one of the best programs I have ever had the opportunity to take part in.  It was well organized, well run, professionally staffed and the kids were an absolute pleasure to work with.”
- Pete Carson, Trainer

“Our son, Cory, had such an amazing experience, one which he will carry with him for the rest of his life.  The program was run with such professionalism, Cory felt like he had actually been drafted to the OHL for a weekend.  It felt as close to the dream as you can get.  We now feel assured that if our son ever by chance happens to be one of the fortunate ones to succeed in his dream, he will be well prepared, thanks to the Program of Excellence.”
- Holly & Rob Taverner, Parents

"Regardless if most do not ever make it as hockey players, the character, the structure and the professionalism that is being promoted to them is paramount and if practiced it will have a huge positive impact on their personal, family and professional lives in whatever field they pursue.  What my son took away from this weekend was nothing less than a top notch lesson on how to develop and excel as a person communicated thorough the sport of hockey."
- Gasper Paul, Parent

“I really enjoyed the seminars; they helped me learn lots to improve my game as a player.  I received lots of tricks to keep doing at home and to add to my nutrition and training.  It was awesome to be on the ice with an OHL coach (since) I learned many new plays." 
- Lucas Boyce, Participant

“Being involved in this program has allowed me to develop, learn more about the game, gave me the opportunity to push myself more and provided valuable feedback to better my own game.  I learned so much on and off the ice with the training and seminars and played the game with some of the best  out there.”
--Alex Rennie, Participant

“It was a first class operation and my son had the best experience of his life.  To describe it as a program of excellence would be an understatement.  It has motivated him to further develop and strive for excellence in whatever he chooses to do in the future.  It was an honor and a privilege as a parent to see a great group of athletes get together and have so much fun.”
--Michael Ford, Parent

“I have been to many hockey schools, camps etc. and what we received was amazing. My son was quite impressed with the Under Armor shorts and shirt alone. Just the hockey jersey and socks alone were incredible not to mention being fed and housed for the entire weekend, and I can't even touch on the level of coaching, it was truly outstanding.”
--Jennifer Watling, Parent

“It was a great experience for the boys and to breakdown the cost per value and try to draw comparisons to hockey schools etc. is ridiculous.  This camp involved the bringing together of many people who all had something valid to contribute.  Where else are you going to get all this in one weekend at a great facility like the Aud.?  We would do this again in a heartbeat and we feel proud to have been at the inaugural event.” – Guido Luciani, parent of Julian Luciani, Toronto Red Wings

“A great weekend with many great memories.  The OHF/OHL Under 16 Program of Excellence will no doubt be a highlight for many years to come for the players who had the opportunity to take part.  The organization of the camp was absolutely wonderful.  The players and staff were treated first class and the food was amazing.  The opportunity for coaches to work along side of the OHL coaches was a treat in itself.”  - Tim McWhirter, Coach (OMHA)

“I feel the experience of the 2007 OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence provided the trainers with an excellent learning environment.  All staff, trainers, and support staff made this a memorable and enjoyable experience.  By participating in this program of excellence it allows the trainer to gain valuable on ice experience in a short period of time.  By comparison it would take approximately 1/3 of a season to acquire this on ice experience.  Furthermore, it provided a mentoring experience to spend time and to work with coaching staff from the OHL and OHA from teams you normally do not play in the regular season.” – Don Woodley, Trainer (Alliance)