By SooToday Staff
SooToday.com
Friday, February 23, 2007

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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OHF Announces OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence

TORONTO, ON – Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) President Joe Drago and Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Commissioner David Branch are pleased to announce the launch of the OHF / OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence.

This program is the only OHL sanctioned event for the 1992 age group in Ontario. There will be two programs held over a three-day weekend at two of the best facilities in Ontario: the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, April 27 - 29 in Kitchener and the brand new General Motors Centre, May 11 – 13 in Oshawa. Each weekend will consist of six teams (72 Forwards, 36 Defensemen and 12 Goaltenders). The program is open to all AAA level players registered within the OHF. All teams will be coached by OHL and OHF Member Partner personnel.

The OHF / OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence has been designed to educate and inform players and parents of the many opportunities and difficult decisions that arise in the hockey world. It will serve as an introduction to high performance hockey. This will be accomplished through intense, high performance on and off ice training sessions, hockey specific sports psychology, nutrition sessions, and keynote speakers from the National Hockey League, Hockey Canada, Ontario Hockey League, Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and the Ontario Hockey Association.

“I am pleased and extremely proud to have the OHF and the OHL co-host the first OHF/OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence,” stated Drago. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our young student/athletes to participate in high performance hockey along with the experience to learn what is involved physically, mentally and academically to achieve their hockey dreams."

“The Ontario Hockey League is very pleased and excited to once again partner with the Ontario Hockey Federation and their Member Partners to introduce the OHF-OHL Under-16 Program of Excellence,” said Branch. “This program is an initiative to provide continued leadership in player development and will be an excellent opportunity for young players and their families to educate and inform themselves about Hockey Canada, the OHL and the OHF.”

The OHF will be accepting player registrations as well as applications for coaching and training positions beginning on Monday, February 26.

The OHF is the largest of Hockey Canada’s 13 Branches with over 230,000 registered participants. The Federation governs minor, junior, and senior hockey with the support of its seven Member Partners. The OHF along with Hockey Northwestern Ontario and the Ottawa District Hockey Association govern amateur hockey in the Province of Ontario. Visit the OHF online at www.ohf.on.ca.

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