Testimonials

Our son Nathan attended Okanagan Hockey Academy the first year it began, his last year of high school.  Our other son Cameron was able to attend during his three years of high school and two more years after that. They loved their coaches, bus drivers, trainers and gym instructors.  We appreciated the banquets where we got to eat great dinners, see their teammates, meet billet families and receive awards.

Nathan is now 25 and Cameron is now 22.  Our boys have always wanted to play hockey together and this year it has finally happened.  Both boys are playing hockey for the Brigham Young University Hockey Team.  Nathan is a senior and Cameron is a sophomore.  They are on the same line, help each other score, are confident leaders on the team and bring a strong work ethic and energy to the team and the coaches.  They learned these traits at the Academy.  OHA wasn't just about hockey.  It was about developing skills,  character, establishing values, learning to work as a team and valuing education along the way (BYU requires a 3.75 GPA for admission).

Both boys come back to Penticton every summer to help the summer camps with evaluations for each of the younger participants.  We will be forever grateful for the opportunity we had to attend OHA.  We all have fond memories of the people, the hockey, and our experiences in Penticton.  To the staff, we wish you the best of luck as you continue to develop the program and make a lasting impression of what hockey should be as you prepare these students athletes to be productive contributors to both the hockey world and our communities.  Thanks for the memories.

Jeralie Hymas

I attended OHA in 2008-2009 and i must say these were the best years of my life so far. Everything was perfectly organised because of you guys and I thank you for that. I am now playing back home here in my hometown in Fribourg, Switzerland. I play for a junior A team and everything is going great. School is great also. I sometimes think about my year in OHA, all the good times I have had and all I learned. The first thing I remember is hockey of course. But then there is my billet family and Adriano Munioli, a teammate who used to live with my billet family as well. He plays now for the Penticton Lakers.

One thing i do know is that i miss the OHA routine even though some days it was tough!

Best regards,
Antoine Wuilleret

I just wanted to let you and all our friends at OHA know that Ryan and OHA teammate, Turner Krechel, made the opening night roster for their new team.  It was very exciting night for all of us.  They play for Arizona in the Western States Hockey League and they are adjusting to life in Junior Hockey prepared well for the challenge from their years at OHA. 

We also continue to be very pleased with Ryan's academic achievements including his SAT score.  We feel that the academic support and experience provided at OHA and Pen High continues to benefit him in a very positive way. Looking back upon our experience at OHA we have so many great memories from Ryan's years. We are very proud of the young man that has emerged.

All our best to everyone at OHA.

Kevin and Barb Swain
Telluride, Colorado

The Okanagan Hockey Academy is much more than just hockey as it widens the horizons of everyone involved including staff, parents and players. My sons, James and Nicholas Kerr, attended the academy for 3 years each under the watchful eye of an ex-NHL father whose emphasis was on the hockey component (at least to start). 

Academy trips to the US for tournaments that entailed University tours to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Boston College, North Dakota and others opened up a new world and sense of opportunity for the boys and now girls as well. 

Both James and Nicholas set goals for themselves of playing hockey and attending one of the schools mentioned above. Through the guidance of (full-time academic counsellor) Dave Nackoney and the staff at Pen high the boys developed a new focus for their academics in both their high school and SAT prep classes. The academics at Pen High will allow diligent students the ability to attend any university in the world without limitations. 

James fulfilled his goal by selecting Princeton University and is currently excelling academically in his second year by being either at the top or near the top of his classes. An ACL tear that resulted in him missing his entire freshman year has made the hockey aspect much more challenging but has reinforced the decision to go the academic route the correct one for him. 

Nicholas is also overcoming a surgery that cut his season short last season. He is playing Junior A hockey in Alberta after struggling to play regular in the BCHL to start the season. His goal as well is to play hockey at an Ivy League school and to date has initial interest expressed from Harvard, Princeton and Brown. 

Without the structure on the ice, in the workout room and especially at school I am confident to say that either of the boys wouldn’t have the opportunities that they have today if not for attending OHA.  It was an experience that they will value and remember for the rest of their lives. 

Sincerely,
Alan Kerr

Lough Commits To St. Lawrence University

Okanagan Hockey Academy UK are delighted to announce that Swindon based Michael Stratford has joined their ranks for the 2012/13 season

Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year Headlines Awards Ceremony

The Okanagan Hockey Academy is pleased to announce former players on hockey's biggest stage

OHA Fights For A Cure