About

Okanagan Hockey Academy Mission Statement

To encourage the achievement of each player’s full potential in Academics, Hockey, Sportsmanship and Citizenship through a stimulating and vigorous supportive environment.
 

About the Academy

Okanagan Hockey Academy consists of 7 teams that include both male and female programs. Click on the team for each team’s stats and player information.

    •    Penticton Lakers (Junior B - KIJHL)
    •    Prep (U18 AAA)
    •    Varsity Red (U18 AA)
    •    Varsity Black (U16 AA)
    •    Bantam Red (U15 AAA)
    •    Bantam Black (U15 AA)
    •    Female Midget (AAA)

The on-ice hockey program consists of the following:

• 4-5 practices per week
• 50+ games per season
• Detailed break-down of all facets of the game, both individually and team oriented
• Digital video analysis
• Professional coaching staff

The Okanagan Hockey Academy is also the proud owner of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Junior ‘A’ team. The Bulldogs play in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and are based out of Port Alberni, BC.

Okanagan Hockey Academy staff is a team of professionals that are dedicated to the personal development of each student-athlete. Through knowledge, research and experience, we have identified the key areas of focus for each age group in developing strong, intellegent and committed hockey players.

The hockey teams will practice at least 4-5 times during the week and will play 50-60 games during the season.

Each player is treated as an individual within a team atmosphere. It is the goal of Okanagan Hockey Academy to develop each player’s individual and team skills in order to place each one of them in a league for which they are best suited. The positive personal growth of the players on an individual basis is encouraged through our coaches, teachers, trainers, billets, and management staff.
 

Location

Okanagan Hockey Academy is located in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. The city of Penticton is located in the Okanagan Valley and has a population of over 45,000 in the greater area. Featuring over 2000 hours of sunshine each year, Penticton is a four seasons destination for vacationers and business travelers. Cradled between tree trimmed mountain slopes, dramatic cliffs and bordered by two pristine lakes, Penticton offers her natural beauty all year round.

The Okanganan Hockey School Training Centre is a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide a unique development opportunity for each of our student-athletes. Integrated within the 90 million dollar South Okanagan Events Centre, the OHSTC consists of 2 NHL-size ice surfaces, private Academy locker rooms, 2 athletic therapy rooms, full-size classroom equipped with proffessional video editing equipment, 5000 square foot performance centre and cutting-edge off-ice training equipment, as well as our administration offices.
 

Education

The Okanagan Hockey Academy provides an environment in which young hockey players receive a high quality education at the Penticton High School, a new 55-milion dollar high school, ranked in the top 5 in B.C.

The educational program at Penticton High is designed to prepare students for University entrance, while developing each student’s self-confidence and self-discipline, along with an inquiring and creative mind. The school community creates a secure and inspiring educational environment and encourages students to strive for excellence in every aspect of their lives. 

Okanagan Hockey Academy students take a combination of public and private classes. The private classes are taken with other Okaganan Hockey Academy players.

Penticton High is located in the city of Penticton, and is a 5-minute bus ride from South Okanagan Events Centre where players practice and play home games. Players are billeted with local families that are screened thoroughly to ensure that each family’s values meet the values set out by OHA. This is a great experience for players to learn how to adapt to new surroundings and how to live within another family’s home.

Academic Highlights

• A unique public-private partnership with Penticton High
• Full-time Head Counselor, Dave Nackoney
• On average, 90% of OHA students are on the honour roll
• Nearly all graduating students are NCAA and Canadian University eligible
• Acedemic updates to Academy and parents throughout the season
• SAT preparatory classes offered
• SAT writing dates at Penticton Secondary School
• Post-Secondary strategic planning
• Grade 8's attend KVR middle school
  
   

Billeting

Players are billeted with local families that are screened thoroughly to ensure that each family's values meet those set out by OHA. This is a great experience for players to learn how to adapt to new surroundings and how to live within another family's home. We believe that the billet families should provide a wonderful, supportive environment for the players attending the Academy.

To ensure players are placed in the best homes possible we follow a rigid process with perspective billet families:

• Applications and criminal record checks are completed
• Reference checks are made
• A home inspection is conducted by our Director of Residential Life
• Players are interviewed to try to match with a compatible family

Being billeted is valuable to the players for life skill deveopment. Therefore it is essiential that there are expectations set for both the host family and for the player. The players are given a list of Rules of Conduct that they are expected to follow. Billeting is something that every Junior hockey player in Canada will experience in their career at one time or another.

Read the Joeseph Hicketts interview in The Province

We are rolling back the price!

OHA represented at Youth Olympic Games

OHA Announces rare opportunity

Okanagan Hockey Academy is proud to announce that Joe Hicketts has been named Canadian team captain at the Youth Olympic Games