Prince George Day Camp

July 19-23

Below, Ancel's ball hockey team celebrates its victory in the ball hockey tournament. Brian and Kaitlyn's team was victorious in the older kid's ball hockey tournament.

The day camp at Prince George was a very different pace than the camp at PRBI, so the HSOS team had a lot to adjust to. They stayed at Cedars Christian school for the week (Thanks Cedars!). The team arrived at the rink around 7:30 every morning to greet the eager, energetic kids. The camp was split into two age groups that altered activities throughout the day from ice-time to dryland to ball hockey to chapel. The morning sessions were dedicated to power skating with Brian Toll. The afternoon ice-sessions were coached by Parish Child and focussed more on technical skills.

Both age groups had at least three goalies with a total of seven in the camp. Tal and Jim (a local teacher from Pr. George) headed up the goalie instruction for the week. The camp also had the help of locals Frank, also a teacher in Pr. George, and Sean, a recent high school graduate from the area. Uncle Bob, a good friend of YWAM Hockey, oversaw the chapel services for the week.

One highlight of the week was all of the staff ice-time. After the campers headed home the staff was able to hit the ice three times during the week.

PRBI - Grande Prairie

July 11-16

The HSOS kicked off the summer with a week in Grande Prairie at the PRBI hockey camp.

The team took a two-day road trip from Vancouver with no air-conditioning in the van to get to the camp, it was sort of like a team building exercise. But they toughed it out, and no one complained about the lack of conditioned air. Instead, they used the time to get to know each other, and to sleep.

After arriving in Grande Prairie, the team eagerly prepared for the 19 campers to arrive. Campers signed-in on Sunday and everyone headed to the rink for the first ice-session of the week. Glen served as head-coach for the week, and Brian assisted. The 19 kids were split into two age groups, but they all shared one ice time.

One of the highlights at the PRBI camp was seeing how the kids all came together in one tight-knit community despite age differences. The campers ranged from an 8-year-old to a 16-year-old.

After the ice time on Sunday the campers all gathered for a campfire back at the PRBI campus, a tradition that continued each night of the camp. Dale shared his story with the campers that night, and they sang some awesome silly songs as well.

On Monday the campers started their first ball-hockey games, headed up by Finny. Again the teams were a complete mix of ages, but the kids loved it. The camp also featured a daily chapel time in the morning featuring YWAM's very own, Brian Peters, as the camp speaker.

After brunch and cleanup each day, the kids headed to the rink

for two on-ice sessions and dry-land. The campers returned back to PRBI for supper, and a wide-game followed by the campfire and a testimony by one of the leaders. Debs, Jeremy and Finny all shared their stories at the campfire during the week. On Thursday, the last day of camp, many of the campers also shared their own testimonies with their small-group.

All in all it was a week packed with new hockey skills for the kids (and Debs), lots of laughter,

and lasting friendships. The HSOS team left the camp feeling a bit sleep-deprived, yet totally refreshed by the relationships and memories they built with the kids. Brian did an amazing job speaking to the kids at chapel, and the kids all seemed to have a blast.

The daily bus ride to and from the rink was actually one of the highlights of the week for some of the campers.... especially the kids in the blue van. Click HERE to watch some interviews with those kids.

Meet the Team!

The 2010 HSOS team has descended on Canada from all across the world to work with the kids at our six hockey camps this summer. The team consists of nine members. Below is a little bio on each member, for your enjoyment:

Brett Barkman

• Center, Shoots Right
• 6-foot-2, 165 pounds
• Home Town: Arborg, Manitoba

Brett's career highlights include playing for his Midget B team but

the team lost in the final minute of the Provincial final. He also won a Midget A tournament in Altona.

Jeremy Doirn

• Defense, Shoots Right
• 6-foot-3, 185 pounds
• Hometown, Chamainus, B.C.

Jeremy was the captain of his high school team. He has played hockey since age six. His favorite NHL team is the Vancouver Cannucks and his favorite all-time player is Joe Sakic.

Kaitlyn Fehr

• Left Wing, shoots Left
• 5-foot-5
• Hometown, LaCreete, Alberta

Kaitlyn won Provincials with the Moosejaw Warriors in 2010. She was the MVP of a tournament in 2008, and was captain of her team that same season. Her favorite NHL team is the Chicago Blackhawks (but she promises she is not a bandwagon fan) and her favorite player is Sidney Crosby.

Chris "Finny" Finnson

• Center, Shoots Right
• 6-foot-4, 207 pounds
• Hometown, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Finny last played for the Barnaby Express. His Pee-Wee AAA team won the Provincial Championship. His future goal is to own a house and to be the oldest player ever drafted into the NHL, of course.

Debs Francisco

• Defense, Shoots Right
• 5-foot-7
• Hometown: Los Alamos, New Mexico

Debs' career highlights include hoisting the Stanley Cup as an intern with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. She played her first hockey game on Canadian ice this summer on SOS (and even scored a goal). She played two years with the Chelsea Piers Polar Bears in New York City.

Tal Klaudt

• Goalie, GAA 2.31
• 5-foot-10, 155 pounds
• Hometown, Calgary, Alberta

Tal's Pee Wee team won the city championships

and he he was the MVP of that team. He aspires to play Junior

A or backup for Marc-Andre Fleury in Pittsburgh. His

favorite NHL team is the Canadiens and he admires Carey Price.

Dale Lehmann

• Forward, Shoots Left
• 5-foot-10, 155 pounds
• Hometown, Morris, Manitoba

Dale played for the Zone four Championship team last year, He was the winner of the Rheal Berard Memorial Hart Award and he was captain of his Bantam hockey team. He is a die-hard Maple Leafs fan.

Brian Peters

• Right Wing, shoots Right
• 5-foot-5, 155 pounds
• Hometown, Petosky Michigan

Brian loves playing and coaching overseas and working with YWAM hockey. He hopes to return to Russia to coach hockey there. His favorite NHL team is the Detroit Red Wings.

Ancel Schwabe

• Forward, Shoots Left
• 6-foot-2, 171 pounds
• Hometown: Basel, Switzerland

Ancel's career highlights include winning the NHL's 2016 Hart Trophy for MVP. He most recently played with Wisle, a junior team in Switzerland. His favorite NHL team is the New Jersey Devils. One day he hopes to train seeing eye dogs.

What's the HSOS team up to?

Teamwork

The HSOS team began their summer together with an exercise in getting to know and trust each other - they went to great heights to do this, on the high ropes course at TWU.

Who says hockey players don't hold hands?

In the photos:

Jeremy and Tal

Ancel and Debs

Brian and Dale

Brett and Kaitlyn

Jeremy and Debs - climbing and jumping

Finney

HSOS team

Hockey Summer of Service

HSOS began today. Everyone is here and ready to go. We have an orientation day tomorrow and then it's off to our fist camp in Grande Prairie.

It looks like we have another excellent team - the most ever and the most camps ever. We are looking forward to an exciting summer.