IIHF Camp

Press Release

CALGARY, Tuesday, June 23, 2009 – Five Canadians – three players, a coach and an official – have been chosen to take part in the 2009 IIHF Hockey Development Camp, July 4-12 in Vierumäki, Finland. The players will be among 160 players from the IIHF’s 56 member nations.

The camp brings together players with a wide variety of skill levels to promote the development of emerging hockey nations with the help of the top hockey nations within the IIHF membership. The goal is to focus attention on the grassroots development programming for the sport of hockey.

Hockey Canada is pleased to announce the following players chosen by their respective branches:

Steven Hodges (BC Hockey – Delta, B.C.) – Steven is a forward and played for the South Delta Storm in the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association.

Landon Peel (Hockey Manitoba – Virden, Man.) – Landon is a defenseman and played for the Virden Oil Kings in the South West Manitoba Bantam Hockey League.

Troy Trombley (Hockey Alberta – Sherwood Park, Alta.) – Troy is a goaltender and played for the Camrose Kodiaks in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.

The IIHF Hockey Development Camp also includes officiating and coaching streams. Canada’s representatives for officiating and coaching at the IIHF Hockey Development Camp include:

Frédéric Leblanc (Gatineau, Que.) – A Level 5 certified Hockey Canada official, Frederic is a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League official. He is currently attending university to go along with his busy officiating schedule. During the IIHF Hockey Development Camp, Frederic will join a group of young officials from around the world to learn more about the four-man system.

Matthew Desmeules (Kitchener, Ont.) – During the 2008-09 season Matthew served as the head coach of the Kitchener Jr. Rangers (Midget AAA). Matthew is a fully-certified NCCP High Performance 1 coach.

"We’re excited that these five individuals will represent Canada in Finland," said Paul Carson, Hockey Canada’s director of development. "This camp is a terrific opportunity to share ideas, and we’re looking forward to seeing those involved grow as players, coaches and officials."

The camp will mark the sixth time the IIHF has brought together young players from around the world since the first camp was held in Nymburg, Czech Republic in August 1999.

For more information on Canada’s development programs, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)