Small B.C. community welcomes international female hockey team

A collegiate school in B.C.'s East Kootenay region is starting up an international female hockey team, and a world champion Ukrainian hockey player will be at the helm. 

Purcell Collegiate School in Kimberley, B.C., has formed a U18 female prep program, intended for female players under the age of 18 that want to pursue a professional hockey career and post-secondary education. 

This fall the community of around 7,400 people will welcome athletes from the United States, Canada, Ukraine, Denmark, Hungary and other locations across the world to study and play in the community located around 200 km southwest of Calgary.

Duncan MacLeod, head of Purcell Collegiate School, says it's a win for everyone as it provides opportunities for both the international players and locals. 

"The benefit is significant, in terms of kids not having to leave, and then also the types of kids it brings in for our non-athletic students to study with," he told CBC News.

"We're trying to create opportunities rurally that are exceptional and distinguishing." 

Ukrainian world champion Valeriia Manchak-Jensen will be the head coach of the team. 

She played professional hockey in the U.S., led her Ukrainian team to gold at the IIHF Women´s World Championship Division III, and is a world champion boxer — all by the age of 27. 

Now, she'll be coaching and inspiring young women in the sport she loves most.

"I believe we're doing something great. There's a bigger purpose to it," she said. "There's a bigger purpose giving the opportunity to grow the game here, but also create a different academic opportunity with the opportunity to play hockey."

She adds that the school is currently recruiting athletes to play on the team. The season begins with training camp at the end of August. 

"I think we're not only going to have a great hockey team — but we're going to have a great team of human beings and amazing female role models," said Manchak-Jensen. 

Associate coach and Kimberley native Megan Hostasek says hockey changed her life. She left Kimberley at the age of 15 to pursue her hockey career, becoming one of the country's top defence players in Western Canada. 

"I was a really shy kid. Sports brought my personality out. It was a way for me to make friends.... I can't say enough about what sport did for me and I'm just excited to give the opportunity back," Hostasek said. 

The 36-year-old says that while winning games is a goal for the team, it's about more than playing hockey.

"For me, I would love to see our students have high grades that give them the opportunity to go to any university they want."

She says it's a "huge" full circle moment for her and the community of Kimberley, as she is able to give back to the city that she initially had to leave to pursue her hockey dreams. 

Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick is optimistic about the success of the collegiate program.

"Let's face it, we are a hockey community," he said.

"The timing right now, particularly given the success of the PWHL this past year, which was nothing short of a home run, [and] the focus on women's hockey — I think the community is going to embrace this, big time."