P.E.I. hosts international hockey hopefuls
'I think the nervousness is good. Makes you play better'
With every pass, shot, goal and check young hockey players are hoping to get noticed at the annual Atlantic Hockey Showcase and Atlantic Female Prospect Camp hosted by Andrews Hockey Growth Programs this week in Charlottetown.
About 400 players from nine different countries around the world including Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia are on P.E.I. for the invite-only event.
The players are hoping to earn scholarships and spots on teams or in programs.
Scouts, coaches and recruiters from colleges, prep schools, Canadian Major Junior, Tier II Junior, Tier III Junior and Canadian universities are in attendance. The event is also scouted by NHL organizations.
Coming to these camps teaches you more than just being a hockey player. It teaches you how to be, like, a good person.— Katie Peddle, hockey player
16-year-old Katie Peddle has been attending the camp for a few years and hopes to find a university or college she can play with in the U.S. or Canada when she graduates from high school.
"It's nerve-racking obviously because like these are the people that are going to get you further in hockey," said Peddle. "But I think the nervousness is good. Makes you play better."
Team Canada dreams
Peddle is from Labrador City, N.L., and plays forward at the private school Stanstead College in southern Quebec. Her dream is to play for Team Canada. Scouts from the Canadian national team are watching this week.
"Coming to these camps teaches you more than just being a hockey player. It teaches you how to be, like, a good person and I think hockey's overall taught me a lot about myself," she said. "It's taught me to be a better person."
14-year-old Ryan Nause is from Riverview, N.B., and is playing for Bishop's College School in Sherbrooke, Que., something he said was only possible because he attended the showcase in previous years.
"It's definitely opened doors for me and hopefully it'll continue to do that for my future," said Nause, who hopes to play in the NCAA and eventually the NHL.
"I'm hoping to get more exposure at the college level and the junior level," he said.
Hidden gems
On average, between 75 and 100 of the players that attend earn scholarships or connect with a program said Josh Andrews, vice-president of Andrews Hockey Growth Programs.
"We're not in a major hub and so typically a lot of the Maritime and Atlantic Canadian players don't get a whole lot of exposure. So that's why Allan Andrews, my father, started this to begin with — to really kind of give Atlantic Canadians a good chance to get seen and kind of further their education in hockey," said Andrews.
Scouts tell Andrews every year they find hidden gems they haven't seen before, he said.
He said more players than ever have been invited this year. The players do pay a fee for the camp.
The male showcase will wrap up July 1 and the female camp ends June 29.