Located in Whitby, ON, Okanagan Hockey Ontario (OHO) joined the CSSHL in 2018 and currently has one team.
2021-22 Teams
U18 Prep
EDUCATION
Partner School: Henry Street High School (Grades 9-12)
What are some of the things your program does to provide educational support?
OHO has a dedicated staff member within the school that is a direct link to the hockey program. The Head Coach and Guidance Counselor meet weekly to discuss student progress. Through this consistent communication, support systems are put in place to support each of our athletes to reach their academic goals
How are grades monitored and how often?
Grades are monitored by the Guidance Counselor at Henry Street High School. Each semester, midterms and report cards are sent to each family. Throughout the semester, student progress is reported to OHO staff and during team travel, progress reports for each student are sent to the coaching staff to monitor assignment due dates and upcoming tests for each student athlete.
How are courses and the graduation path for student athletes chosen?
Courses are chosen by the students at the end of each school year for the next year. Nicole Sorichetti who is the academic advisor for OHO helps all student athletes in choosing the right courses and helps with career path options. Throughout this process, she ensures student athletes who are interested in the NCAA route, remain eligible by taking NCAA eligible courses.
Do you have an academic probation policy?
Student athletes are to maintain a 65% average in school, which is reviewed monthly. Each student has certain circumstances on that grade point. If players fall below that grade average, a student responsibility agreement is developed with a plan of action to support the student athlete. Removal from on and off-ice activities is a tool that will be used to enforce effort and accountability in the classroom.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
Do you offer a billeting program or a dormitory for non-local student athletes?
Okanagan Hockey Ontario is proud to provide a home away from home feeling to our student-athletes.
Our student- athletes that require room and board are billeted among a great group of local families. The goal of our billet program is to provide our student athletes a home away from home. Our billet families help shape our students into young adults and help them move onto the next level of school and sport.
We have had great success through our billeting program and feel that it has been an integral part of the growth of our program.
Each potential billet family goes through a wide-ranging interview and reference check. The student is also asked a series of questions such as if they are okay living with children, pets, etc. It is imperative that the student athlete and family have a connection and it is the right fit for both parties.
“This has been our second year billeting for Okanagan Hockey Ontario and it just keeps getting better. We were blessed to share our home and add a third hockey player to our family. It’s been a rewarding experience and the friendships we made with our billets and their families will last a lifetime.” – Kelly and Paul Bannister, Billet Family
STUDENT ATHLETE HEALTH
How are injuries and sick student athletes monitored?
All injuries and illnesses are handled and monitored by the team Athletic Therapist Jessica Pragg. Jessica communicates all injuries with the student’s family, Head Coach and assists Elite Training Systems in any recovery plans for the athlete.
Athlete monitoring is typically completed with daily check-ins but can differ depending on the injury or illness. We also utilize a software program called Kinduct that monitors not only the health and wellness of a student athlete but is a resource for their workouts. Concussion testing is managed through the Highmark EQ concussion testing software.
Parent communication will also take place for athletes that are injured for any extended period of time, including updates on their progress or changes in their injury status. Parent communication will also take place when any sort of physician contact, such general check-ups, walk-in clinics or emergency room visits. This is especially helpful when the families are not in town and are kept up to date with every step of the injury or illness and their recovery back to health.
SCHEDULE
What does the daily schedule look like for an Okanagan Hockey Ontario student athlete?
Student Athletes attend Henry Street High School from 9:00-1:50 and then arrive at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre around 2:00pm for their afternoon activities. Depending on the day, afternoon activities consists of on-ice training and/or team practice, off-ice workout, team meetings, video sessions, study halls, mental skills training and SAT prep. All activities are completed by 5:00 pm.
How many games can your teams expect to play?
Our U18 team plays 50+ games a season, which includes the CSSHL regular season and Championships, exhibition games and tournaments both in Canada and the United States.
What does the on and off ice training look like?
OHO offers over 140 hours of practice ice and off-ice workouts. Our athletes take part in daily purposeful on-ice training. Practices are designed with individual skill development in mind through tactical and technical teaching sessions executed by Head Coach Corey Beer and Skill Development Coach Mike Duco.
On-Ice Highlights
- 4 – 5 practices per week
- 50 plus games per season
- Detailed breakdown of all facets of the game, both individually and team oriented
- Digital video analysis of all areas of the game
- Professional coaching staff
- Consistent instruction in skating and movement
We have professional off-ice training staff and supplement core strength training, explosive speed training as well as nutrition guidance. Our manager of strength and conditioning Mark Fitzgerald coordinates with the Elite Training System staff to design individualized workout plans for all student athletes. We strongly believe that physical preparation is the key to long-term hockey development. Our philosophy is to provide our athletes with the tools needed to execute and perform at the highest level possible.
Off-Ice Strength and Conditioning Highlights
- Professional off-ice training staff
- Okanagan Hockey Academy off-ice speed centre
- Core strength, explosive speed, and plyometric equipment
- An individualized 10 month strength and conditioning program
- Hockey specific training
- Nutrition and supplement guidance
FACILITIES
Where are your facilities?
Our academy operates out of the Iroquois Park Sports Centre. The IPSC is Canada’s largest municipally owned and operated recreation facility. The 250,000 square foot sports and entertainment facility was voted in the Top 5 “Best Arenas in the GTA” by Toronto Star. OHO has a dedicated ice surface within the complexes 6 arenas.
Facility Highlights
- 6 arenas
- 25-metre, deep water swimming pool and a wading pool
- 6 lit tennis courts
- 4 baseball/softball/hardball diamonds
- 1 lit soccer field
- A strength and conditioning training centre
KEY STAFF
Who are some of the key staff at Okanagan Hockey Ontario?
Andy Oakes, President
Dixon Ward, Vice President
Paul Pascuzzi, General Manager
Corey Beer, U18 Head Coach
Mark Fitzgerald, Manager of Strength and Conditioning and Human Performance
Mike Duco, Okanagan Hockey Skills Development Coach
Zac Bierk, Goaltender Coach
Dave Kennedy, Goaltender Coach
Jessica Pragg, Athletic Therapist
Nicole Sorichetti, Guidance Counsellor
PRICE
What is included in the price to attend Okanagan Hockey Ontario?
The cost for the ten-month program (September-June) is $32,000 plus GST. This cost covers everything for the student athlete from games, tournaments, off/on ice training, travel, food, equipment, apparel, skate sharpening and more. If a student athlete requires the billet, the cost is $6500 for the year ($650 per month).
CONTACT
What is the best way to contact Okanagan Hockey Ontario?
Website: https://okanaganhockey.com/academy/ontario/
Email: paulpascuzzi@okanaganhockey.com
Our complete Prospectus can be downloaded from our website.