On Sunday, 15th July 2012, two IIHF camps began in Vierumaki, Finland; the annual Hockey Development Camp which Ireland has taken part in each year since 2007 and the High Performance Camp which aims to bring women’s hockey to an elite level outside of North America. Ireland will be represented at both camps.
The Hockey Development Camp will see 158 participants from 42 countries with the IIHA sending four participants who will each be taking part in different programmes. Beatrice Hosgood, Sonya McEneaney, Gabriela Vlasankova and Anne Whipple were all selected to take part at the Camp. Beatrice Hosgood (Team Manager) and Gabriela Vlasankova (Team Coach) will be working as Team Staff on one of the 6 teams while Sonya McEneaney will take part in the Game Officials’ programme as a linesman and Anne Whipple takes part in the Learn To Play programme as an instructor.
Each of the participants will take part in a full week of activities were they will gain invaluable knowledge and experience so that they can assist the IIHA in developing women’s hockey in Ireland. The Hockey Development Camp has always proved to be a fantastic leadership programme which helps to educate and train those that take part. Unfortunately, this year is one of the few years in which the IIHA will not have any players taking part in the camp. This is due to the small number of female players in the age category. However, it is hoped that with the knowledge gained from this camp, there will be an increase in the number of female players in Ireland over the next few years.
In addition to the Hockey Development Camp, two of the IIHA’s coaches have been selected to take part in the High Performance Camp. Both Seanna Conway (Goalkeeper Coach) and Vytautas Lukeosevicius (Team Coach) will be part of the Team Staff of one of the camp’s teams. It will be an extremely intensive week involving some of the best athletes and officials in women’s hockey.
We wish each of the participants the best of luck throughout the week at what will an unforgettable experience for each of them.
The full goings on in Vierumaki, can be followed here: http://www.iihf.com/channels1112/camp/programs.html