2025 OHA Female College Showcase – A Huge Success!
The 2025 OHA Female College Showcase, held from April 4-6, 2025, in the picturesque city of Penticton, BC, brought together some of the most promising young female hockey players from across the region for an unforgettable weekend of skill development, college insights, and thrilling gameplay.
A Memorable Experience for All
Designed for aspiring female hockey players, the event offered a unique opportunity to enhance their skills while gaining invaluable insights into the world of collegiate hockey. The weekend featured a variety of on-ice and off-ice activities, each carefully curated to provide participants with a comprehensive experience aimed at elevating both their athletic abilities and understanding of the college hockey landscape.
Event Highlights:
- College Representation: Over 20 colleges attended the event, including prestigious programs from the NCAA, USports, ACHA, and ACAC providing players with significant exposure to a wide range of collegiate opportunities.
- OHA Information Session: Players and parents had the chance to hear directly from OHA staff about the opportunities available at the Okanagan Hockey Academy. The session highlighted OHA’s renowned development pathways and the balance of academics and athletics that sets the academy apart in fostering student-athlete success.
- College Coach Hot Stove: A standout feature of the event, the College Coach Hot Stove offered a unique opportunity for players to engage with top college coaches, ask questions, and gain insider knowledge about navigating the path to collegiate hockey. This open dialogue provided valuable insights into what it takes to make an impression at the next level.
- On-Ice Skills Session: Under the guidance of both college and OHA professional coaches, players participated in an intense skills session that focused on improving key techniques such as puck control, skating, and positioning. Personalized feedback helped athletes refine their individual skills and elevate their overall game.
- Goalie-Specific Training: Goaltenders received tailored instruction from OHA’s Head Goalie Instructor, Lucas Gore, a coach with extensive experience at the WHL level. This specialized session focused on goalie-specific drills and techniques designed to sharpen their skills between the pipes.
- Strength and Conditioning Session: Led by OHA’s Head of Strength and Conditioning, Paul Bisnauth, this session emphasized the importance of athletic performance off the ice. Players gained valuable tips on building strength, speed, and agility, all while minimizing the risk of injury.
- 3x Showcase Games: Throughout the weekend, participants had the opportunity to compete in three full showcase games, putting their skills to the test in a competitive environment. These games not only gave players a chance to demonstrate their abilities but also provided college coaches and OHA staff with a closer look at the talent on display.
- School Tour with OHA Academic Advisor: Participants toured Penticton Secondary, a top-rated school partnered with OHA, and learned about the academic opportunities available to student-athletes. The tour provided a deeper understanding of how OHA supports its players in balancing education and athletics.
A Bright Future Ahead
The 2025 OHA Female College Showcase was a tremendous success, thanks to the dedication of the athletes, the expertise of OHA coaches and staff, and the invaluable involvement of collegiate coaches. By focusing on skill development, education, and college hockey pathways, the event set the stage for the next generation of female hockey players to achieve success at the collegiate level and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible, and congratulations to all the athletes who participated! We look forward to following your journeys and can’t wait to see where your hockey careers take you next!
Couldn’t Attend?
If you were unable to attend the 2025 OHA Female Showcase but are eager to continue developing your game, please reach out to Mike Needham, our Senior Manager of Hockey Operations, to explore available roster opportunities for the 2025-2026 season. Mike can be reached at mikeneedham@okanaganhockey.com.
Looking Ahead to 2026-2027
Interested in attending the 2026-2027 Female Showcase? Be sure to join our mailing list to be notified as soon as registration opens.
2025 Schools that were in attendance:
- NCAA D1
- Clarkson NCAA D1
- Robert Morris University (NCAA D1)
- St Cloud State University (NCAA D1)
- Harvard University (NCAA D1)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NCAA D1)
- St. Anslems College (NCAA D1)
- Bemidji State University (NCAA D1)
- University of St. Thomas (NCAA D1)
- Syracuse (NCAA D1)
- Vermont (NCAA D1)
- Brown (NCAA D1)
- University of British Columbia (UBC, USports)
- University of Ottawa (USports)
- Trinity Western University (USports)
- University of Saskatchewan (USports)
- Mount Royal University (USports)
- Ontario Tech (Usports)
ACHA D1
- Auburn University (ACHA D1)
- Niagara University (ACHA D1)
- Grand Canyon University (ACHA D1)
NCAA D3
- Lake Forrest College (NCAA D3)
- SUNY Potsdam (NCAA D3)
- Trine (NCAA D3)
- SAIT (ACAC)
