The Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL) Showcase is coming to Penticton.
The 11- team league with squads in Canada and the U.S. play four to five games from Jan. 29-31.
“We are excited to be hosting the JWHL,” said OHA Female Prep head coach Jim Fetter in a statement. “It is a great opportunity for people to get out to see some great female hockey with some national level players both from Canada and the USA. This is great for us to show off Penticton and all the great things it has to offer not only the players but the parents.
“It’s great for OHA to show the rest of the league what a great set up we have and why this is a great place for players to come and grow not only as hockey players but as people,” continued Fetter.
Along with the Okanagan Hockey Academy, the JWHL features Balmoral Hall (Winnipeg, MB), Canadian International Hockey Academy (Rockland, Ont.), Edge School (Calgary, Alta) Notre Dame (Wilcox, Sask.), Pacific Steelers (Richmond) and Warner School (Warner, Alta). From the U.S., there is the Boston Shamrocks (Boston, Mass.), Colorado Select (Denver, Colo.), North American Hockey Academy (Stowe, Vt.) and Washington Pride (Washington, DC). A total of 23 games will take place at the South Okanagan Events Centre, OHS Training Centre and Memorial Arena.
The JWHL was established in 2007. The JWHL was the first ‘junior’ style league for girls hockey North America. The driving force behind the league is to serve as the stage that allows elite teams to compete at the highest level for girls in their federations. It also serves to develop players for National Collegiate Athletic Association and Canadian Interuniversity Sport programs.