Prep Camp’s Olympic Connection

As women's ice hockey comes to a close at the 2022 Olympic Games, we would like to recognise and celebrate a number of player's and staff that all share a Prep Camp connection.
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ben mackay

LGS Lead Instructor | Marketing Coordinator |
Producer - Leading with Curiosity Podcast

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Prep Camp has an incredible list of elite female alumni that are enjoying success playing hockey around the world. With the close of the women’s ice hockey at the 2022 Olympic Games, there were 4 player’s and 2 team staff from 3 different countries that all shared a Prep Camp connection. 

 

Team Canada

With Canada capturing the gold medal, Saanichton’s Micah Zandee-Hart became BC’s first female hockey player to win a gold medal in the Olympics. Micah, who attended Prep Camp in 2014, has already established herself as one of the top defenders in the world. Her impressive resume includes a four year NCAA career at Cornell where she was captain in her senior year, and she has already accumulated 45 caps representing Canada at the U18 and Senior level.

Also representing Canada was assistant coach, Alison Domenico. Having enjoyed a successful playing career in the NCAA, Alison has been coaching since 2009 and is now the associate head coach of Providence College. Alison attended Prep Camp as an on ice coach, and is an example of the highest quality staff that the camp attracts.   

Team China

Speaking of impressive Prep Camp coaches, Brian Idalski was behind the bench and led the Chinese national team to their first Olympic victory in their 24-year history. Coach Brian, who attended Prep Camp when he was head coach of the University of North Dakota women’s hockey program, was tasked with leading a diverse group of player’s to represent China on their home soil. 

On this team were two players that played their minor hockey in BC and spent time in Port Alberni at Prep Camp: Leah Lum and Camryn Wong. Leah was the top scorer for team China and was their assistant captain. A Pacific Steelers alumni and four-year graduate from the University of Connecticut in the NCAA, Leah is now playing professional hockey in Russia with the KRS Vanke Rays. Similarly, Camryn Wong has already accomplished a lot in her young career playing three years at the University of Connecticut in the NCAA and currently as a defender with Coach Idalski’s KRS Vanke Rays.

Team Switzerland

Finally, a familiar face from many summer’s at Prep Camp, Phoebe Staenz, continued her illustrious playing career representing Team Switzerland. This was Phoebe’s third Olympic Games and she has now represented Switzerland 84 times at the U18 and Senior levels! While her team was just edged out in the bronze medal final, Phoebe has won bronze before in the 2014 Olympics and the World Championships in 2012. A four year graduate of Yale University in the NCAA, Phoebe is now in her fifth professional season and one of her teams leading scorers with Lesksands IF in the SDHL. From those that have met her, Phoebe has an infectious personality playing the game she loves and is highly respected for her work ethic on and off the ice. Having spent multiple summer’s in Port Alberni at Prep Camp, Phoebe has left a positive impression on many and is truly an inspiration.

 

When two worlds collide: Phoebe Staenz, pictured with Swiss National Women's Team Coach, Colin Mueller - longtime friend of Prep Camp Director, Nate Leslie.
When two worlds collide: Phoebe Staenz, pictured with Swiss National Women's Team Coach, Colin Mueller - longtime friend of Prep Camp Director, Nate Leslie.

Hockey is a global game, and one of the things that makes Prep Camp such a unique experience is that it brings together hockey players and coaches from a variety of different backgrounds. For the first time in over two years, Prep Camp will once again be welcoming back high performance hockey player’s with big dreams from around the world. We can’t wait!

Two Weeks of Elite Female Camps:
July 11-15 and July 18-22

About Elite Female Camp

The Elite Female Camp at the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp welcomes rep level committed players from U13 to College/University to apply. Players from all over Western Canada and even Europe attended the Elite Female West Coast Hockey Prep Camp. Many of our past participants are now playing University level hockey or have committed to places like Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Boston University, Syracuse, UConn, UBC, Queens, Waterloo, Western, York, SAIT, the Swiss National Team, and more.  We have consistently coached over 150 elite female hockey players every summer in recent years.  Register early. The Elite Female Camp will focuses on advanced technical skill development, game understanding, and innovative off-ice conditioning and training. Players must have played Rep hockey.

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What people say?

The location is amazing. I did not expect this at all. Everyone is so friendly, the staff feels like a family. I hope the kids feel that together as well. I think it is a life experience that every kid should have, and it is with great people.
Julie Knerr
coach - syracuse university, NCAA div i
When you get here, you meet a bunch of great people all working towards the same goal. I now have a lot of friends from all over the world that I don't get to see until I come to Prep Camp. I've been coming for over 10 years. 8 years as a camper, and now as a coach.
Maryna McDonald, Port Alberni BC
harvard university, ncaa div 1