Camp Director | Certified Executive Coach | Former Professional Player
Jordan Wood drops the puck in an NZIHL game.
Every year for the past 5 years I have been lucky to head to Queenstown, New Zealand with my brother Boe and hockey players from around North America on our New Zealand Hockey and Culture Exchange. This past April was the most exciting yet with 16 bantam and midget aged players from Canada and the US, and a few lucky BC backpackers getting a first hand introduction into the networking opportunities that exist as part of the Prep Camp tradition.
Many of you have met our New Zealand players who come this way in our summer for the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp, and 2015 saw two of our main contacts in Queenstown, Andy Mills and Nick Flight chaperoning 8 kiwi players, helping on ice, and participating in referee camp. On a break in the day two ref campers Jordan Wood and Chris Van Deventer mentioned to coaches Andy and Nick they’d like to backpack in New Zealand and offered to bring their skates along to ref some games. Jordan and Chris are pioneers in what is now a real opportunity for Canadian officials to live and work in Queenstown, New Zealand, making part/full time living officiating from April to September. I’ll let Chris and Jordan’s testimonials tell you the rest…
A few months ago, after deciding to go travelling, I contacted Andy Mills, whom I’d met through Prep Camp this past summer. While here in NZ Andy connected us with some exciting events. We started by participating in the local IIHF level 1 officiating course, where we got to work with new officials. Next we were chosen to officiate New Zealand’s National u16 camp. Lastly we got the opportunity to officiate in a New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) exhibition game. The experience has been amazing and it is awesome to see how excited the young players are to learn more about this great game. I’m thankful for this opportunity that wouldn’t have been possible without the contacts I made through Nate Leslie and Prep Camp. Chris Van Deventer
Chris and Jordan with Nate Leslie’s LGS camp, NZ.
Because of my experience at prep camps “referee development program,” I was given the very unique opportunity to officiate various levels of hockey in New Zealand! At last year’s camp, I had the pleasure of meeting Andy and Nick, both of which are highly involved in Queenstown’s hockey and officiating programs. By keeping in touch with these two gentlemen, I had the chance not only officiate in New Zealand, but also to aid in mentoring some of the younger officials in the area. I also had the privilege of officiating a game in the NZIHL, which is New Zealand’s top level of hockey. Without prep camp, none of this would have been possible; a big thanks to Nate and everyone else who works hard to create these kind of opportunities for prep camp attendees. Jordan Wood
For more information on this opportunity, or joining us on our next trip to New Zealand…
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