About

About Us

The Okanagan Hockey Community Foundation (OHCF) believes in providing the best education and athletic opportunities to those seeking an avenue that may not be viable due to financial barriers. The OHCF supports students and athletes in pursuit of achievement through programs focusing on the overall development of the individual. The focus of all programs is personal development – in the classroom, in the community and on the ice.

OHCF will support those with financial barriers who seek to attend the Okanagan Hockey Academy or wish to attend the Okanagan Hockey Camps. Consideration will be provided for those wishing to apply for funding to attend an accredited and approved hockey camp within their local region due to travel barriers and restrictions.

The Okanagan Hockey Community Foundation and the Okanagan Hockey Group believe in and live the principles of accountability, teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline and respect.

Click here to view the OHCF Brochure

The Board

Michael O'Connor with the Okanagan Hockey Community Foundation

Michael O’Connor

Chair
JP Kaumeyer with Okanagan Hockey Community Foundation

JP Kaumeyer

Secretary and Treasurer
Andy Oakes with Okanagan Hockey Community Foundation

Andy Oakes

Board Member

Larry Lund

Board Member

Michael Hildebrand

Board Member

Dixon Ward

Board Member

Our Mission

Remove financial and emotional barriers to educational advancement for students and athletes in pursuit of academic and athletic excellence through hockey, leading to good citizenship and community involvement.

Our Mission

Remove financial and emotional barriers to educational advancement for students and athletes in pursuit of academic and athletic excellence through hockey, leading to good citizenship and community involvement.

Our Vision

Support, encourage and facilitate educational and athletic opportunities for youth in exceptional programs.

  • Joining Okanagan Hockey Academy was the best decision I made to advance my hockey development. I grew as a person and as a player thanks to our amazing coaches. My education was held to a very high standard by our education advisor and tutors. I also met people who will be lifelong friends.

    Michael Rasmussen, 2015 OHA Graduate, Detroit Red Wings Prospect

  • Attending OHA has been the greatest experience of my life. It didn't only help establish myself as a better hockey player; but also helped me become a better individual. I wouldn't be heading down the path I am today if it wasn't for OHA.

    Tanner Johnson, 2012 OHA Graduate, University of Alaska-Anchorage

  • At the end of grade nine, my parents and I decided it would be beneficial for both my hockey and scholastic development to attend OHA the next year. We toured other hockey academies, but ultimately felt OHA was the best fit for me. The coach’s and trainer’s expertise allowed me to learn more about the game, further develop my skills, strength and stamina and readied me to enter the WHL as a competent and confident 16 year old. With the support of great teachers and tutors my grades improved and I made friends that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend OHA for the player who is looking to take their game, grades and life skills to the next level.

    Josh Mahura, 2014 OHA Graduate, Anaheim Ducks Prospect

  • In 2010 I was fortunate enough to play at the Okanagan Hockey Academy on the Midget Prep team. With coaches like Robert Dirk and Greg Holst it was an unbelievable year. I have to this day still never been on such a close-knit team. It was my first year of midget hockey and that meant a lot more travel. Playing in the CSSHL I got the opportunity to play in some pretty awesome spots. The league helped me learn to stay on top of school, which has helped me not only in college but also in junior. I was able to make an easy jump to junior and college academically with the help of Dave Nackoney, a guidance counselor at Penticton Secondary School who works with all the student athletes. To this day if I need anything he is always more than willing to help. It is the great staff that left such an impression on me, and made it possible for me to be where I am today.

    Adam Plant, 2012 OHA Graduate, University of Denver Student Athlete

  • OHA gave me the opportunity to grow as a person and as a player. It taught me how to work hard and how to overcome adversity.

    Jagger Dirk, 2008 OHA Graduate, St. Fx University Student Athlete

  • OHA provided me the perfect environment to grow as a person as well as a hockey player. Without OHA I would not have made it to the college level. OHA taught me everything I could need to grow and play at the next level. With out OHA I would not have gone to Castleton University and obtained my BSc. Exercise Science.

    Sabrina Hosner, 2013 OHA Graduate, Castleton University Graduate

  • Discipline and Teamwork: These two foundations were essential to my success in the Marine Corps. The Academy taught me skills that help me outside of hockey that I was able to incorporate into my success as a Marine.

    Matthew Wesley, 2010 OHA Graduate, US Marine

  • My time at OHA provided me an opportunity to grow as a person and athlete. Without OHA I would not have had the opportunity to play post secondary hockey. The life skills I learned at OHA are skills that I will have with me forever.

    me forever. Alyssa MacMillan, 2016 OHA Graduate, University of Ottawa Student

  • My time at OHA was a wonderful experience, and the best 3 years of my life. I made lifelong friends and memories that will stay with me forever. OHA not only prepared me for university but for succeeding in everyday life.

    Stephanie Rempe, 2016 OHA Graduate, Brown University Student Athlete

  • During my time at OHA I really grew as both a person and an athlete. I learned necessary life skills that I will continue to use throughout my life.

    Cyan Roepcke, 2016 OHA Graduate, University of Guelph Student Athlete

  • Being a part of the Okanagan Hockey Academy has been an extremely rewarding and unforgettable experience. It has enabled me to gain confidence and acquire life long skills expanding beyond the game of hockey. The balance between academics and athletics is superb, allowing you to achieve your ultimate success. The academy assisted me in achieving my dream of playing hockey at the NCAA level while studying Pre-Medicine. Without this caring support group, none of this would have been possible and I am forever grateful.

    Brenna Hannon, 2017 OHA Graduate, Aurora University Student Athlete

  • My time with OHA not only shaped me into the person I am, but taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, loyalty, and friendship. Okanagan Hockey Academy has become my home and I value everything they have done for me.

    Alley Rempe, 2016 OHA Graduate, Brown University Student Athlete

  • I look back at OHA and smile. The whole experience helped and continues to progress my life for the better.

    Marcus Moles, 2010 OHA Graduate, Entrepreneur

  • OHA helped instill the moral standards I have and helped me become the person I am today.

    JR Krolik, 2010 OHA Graduate, RMT student

  • The Okanagan Hockey Academy instilled core values such as hard work and perseverance into my daily life, which have allowed me to successfully pursue a degree in biomedical studies and biochemistry at UNBC.

    Jack Lofroth, 2015 OHA Graduate, Biomedical and Biochemistry Student

  • Our daughter is 11 years old and has been playing hockey for 4 years. She has a true passion for the sport and a real drive to learn and improve. She had been to an OHA camp once before but understood that we were not going to be able to afford to send her this year. Completely by surprise we found out in June that she had been chosen as a recipient of funding from the Okanagan Hockey Community Foundation; an organization we had not even heard of. It was a true blessing for our family. This made a real difference in our daughter's life and strengthened her love and passion for the game. We cannot thank you enough

    Anonymous

  • As the eldest of the Bill and Pat Dineen clan, including five boys and my sister who is Rose Dzamongst the thorns’dz; we are definitely a hockey family through and through. A great part of that hockey thread was woven by the Okanagan Hockey School (OHS). Our family was introduced to OHS when my father was playing with Seattle Totem teammates and OHS cofounders Larry Lund and Larry Hale. Once my father started instructing at OHS, the unbreakable link was made to our family that shaped us as athletes and people to this day. Our family owes a great deal of our family’s collective NHL success to that of OHS. OHS was, and continues to be, a great influence in my life.

    Shawn Dineen

  • The Burke family has fond memories of the numerous summer weeks we spent at the Okanagan Hockey School. Both my sons attended the school, and Patrick was an instructor there, just as I was. A great setting and a fantastic learning experience for young hockey players.

    Brian Burke

  • As a parent, you want your children to have the best opportunities to succeed. The Okanagan Hockey Group provided the structure and setting for my sons to excel, not only at hockey but in school. The skills and life lessons both of my sons learned at OHA afforded both of them the opportunities to continue their hockey career and educational paths. All of us look back fondly at the experience OHA afforded my sons.

    Mike Barnett

Okanagan Hockey Tangible Results

Summer Camp Programs

  • 55 years in existence, longest running Hockey School globally
  • 3000 participants annually over all Okanagan Hockey Camp locations
  • 6% International enrolment annually (outside of North America)
  • Up to 15 unsolicited requests for financial aide support annually
  • Up to 10 supported participants per year through minor hockey associations or anonymous donors

Academy

  • 100% graduation rate and community initiative and volunteerism engagement
  • 84% of student athletes on Penticton High Honour Roll in 2015 and 2016
  • Up to 10% of participants enrolled in the Okanagan Hockey Academy receive significant financial support from non family members.
  • Individual long term post secondary education plan
  • NCAA, CIS, Ivy League Bachelor and professional designation degrees
  • Trade school graduates
Up to 10% of participants enrolled in academy programs receive significant financial support from non family members.

Get in touch with us to learn more about getting the best education and athletic opportunities.

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Andy Oakes

Board Member

Andy Oakes has been actively involved in the development of hockey players since he began his career with Okanagan Hockey Group (OHG) in 1997. He has held several positions within the organization starting as an Instructor, was a co-founder and Coordinator of the International Development Tournament, moving to Vice President and is currently President of OHG since 2007. In his 20 years with OHG, Andy has helped grow the camp operations in Canada, Austria and in the United Kingdom. In 2002 Andy founded Okanagan Hockey Academy Penticton, which was established as the first hockey specific sport school recognized by BC Hockey and Hockey Canada. As the need increased for education based hockey, Andy founded and expanded the Academy operations to Okanagan Hockey Academy Europe in 2008, Okanagan Hockey Academy United Kingdom in 2012 and Okanagan Hockey Academy Edmonton in 2015.

Always wanting to be a leader in the industry, Andy established a partnership with the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prospect Combines which are designed to assist high level minor hockey players with their skill development and ability assessment by participating in comprehensive on and off ice testing.

As an advocate of education based hockey, Andy has been involved with Hockey Canada’s Sport School Committee since 2007, which at that time helped established Sport Schools in Canada within the Hockey Canada System. Andy is a founding member and Chairman of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), as well as the Chair of the British Columbia Hockey Schools Committee, since 2014.

Amongst Andy’s achievements, he has been awarded the BC Hockey League Executive of the year in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 as well has being awarded the Business Leader of the Year for 2010 in his home community.

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Larry Lund

Board Member

Larry Lund, a Penticton native grew up and played his entire minor hockey in Penticton, during a time when everyone ate, drank and breathed hockey.

Lund became one of the founder’s (1963) of one of the largest, longest and successful running hockey schools (Okanagan Hockey School) in the world. Under Larry’s direction, the school developed thousands of young players during the summer months in Penticton.

The Okanagan Hockey School, which started with approximately 30 hockey players hosts over 2000 hockey players annually that attend the school in Penticton, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton and throughout Europe. Larry operated OHS for more than 40 years until selling to a group headed in 2004.

Larry Lund has always been a driving force behind hockey in Penticton. He was the majority owner of the Penticton Knights in the1980s, winning the 1986 national junior A championship, and is presently involved in the partnership owners group with the Penticton Vees.

Lund was named 23rd of the Top 50 World Hockey Association (WHA) players of all time and had a successful career totaling 459 games in the WHA.

Larry is still very active in the development of Penticton whether through his support of hockey initiatives, or through his business endeavours in the wine industry or with property developments.

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Michael Hildebrand

Board Member

Mike Hildebrand is from a small farm outside of Brooks, Alberta. At a young age Mike developed a strong passion for sports, which opened him up to trying a wide variety of them. He found himself gravitating to football, leading him to play at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. Two-time national champion with the Calgary Dinos was just one of Mike’s proud moments during college. After college Mike had a short career in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts.

Playing in this team orientated sport fueled a new desire for Mike – to teach, mentor and coach. Leaving the professional football world, he started coaching minor hockey for over 10 years and is a certified Hockey Canada goalie coach.

Univar Canada, a chemical distribution company where Mike has been employed now for 27 years, he has held many titles including, customer service, commercial sales, general manager and VP of human resources. In 2014 Mike was promoted to president of Univar Canada and is still serving his Canadian team in this role to date.

Mike resides in Summerland B.C. with his wife Christine and their faithful four-legged friend Dexter. Mike and Christine’s son Nolan inherited Mike’s passion for hockey and is playing junior in the B.C. Hockey League.

“Never forget where you came from” a saying you will often hear Mike saying, always brings him back to his humble roots.

Mike joined the Foundation Board as it was something he can stand behind knowing first hand how the importance of developing the student-athlete as an individual is first and foremost at the heart of what Okanagan Hockey Group does.

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Dixon Ward

Board Member

Dixon joined Okanagan Hockey Group after a distinguished hockey career. As an amateur, he played four seasons of college hockey at the University of North Dakota where he was the only player in the school’s history to score 100 goals and 100 assists. Dixon finished his collegiate career as the fourth all-time leading scorer at UND. After graduation in 1992, Dixon played 12 years of professional hockey, including 599 NHL games. He was an integral player on the 1999 Stanley Cup finalist Buffalo Sabres team.

In the AHL, Dixon led the Rochester Americans to the 1996 Calder Cup Championship and was awarded the Jack Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP. Dixon completed his pro career by playing two seasons in Switzerland’s Elite League. During this time, he captained Team Canada to the 2003 Spengler Cup Championship in Davos.

Dixon joined the Okanagan Hockey Community Foundation to ensure families facing financial barriers had an opportunity to excel not only on the ice, but more importantly through their educational achievements.

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Kalli Quinn

Executive Director
kalliquinn@okanaganhockeyfoundation.com

Kalli Quinn has been involved in sports in various capacities since her early childhood. Kalli grew up in a sports environment, as her father was a professional hockey player, coach, and executive however she was an internationally ranked athlete herself. Kalli attended the University of Georgia on a swimming scholarship, was an NCAA All American, a National Record holder in the United States and a Canadian Olympic Trials finalist in 1988.

After completing her athletic career Kalli followed in her father’s footsteps in working in professional sports. Kalli started her administrative career with the NBA Vancouver Grizzlies before moving on to working with the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators of the NHL. During her time in Nashville, Kalli determined it was time to move back to Canada to pursue a career in amateur sports with Hockey Canada, the Vancouver Giants and the Canada Winter Games.

During Kalli’s nine years with Hockey Canada, she worked in the roles of Director, Female National Teams and Manager of International events as well as Manager, Facility Infrastructure, Manager of Administration for the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship, 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup and the 2010 Molson Hockey House during the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Kalli also had the privilege and opportunity to work directly with the Men’s Olympic Hockey teams during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. During Kalli’s time with the 2015 Prince George Canada Winter Games she oversaw and managed the Venue Operations of all sporting and non-sporting venues.

Kalli is also in the process of continuing her education pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management.

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JP Kaumeyer

Secretary and Treasurer

J.P. grew up on the Canadian prairies and played hockey and other sports in his youth. Upon graduating from university he started his career in investment banking and then went on to hold a variety of senior executive roles in major financial institutions and companies in both Canada and Australia.

He believes it is important to give back to those less fortunate or who suffer from disadvantaged circumstances and has been an active participant supporting multiple fundraising events for charitable causes such as the Murray to Moyne Bike Race for the Melbourne Childrens’ Hospital, Round the Bay in a Day bike race, T4T Cancer Research Triathlon and the 24 Hour Relay for Cancer. In addition, he has been an active supporter of youth athletics by volunteering as a hockey coach in NSW and was a director of the NSW Ice Hockey Association and the Canterbury Ice Hockey Club for many years.

JP understands the importance to create a charitable legacy through a gift, donation or the establishment of an endowment fund. J.P is actively involved in the Foundation’s efforts to support a diverse range of programs and social needs. JP is delighted to lend this experience to the establishment of the Okanagan Hockey Community Foundation and enthusiastically supports its objectives to enable disadvantaged youths to play hockey and further their educational options.

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Michael O’Connor

Chair
michael.j.oconnor@okanaganhockeyfoundation.com

Michael O’Connor, Senior Vice-President, Tax at Sun Life Financial headquartered in Toronto, Canada is a chartered professional accountant and holds a BA (business administration) degree from Simon Fraser University, in British Columbia. Michael joined Sun Life in December 2007 and currently leads a team of nearly 60 tax professionals in delivering timely tax advice and support to Sun Life’s business and functional groups in over a dozen countries. Michael also acts as Training Principal for Sun Life’s pre-approved training program. Michael’s previous roles include Chief Tax Officer for Alcan Inc. of Montreal, partner at Ernst & Young in Toronto and London, England and a past Governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation and is currently involved in various tax related committees of various organizations including CPA Canada’s Income Tax Education Committee, Tax Executive’s Institute and C.D. Howe.

Michael and his wife (Michaeleen) are passionate supporters of education and hockey and believe in creating opportunities for those who have obstacles in their way to participate in such opportunities. Michael is an advocate and supporter of the Okanagan Hockey Group as he attended OHG hockey camps during his youth and encouraged his sons and nephews to attend the Okanagan Hockey Academy due to the life experiences they would gain. Michael commutes between his homes in Penticton and Toronto and has supported a number of charitable endeavours, through Foundation du Grande Montreal, Lower Canada College, and Open Studio in Toronto, where he is also a board member.

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