Boy oh boy am I getting EXCITED for this!
Have I said that already?
Check out this story from the Alberni Valley Times by Heather Reid, talking about the lead up to the event CLICK HERE
Thanks to Dan for sending the link.
Have I said that already?
Check out this story from the Alberni Valley Times by Heather Reid, talking about the lead up to the event CLICK HERE
Thanks to Dan for sending the link.
(image: rowingcanada.org)The U17 Challenge Organizing Committee has several events today and tomorrow. First off, is a "Volunteer Rally" tonight. Tomorrow, TEN schools will get a visit from Committee Co-Chair Tom McEvay, The World U17 Trophy, and RBC Olympian and 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist Adam Kreek. Local Olympian Travis Cross will also be on the school tour, along with LEO THE LION from the RBC!
What a cool day for the kids...And what a whirlwind for Tom and the crew. 10 school visits in one day!
I hope to have an interview on THE PEAK morning show tomorrow with Tom, Adam, and whoever else so be sure to tune in just after the 8am news TOMORROW for that.
Some background on the 2009 Challenge and their involvement in local schools...
2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge School Program
When the Alberni Valley was awarded the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, one of the commitments that the organizers made early on was to ensure there was a legacy for the youth of our community. To this end a lot of time and effort has gone into developing a comprehensive U17 school program.
One of the first projects initiated by the U17 schools committee was a banner project in partnership with the Community Arts Council. Schools were asked to either adopt a team or a hockey theme for their banner. These banners will be proudly displayed around the Multiplex starting in early December and then throughout the tournament. In keeping with the art initiative, local elementary schools are painting coraplast hockey sticks to be used as decorations and the middle schools are painting decorative masks.
In follow up to schools adopting teams the U17 committee has asked students to write personalized letters of welcome to the players on their adopted team. These letters will then be delivered to the teams when they arrive in Port Alberni on December 26 or 27. The committee is currently waiting for the last of the team rosters in order to give schools the names and hometowns of each of the players on their adopted team. Once they have this information the committee will give each school a map of the adopted country or region of Canada and these will be posted in schools with the players names and hometowns located on the map.
“We are trying to give the youth of Port Alberni as close a connection to this event and to these young men coming here to compete as possible, “ said tournament co-chair Tom McEvay, “ people learn through emotion and personal connection and what better way to be connected than to actually know these players names and where they come from. We also know that the players and their coaches will be thrilled to get personal letters of welcome when the arrive on December 26 or 27.”
This connection to the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will take a major leap forward this Friday when McEvay and several committee members will be joined by Olympians Travis Cross and Adam Kreek in a trophy tour of every school in the valley. The U17 trophy will be on display at each school and Olympians Kreek and Cross will speak about their experience representing their country and what these young hockey players have in store for them.
While visiting each school the U17 group will also get the opportunity to announce the Kids Zone tickets that each school is receiving. Each school will receive between 20 and 40 tickets to a game featuring their adopted. Schools will decide how these tickets are awarded to lucky students. The Kids Zone has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of local men’s and women’s hockey teams, the Royal Bank and Corey Curtis and his RBC Local Leaders award funds.
Another task during the school visits will be to recognize the School Hockey Shoot Out winners at each school. During the past few weeks schools have been having Shoot Out play downs to determine the top boy and the top girl shooter. These students will then compete in a final on ice Shoot to Win during the intermission of a U 17 game. Each school representative will receive two tickets to that final Shoot Out. The overall winners of the elementary and the middle school events will receive a Hockey Canada jersey.
Over the past few weeks in the lead up to the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge teachers have been encouraged to use this opportunity for teachable moments in their classrooms. In an effort to support this learning the U17 committee has established a school program website where teachers can go for information and resources. The Hockey Canada website and the U17 link are also great sources of information for teachers and anyone interested.
“It has been a demanding but rewarding experience to bring this world class event to our community,” said McEvay. “We have been determined to ensure that it leaves a lasting legacy of memories, capacity, economic impact and education. We would like to thank the schools committee of Stacey Manson, Steve Brown, Nadine Doucette, Jim Lawson, Darren Homan, Darlene Coulson and Sean Toal who have all contributed in some way to bringing this experience to the students of the valley. Thank you also to the sponsors who made the Kids Zone possible and enabled over 400 students to see a game of this amazing event.”
And a bio on Adam Kreek...
Adam Kreek – Biography
Born December 2, 1980, Adam grew up in London, Ontario as the youngest of four children. His rowing career began just before high school in a learn-to-row program run by the University of Western Ontario on Fanshawe Lake. In Grade 11 his high school, Saunders Secondary, started up a rowing program on the Thames River and he was hooked.
He continued rowing at the University of Victoria, where his team won two national championships. Adam transitioned to the Canadian national team in 2001, and continued to row on Elk Lake in Victoria, where both the university and national teams train.
This Olympian also spent three years on Redwood Creek near Stanford University, where he was voted 2005 Athlete of the Year and helped to develop the Cardinal crew program to a gold medal contender at the NCAA championships. Adam received his BSc in Geotechnical Engineering and Hydrology from Stanford University.
Competing internationally, Adam has won dozens of medals besides his Olympic gold, including a men’s eight world championship title, the Grand Challenge Cup and the World Cup. He has been crowned a world champion three times at the senior level.
Adam stood out from the pack and captured the hearts of Canadians in August 2008 with his powerful and proud rendition of O Canada at the medal podium. His passion inspired fellow Olympian and Beijing silver medalist Simon Whitfield, who wrote "Sing like Kreek" on the handlebars of his bicycle and repeated it to himself near the end of the race.
Sport has taught Adam many lessons he applies to all aspects of his life. In his own words: “…sport taught me how to co-operate with others, follow rules, channel excitement, set and achieve goals. As a teenager and young man, sport provided a perfect outlet to channel my energy, competitive drive and aggressive tendencies…”
Adam enjoys sharing his time and love of life with others. He is an Athlete Ambassador for Right to Play and a Big Brother with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Victoria. He is involved with Clean Air Champions, encouraging school children to be active and environmentally responsible, and is a Play it Cool athlete with the David Suzuki Foundation. He loves public speaking, inspiring people of all ages, and enjoys coaching.
Professionally, Adam loves to pursue energy issues. He spent a year working on an oilrig in Northern Alberta, but is currently interested in alternative energies. He is starting a small business called GoGreen Boifuels that brews biodiesel and gives workshops.
Adam Kreek is currently an RBC Olympian, working flexible hours with the big blue bank to develop valuable work skills for life after sport. He is very grateful for the opportunity this bank provides to him and Canada’s amateur athletes.
Top performances:
· Olympic gold medalist – 2008
· world champion – 2001 (U23), 2002, 2003, 2007
· Olympian – 2004
· World Cup – 2007
· 6 World Cup gold medals
· 3 Grand Challenge Cups
· dozens of international medals
· Partners of the Year - Canadian Sports Awards – 2004, 2007
Hammer
Born December 2, 1980, Adam grew up in London, Ontario as the youngest of four children. His rowing career began just before high school in a learn-to-row program run by the University of Western Ontario on Fanshawe Lake. In Grade 11 his high school, Saunders Secondary, started up a rowing program on the Thames River and he was hooked.
He continued rowing at the University of Victoria, where his team won two national championships. Adam transitioned to the Canadian national team in 2001, and continued to row on Elk Lake in Victoria, where both the university and national teams train.
This Olympian also spent three years on Redwood Creek near Stanford University, where he was voted 2005 Athlete of the Year and helped to develop the Cardinal crew program to a gold medal contender at the NCAA championships. Adam received his BSc in Geotechnical Engineering and Hydrology from Stanford University.
Competing internationally, Adam has won dozens of medals besides his Olympic gold, including a men’s eight world championship title, the Grand Challenge Cup and the World Cup. He has been crowned a world champion three times at the senior level.
Adam stood out from the pack and captured the hearts of Canadians in August 2008 with his powerful and proud rendition of O Canada at the medal podium. His passion inspired fellow Olympian and Beijing silver medalist Simon Whitfield, who wrote "Sing like Kreek" on the handlebars of his bicycle and repeated it to himself near the end of the race.
Sport has taught Adam many lessons he applies to all aspects of his life. In his own words: “…sport taught me how to co-operate with others, follow rules, channel excitement, set and achieve goals. As a teenager and young man, sport provided a perfect outlet to channel my energy, competitive drive and aggressive tendencies…”
Adam enjoys sharing his time and love of life with others. He is an Athlete Ambassador for Right to Play and a Big Brother with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Victoria. He is involved with Clean Air Champions, encouraging school children to be active and environmentally responsible, and is a Play it Cool athlete with the David Suzuki Foundation. He loves public speaking, inspiring people of all ages, and enjoys coaching.
Professionally, Adam loves to pursue energy issues. He spent a year working on an oilrig in Northern Alberta, but is currently interested in alternative energies. He is starting a small business called GoGreen Boifuels that brews biodiesel and gives workshops.
Adam Kreek is currently an RBC Olympian, working flexible hours with the big blue bank to develop valuable work skills for life after sport. He is very grateful for the opportunity this bank provides to him and Canada’s amateur athletes.
Top performances:
· Olympic gold medalist – 2008
· world champion – 2001 (U23), 2002, 2003, 2007
· Olympian – 2004
· World Cup – 2007
· 6 World Cup gold medals
· 3 Grand Challenge Cups
· dozens of international medals
· Partners of the Year - Canadian Sports Awards – 2004, 2007
Hammer
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