Two of the top university clubs in the American Collegiate Hockey Association are coming to the inaugural Great Northwest Showcase in Burnaby in 16 days time.
Division 1-leading Arizona State University and top-10 Oklahoma will take on both host Simon Fraser University and rival University of British Columbia's varsity teams in back-to-back meetings at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Dec. 28 and 29.
"The main thing here is growing collegiate hockey in our own backyard," said SFU head coach Mark Coletta, who patterned the showcase after similar tournaments he experienced while playing university hockey in the U.S.
This year, the showcase will take place in conjunction with the 50th annual Burnaby Minor AAA bantam hockey tournament, which will take place from Dec. 27 to 31.
SFU will play the late games against Oklahoma on Dec. 28 and Arizona State on Dec. 29 at 7: 15 p.m. UBC will play both teams on opposite days at 4 p.m.
The cooperative scheduling with the minor hockey club tournament will engage the community and allow young hockey players to learn what further options are out there should their NHL dreams not pan out, said Coletta.
"We want to create that hockey and education platform and use this showcase to propel our hockey program to a greater number (of student athletes)," Coletta said.
The two-day exhibition series will also include
player/parent eligibility seminars on both days, discussing academic requirements for Canadian and American schools.
But bigger and better plans are in the works for the second annual showcase next season, hinted Coletta.
NCAA Division I teams have expressed an interest in getting involved and Coletta expects to have as many as two varsity teams inked for next year's showcase.
"We're at that level," Coletta said.
"We want to create that kind of atmosphere and engagement in the community that will carry on for years to come, and bringing in some of the top NCAA hockey teams in a year or two."
It's all about growing the game from the grass roots up," he said.
"I remember I used to go and watch Paul Kariya at the Burnaby Winter Club every chance I got. But I don't see so much of that today," Coletta said.
Bringing in top collegiate varsity hockey teams to Burnaby could change much of that.
"It gives another kind of hockey to come and watch. People will also see what we're trying to do," Coletta said.
