Program of Excellence

Hockey Canada established the Program of Excellence in 1981 to identify the top calibre hockey players in specific age categories and to provide these players with an opportunity to participate against international competition. By participating in the Program of Excellence, players are exposed to high calibre coaching and training methods designed to better prepare our national teams to compete against the top teams in the world.

The Hockey Canada POE covers four levels...U17, U18, U20 and Senior. At the U17 level Hockey Canada ices three teams that compete in the World U17 Challenge. These three teams are comprised from players that are identified through the U16 programs across the country and invited to attend to the National U17 Development Camp. Players making up the U18 and U20 teams are identified primarily from the CHL (i.e. major Jr. hockey). The U18 team competes in the Ican Helinka Tournament and the U18 World Championships while the U20 team competes in the IIHF World Jr. Championships. At the Senior level players come from the NHL and these teams compete in the IIHF World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Hockey Eastern Ontario's POE follows the Hockey Canada POE model but provides the introductory and development programs for players that lead up to the Hockey Canada POE. HEO currently offers U14 and U16 programs but will be adding U15 in the coming years. Each program is designed to provide players with high performance coaching and instruction as well as education on the POE pathway.
To learn more about each program use the menu above to visit the specific page for the program