MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (April 30, 2021) - The Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) is pleased to announce that they have been accepted into the Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative (OHPSI) for 2021-2023. Women’s hockey is one of only 25 sports to be accepted into Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) High Performance Programs.
The OHPSI program was designed to support a comprehensive Provincial high performance sport system that allows for sustained success of athletes and coaches at the highest levels of international sport. The goal of the OHPSI program is to identify and support Ontario athletes capable of achieving future international success on Senior National teams in targeted summer and winter Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American, and Para Pan American Games sports. Since inception in 2010, OHPSI has partnered directly with twenty-one (21) Olympic and Paralympic Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs), impacting upwards of 4,600 targeted athletes, coaches, and technical leaders in Ontario.
The CSIO will work with the OWHA to provide coaching support, sport science and sport medicine services, equipment and technology, competition and training camp enhancements. The program also aims for CSIO to build stronger relationships with Provincial and National Sport Organizations (PSOs and NSOs) while providing support to targeted athletes that are demonstrating they are on the pathway towards future international success. This approach is intimately tied and aligned to Own the Podium’s vision and strategy to optimize a targeted approach to increasing Canada’s potential for future international podium performances.
“The OWHA would like to thank the CSIO for accepting us into the High Performance Programs,” said Fran Rider, president of OWHA. “We look forward to working together with the CSIO and Hockey Canada to enhance the development of female hockey players in the province of Ontario.”
Other sports selected to be a part of CSIO’s High Performance Programs are:
- Alpine & Ski Cross
- Artistic Swimming
- Athletics
- Basketball (F)
- Basketball (M)
- Beach Volleyball
- Canoe Kayak
- Curling
- Cycling
- Diving*
- Figure Skating
- Freestyle Ski
- Indoor Volleyball (M)
- Judo*
- Nordic Ski
- Rowing
- Rugby 7s (F)
- Rugby (M)
- Sailing
- Soccer*
- Swimming
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Wrestling*
*indicates Project Sport status
About the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association:
Through a provincially unified, collective voice, the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association promotes, provides and develops opportunities for girls and women to play female hockey in Ontario.
Media Contact:
Fran Rider
President, OWHA
905-282-9980
fran@owha.on.ca