Search

image 3f347dd9fc610a6af777a91ee4a19779

Happy Campers: Peel and Hodges Grow Through IIHF Experience

Garrick Kozier
|
WU17.013.10
|
December 30, 2010
|

Playing on the world stage can be nerve-racking for even the most seasoned of hockey players.  But for 16-year-olds Steven Hodges and Landon Peel, it’s something they’re getting used to.

Selected to play in the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge – Hodges for Pacific, Peel for West – the two certainly aren’t strangers to high-level hockey of an international flavor

In July 2009, both took part in the IIHF Development Camp, a seven-day camp in Vierumäki, Finland, that featured more than 400 players from 56 countries, including non-traditional hockey nations like Romania, Mexico, Estonia, Spain, India and New Zealand. The camp focused on skill development, encouragement of fair and honest play, and the promotion of international friendships and relations.

“The experience of going to Finland really helped me as a person, and as a player,” said Peel, who mans the blue line for the MJHL’s Swan Valley Stampeders. “I got a lot of different views on my game and the things I do well, and the things I need to work on. I met a lot of different people and hockey players, and know how hockey is played in all those different countries.”

On a team that included players from 17 different countries – Serbia, Slovenia and Luxembourg among them – Peel learned a few new languages and, despite the language barrier, interacted well with his camp mates, including Erlend Lesund, his Norwegian roommate.

“Just being in the same room with him was a great experience,” Peel said of sharing a living space with the Scandinavian. “It’s one thing that I will never forget.”

Hodges, a rookie forward for the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins, is equally fond of his time in Finland.

“It was amazing to meet so many people, it was the experience of a lifetime,” said Hodges. “My biggest take away was just how cool all the other players were.” 

He said that between drills, practices and games, the players would hang out, share stories, and get to know each other. 

“It was such an honor to represent Canada at the camp,” the Chilliwack, B.C., product said. “There’s a lot of great talent, but in most other countries outside North America, hockey isn’t a priority like it is here, so the players don’t develop as quickly. I feel very lucky.”

Hodges also happens to speaks French, which made it easy for him to make new friends at the camp. 

“For some reason, a lot of the guys there spoke French as well – even a guy from Bulgaria – so that made it easy to get to know the guys,” he said.

Two of the three Canadians at camp – Alberta goaltender Troy Tremblay was the other – Hodges and Peel have maintained a friendship, even with close to 2,000 kilometers separating them. 

“Steven was great to go and travel there with,” Peel said. “He is only not a great guy, he is a great hockey player as well,” said Peel. 

“Landon is just a great person,” Hodges said. “He’s super fun to hang out with, and he knows how to have a good time.”

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

emadziya@hockeycanada.ca 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

ssharkey@hockeycanada.ca

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

jknight@hockeycanada.ca

Recent News
Most Popular
Photos
Videos
2025 U18WWC: CAN 17 – JPN 0 (Quarterfinal)
Zablocki and Cimoroni had 3G 2A each to help Canada into the semis.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 5 – CZE 0 (Preliminary)
Grenier made 20 saves to backstop Canada to a perfect prelims.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 5 – SUI 1 (Preliminary)
Copetti scored twice to help Canada to a victory over the Swiss.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 6 – SVK 2 (Preliminary)
Canada pulled away in the third period to earn an opening-game win.
We appreciate you stopping by and being part of the Hockey Canada community. We’re excited to share that a new and improved video experience is on its way!
In the meantime, stay connected and up-to-date with all the latest highlights, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments by subscribing to our YouTube channel .
Don’t miss a beat – join us as we continue to celebrate the game we all love.
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to bringing you an even better digital experience soon!
Schedule