Halifax's Jill Saulnier (left) and Stellarton's Blayre Turnbull (right) became the first females from Nova Scotia to represent Canada on the national women's Olympic team in 2018. Spryfield's Troy Ryan was an assistant coach. Saulnier and Turnbull were longtime members of Hockey Nova Scotia's High Performance Program.
High Performance Program
Representing Canada on the world stage
Hockey Canada first established its high performance program in 1981. The purpose of the program was simple: to identify and prepare players to compete on the world stage in international hockey competition.
Prior to the development of the program, teams that represented Canada at world events were mostly club team rosters that were bolstered by a few extra players.
Today, Hockey Canada's High Performance Program has expanded to include the Canadian Olympic teams, the national team programs, the men’s under-20 (World Junior) program, the women’s development program, the men’s under-18 program, the men’s under-17 program, and the women’s under-18 program.
The provincial program here at home
The Hockey Nova Scotia High Performance Program was formally established in 1996.
Each year, Hockey Nova Scotia runs camps to expose our elite-level players to best-on-best training and competition. We also introduce them to Hockey Canada's national curriculum which will help in their development as players.
The Hockey Nova Scotia High Performance Program process is one that offers every participant an excellent development opportunity and introduces them to Hockey Canada's high performance scouting program for potential opportunities with national programs.
Male Programs
- Hockey Nova Scotia Under-14 Program
- Hockey Nova Scotia Under-15 Program
- Hockey Nova Scotia Under-16 Program (every four years for the Canada Winter Games)
- Hockey Canada National Under-17 Program
- Hockey Canada National Under-18 Program
- Hockey Canada National Under-20 Program (Junior)
- Hockey Canada National Men’s Team
- Hockey Canada Men's Olympic Team
Female Programs
- Hockey Nova Scotia Under-14 Program
- Hockey Nova Scotia Under-16 Program
- Hockey Nova Scotia Under-18 Program (every four years for the Canada Winter Games)
- Team Atlantic Under-18 Program
- Hockey Canada National Under-18 Program Entry Level National
- Hockey Canada National Development Team
- Hockey Canada National Women’s Team
- Hockey Canada Women's Olympic Team
Objectives of the program
- to identify and develop participants for national team opportunities and international competition
- to provide each participant with developmental opportunities
- to ensure that every player who participates in the High Performance Program is given a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their abilities
- to assemble a competent, high quality coaching staff that will lead each component of the program along the journey to success
- to provide participants with an unparalleled hockey experience that exposes them to a level of hockey above and beyond anything they’ve ever experienced