Program of Excellence
Program of Excellence
BC Hockey athletes have the opportunity to try-out for and represent their province, region or country in various national and international competitions throughout their career.
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2025 Male U16 Program Steps |
Dates & Locations |
Schedules |
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1. 2025 Regional Camps |
March 21-23, 2025 - Kelowna March 21-23, 2025 - Langley March 21-23, 2025 - Shawnigan Lake March 28-30, 2025 - Delta March 28-30, 2025 - Prince George |
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| 2. 2025 U16 BC Cup |
April 18-21, 2025 - Salmon Arm |
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3. 2025 U16 Provincial Camp |
July 24-27, 2025 - Chilliwack |
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4. 2025 WHL Cup |
October 2025 - TBD |
Information will be updated as it becomes available.
About the U16 Program of Excellence
The Male Program of Excellence (POE) was restructured for the 2016-17 season to better align with the key characteristics of the new program. With a greater focus on player development, BC Hockey will now have a better opportunity to work with and alongside the athletes.
The main change to the Male POE is the re-introduction of the U16 Regional Camps.
The U15 and U16 Regional Camps are operated in co-operation with the BC AAA Leagues and the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). Team staff from local teams will be assigned a camp location with the expectation to deliver the camp and a high performance experience for the players in attendance. Player attendance and participation at the U15 and U16 Regional Camps, combined with in-year evaluation, will determine players that will be selected to attend the U15 Tournament and U16 BC Cup.
Western Hockey League (WHL) Cup
Team BC competes at the Western Hockey League (WHL) Cup (formerly Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup) in non-Canada Winter Games years. The Canada Winter Games is held every four (4) years.
The WHL Cup (formerly the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup) happens every non Canada Winter Games year on the last weekend of October and the first week of November. Before heading to the WHL Cup, Team BC participates in a pre-stage camp that is geared towards team systems and team building.
Team BC brought home the silver medal in 2016 and won gold at the 2017 WHL Cup, the second gold medal for Team BC.
In 2013, Team BC competed and fell short in the final game against Team Alberta to bring home the silver medal. Defenseman Dante Fabbro (Surrey, BC) and forward Tyson Jost (Kelowna, BC) were named to the 2013 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup All-Star Team.
For the first time in the history of the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, Team BC captured gold in 2012 with a win over Team Alberta in the Championship game. Team BC finished the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record. Defenseman Chaz Reddekopp (West Kelowna, BC) and forward Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam, BC) were named to the 2012 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup All-Star Team. Team BC also won the gold medal at the WHL Cup in 2021.
The WHL Cup is a round robin format tournament consisting of the four (4) western branches: BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Saskatchewan Hockey Association and Hockey Manitoba. The final game is determined based on the round robin standings.
U16 Team BC - Canada Winter Games
Every four (4) years, both male and female Team BC teams are assembled to compete at the Canada Winter Games. The Male Team BC is selected through the BC Hockey Male Under 16 Program of Excellence and the female team is selected through the BC Hockey Female Under 18 Program of Excellence.
Athlete Eligibility
For the 2025 season, eligible athletes must:
1. Be BC Hockey registered.
2. Be born in the appropriate year (2010).
3. Meet BC Hockey residential qualifications as outlined in Hockey Canada Regulations or as directed by Hockey Canada program policy.
4. Be male.
Complete Program of Excellence (POE) policies can be found in the BC Hockey policy manual.
The Male Program of Excellence (POE) staff consists of BC's top individuals from across the province. Team BC staff will be selected based on their performance at the U15 and/or U16 events.
For more information or any inquiries, please contact the BC Hockey POE Coordinator here: highperformance@bchockey.net
BC Athlete Assistance Program & CSCP Targeted Athlete
Each season BC Hockey is awarded the opportunity to nominate players to be designated by Canadian Sport Centre Pacific as “identified athletes”. The athletes are designated as a result of participation / selection / performance in the BC Hockey High Performance Program. The CSC Pacific performance model assists national and provincial sport organizations and their targeted athletes, across the province, providing services to both summer and winter sports. Registered athletes gain access to benefits including; Gymworks (gym passes), performance enhancement seminars, links to medical services, and career services. Their coaches also have access to these services.