P.E.I. hosts international hockey hopefuls

With every pass, shot, goaland check young hockey players are hoping to get noticed at the annualAtlantic Hockey Showcase and Atlantic Female Prospect Camphosted byAndrews Hockey Growth Programsthis week in Charlottetown.

About 400 players from nine different countriesaround the world including Canada, the U.S., Europeand Asia are on P.E.I. for the invite-only event.

The players are hoping to earn scholarships and spots on teams or in programs.

Scouts, coaches and recruiters from colleges, prep schools, Canadian Major Junior, Tier II Junior, Tier III Juniorand Canadian universities are in attendance. The event is also scouted by NHL organizations.

Coming to these camps teaches you more than just being a hockey player. It teaches you how tobe, like, a good person. Katie Peddle, hockey player

16-year-oldKatie Peddle has been attending the camp for a few years andhopes to find a university or college she can play with in the U.S. or Canada when she graduates from high school.

"It's nerve-racking obviously because like these are the people that are going to get you further in hockey," said Peddle. "But I think the nervousness is good. Makes you play better."

Team Canada dreams

Peddle is fromLabrador City, N.L., andplays forward at the private schoolStanstead College in southern Quebec. Her dream is to play for Team Canada. Scouts from the Canadian national team are watching this week.

"Coming to these camps teaches you more than just being a hockey player. It teaches you how to be, like, a good person and I think hockey's overall taught me a lot about myself,"she said. "It's taught me to be a better person."

14-year-old Ryan Nause is from Riverview, N.B.,and is playing forBishop's College School in Sherbrooke, Que., something he said was only possible because he attended the showcase in previous years.

"It's definitely opened doors for me and hopefully it'll continue to do that for my future," said Nause, whohopes to play in theNCAAand eventually the NHL.

"I'm hoping to get more exposure at the college level and the junior level," he said.

Hidden gems

On average, between 75 and 100 of the players that attend earn scholarships or connect with a program said Josh Andrews, vice-president of Andrews Hockey Growth Programs.

"We're not in a major hub and so typically a lot of the Maritime and Atlantic Canadian players don't get a whole lot of exposure. So that's why Allan Andrews, my father, started this to begin with to really kind of give Atlantic Canadians a good chance to get seen and kind of further their education in hockey," said Andrews.

Scouts tell Andrews every year they find hidden gems they haven't seen before, he said.

He said more players than ever have been invitedthis year.The players do pay a fee for the camp.

The male showcase will wrap up July 1 and the female camp endsJune 29.