About
History
Okanagan Hockey Group was founded by Larry Lund in 1963 in Penticton, BC Canada. Over the years, Okanagan Hockey Group became an icon in the hockey camp industry and has grown today to be the longest-operating hockey camp in the world.
2023 marked the 60th anniversary of Penticton Summer Hockey Camps!
Okanagan Hockey Camps have operated camps in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England, Scotland, and Denmark.
Over the years, Penticton has hosted players from over 30 different countries. The camp has had hundreds of former and existing NHL players attend over the years as players or as on-ice instructors. Okanagan Hockey Camps currently offer summer hockey camps in Penticton, Kelowna, Calgary, and Edmonton.
In 2002, Okanagan Hockey Academy was established as the first hockey-specific sport school recognized by BC Hockey and Hockey Canada. OHA has been built on experience, knowledge, and passion for our game.
OHA Penticton started with one team and has now expanded to 7 teams: U15, U15 Prep, U17, U17 Prep, U18 Prep, U18 Female Prep Black, and U18 Female Prep.
In 2008, OHG expanded its operations to St Polten, Austria. Okanagan Hockey Europe provides North American Style Professional coaching for their 5 Teams ranging from U15-U20. Teams compete in multiple European leagues.
In 2014, OHG and the WHL partnered to establish the WHL Combines. WHL Combines is a specially designed on and off-ice testing system using high-performance Sporttesting equipment that allows athletes to establish baseline results and then continue testing against the baseline. Based on individual results, trainers are able development training plans tailored to the player’s areas to improve.
In 2015, OHG added its third Hockey Academy to the family by launching OHA Edmonton. Through a partnership with the Royal Glenora Club and the Kinsman Twin Arenas, OHA Edmonton gives student-athletes in Alberta the opportunity to train within their home province and continue to participate in a familiar education system. Athletes attend Vimy Ridge Academy, the educational home of OHA Edmonton. Our U15, U15 Prep, U17, U17 Prep, U18 Prep and U18 Prep Female teams play, practice, and train at the Royal Glenora Club and the Kinsmen Twin Arenas.
In 2018, Okanagan Hockey Ontario was established in the town of Whitby, located on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Competing in the CSSHL Eastern Division, OHO, which offers a U18 Prep, U17 Prep and U16 Prep team is partnered with Elite Training Systems (ETS) and Henry Street High School.
The latest academy to be added to our global operations is Okanagan Hockey Colorado. Established in 2022, and fully sanctioned by USA Hockey, Okanagan Hockey Colorado brings the academic and athletic model of the Okanagan Hockey Group to Centennial, Colorado.
Currently offering a 13O, 14U, 15O, 16U and a 18U team, Okanagan Hockey Colorado is partnered with Drill House Sports Center (DHSC), a team facility dedicated to the progression of its athletes. OHC players attend the Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado, and participate in an Exhibition Series in Western Canada with CSSHL teams.
OHA’s success can be seen through our Alumni who have moved on to play at the WHL, Junior A, University, and International levels. With the vast amount of knowledge and incredible network throughout our staff, our athletes have the inside track to move on to the next level.
For more information on Okanagan Hockey Group, please contact info@okanaganhockey.com or call 888-844-6611
Senior Management
Andy Oakes
President
Andy has been the President of Okanagan Hockey Group Inc. (OHG) since 2007 and has been actively involved in the development of hockey players since he began his career with OHG in 1997. Under his leadership, OHG has expanded its operations into Europe, United Kingdom and Eastern Canada. In 2002 Andy founded Okanagan Hockey Academy, which was established as the first hockey specific sport school recognized by BC Hockey and Hockey Canada. An advocate of education based hockey, Andy is a founding member of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), established in 2009. Andy has held multiple positions on the Board of Directors since the leagues inception and has been the league Chairperson since 2013.
Dixon joined Okanagan Hockey Group after a distinguished hockey career. As an amateur, he played four seasons of college hockey at the University of North Dakota where he was the only player in the school’s history to score 100 goals and 100 assists. Dixon finished his collegiate career as the fourth all-time leading scorer at UND. After graduation in 1992, Dixon played 12 years of professional hockey, including 599 NHL games. He was an integral player on the 1999 Stanley Cup finalist Buffalo Sabres team.
In the AHL, Dixon led the Rochester Americans to the 1996 Calder Cup Championship and was awarded the Jack Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP. Dixon completed his pro career by playing two seasons in Switzerland’s Elite League. During this time, he captained Team Canada to the 2003 Spengler Cup Championship in Davos.
Kemi DuroJaiye, CPA
Kemi moved to Nigeria after she got married; she ran her consulting firm catering to the business and tax needs of her clients in various industries. Years later, she relocated back to Canada and worked as the Controller with a luxurious limousine manufacturer.
Kemi is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and her 20 years’ professional experience cuts across various industries and encompasses Project Management, Strategic Planning, Internal Control and Audit, Resource Utilization, Revenue Growth and Cost Reduction. Her ability to analyze needs and create solutions beneficial to all stakeholders has proven to be one of her greatest assets.
Our Controller and Accounting Coordinator round out the Finance team for OHG.
Board of Directors
Blair Noel
Chairman of the board
JP Kaumeyer is the Chairman of the OHG Board of Directors and also sits on the Executive Committee. Previously he was the Managing Director of two private equity businesses based out of Australia – ABN Amro Capitol and GE Equity. He currently manages his family office, Cloncurry Capital Holdings which invests in mid market private equity business in Canada and sits on the boards of these companies.
Al Coates is a former General Manager of the Calgary Flames, a post held form November 1995 until the end of the 1999-2000 season. He later served as interim General Manager of the Ducks in 2004-2005 before becoming the Senior Advisor to the General Manger. He won the Stanley Cup in 1989 with Calgary as an Assistant to the President and in 2007 with Anaheim as Senior Advisor to the General Manager. Al was the Executive Director of the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship tournament held in Calgary and Edmonton and is currently an advisor with Hockey Canada.