The City of Surrey and the Canadian Tire Wickenheiser Female World Hockey Festival ( WickFest) are all set to host an exhibition hockey game between India’s National Female Hockey team and the Surrey Falcons at Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, on Tuesday (Nov. 13) starting at 2:30 p.m. The arena is located at 16555 Fraser Hwy., in Fleetwood.
“After years of hard work on and off the ice, and thanks to special invitation from six-time Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser, the players from Ladakh, India, will arrive in Canada for the first time,” explained a City of Surrey media release.
Game On! India's national female hockey team will play Surrey Falcons Hockey at Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex on November 13 as a preview of the January 31-February 3, 2019 #Wickfest tournament. #Wickfest @HkyNightPunjabi @AmritG pic.twitter.com/P3X0vPrkH5
— City of Surrey (@CityofSurrey) November 9, 2018
Before heading to Calgary, the team’s first stop is in Surrey, where they will play an exhibition game at the Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex – Arena at 16555 Fraser Highway.
#India2YYC #hockeytogether Team India gets set for @wickfest . Thanks @wick_22 for inviting, our hosts - team of ceilidh, Julie Sanghera, Lali Toor, @dampybrar @schippel31 @BindyDulay for making it happen. @HkyNightPunjabi @southasianarts @nadirypatel @CanadainIndia @ApnaHockey pic.twitter.com/hAPkcRQxBp
— Ice Hockey India (@icehockeyindia) November 8, 2018
Members of the Indian team met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Wickenheiser and other Canadians earlier this year, as part of efforts to grow the game in that area of the world.
India’s national women’s ice hockey team is breaking barriers, taking on challengers, and showing girls that anything is possible. It was great to finally meet! May your future be bright on the ice and off. pic.twitter.com/YESUNHcPLk
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 24, 2018
Politics aside, today a gathering to show the love of our country, the beautiful game and belief sport can break down barriers and change lives. A celebration of @icehockeyindia and the brave women who play the game in the most remote region of the world Thank you all! #india2yyc pic.twitter.com/wT0tV2Ox6g
— Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) February 24, 2018
Canadian Tire WickFest is one of the largest and most celebrated female hockey tournaments in the world. After nine successful years in Calgary, the festival is also coming to Surrey from January 31 to February 3, 2019.
Gary Mizuno, President of Surrey Falcons says, “Surrey Female Hockey Association is excited to collaborate with the WickFest team and Hayley Wickenheiser who has been the face of women’s hockey for decades and a remarkable role model for young players from coast-to-coast. This is an incredible opportunity to bring to Surrey one of the premier female hockey events in the world, and to showcase female hockey in the lower mainland.”
“It’s going to be an incredible festival of the game and the young women who play it,” says Ceilidh Price, the Event Director who estimates WickFest will accept 50 teams from as far away as Atlantic Canada and the United States in the first year. WickFest expanded to Surrey with the partnership and support of the City of Surrey.
“Surrey is the second event to come to life in the WickFest series and the Surrey Falcons are an important part of that team!” says Hayley Wickenheiser. “The knowledge that the Surrey Falcons bring to the table in terms of local experience is invaluable. They have years of successful hockey tournament planning on this weekend and we look forward to learning from that experience and building on the WickFest flare.”
That “flare” is what makes WickFest unique in its own right and sought after. The event goes beyond just a hockey tournament and incorporates a weekend of personal and athletic development for not just the players, but the parents, siblings, coaches and even the officials. Beyond the on-ice games, clinics and workshops covering everything from nutrition and sleep through financial wellness and, in Surrey, firefighting demonstrations, are delivered throughout the weekend.
There is also a female leadership and mentorship component to the weekend, which will take place Thursday during the day and will include identified youth leaders from the participating teams. Details on this program are to be announced in the coming months.
The event also incorporates a health, wellness and sport tradeshow.
Photo: Hayley Wickenheiser/@wick_22
