Oka, Quebec May 19, 2011

Harrington College of Canada, leader in private education and hockey player development is pleased to announce its acceptance to the new RSEQ Under 17 Division 1 Hockey League.

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Recreation of Quebec (MELS), in collaboration with Hockey Quebec and Reseau du Sport Etudient du Quebec (RSEQ) recently announced the creation of the new Elite Under 17 Provincial Hockey League which will debut this fall in Quebec.

The RSEQ, governing body of The College AAA Hockey League as well as the governing body for ALL school sports from elementary to University in Quebec has been instrumental in creating this league to allow student athletes in Quebec the opportunity to participate in a Competitive Elite Provincial High School Hockey Program which favors personal growth and academic success.

This league consisting of approximately 24 High Schools throughout Quebec will have 3 divisions playing a 35 game schedule in addition to regional playoffs, 2 tournament/showcases as well as the Dodge Cup Provincial Championship participation.

College Harrington du Canada (HCC) is pleased to announce its affiliation to this league. “This will complement our existing teams and programs” expressed Martin Daoust, Hockey Director for HCC, “the College AAA League has been a huge success and we believe that the Under 17 Division 1 level will be an excellent way to prepare and develop our student athletes for College AAA and University Hockey”

College Harrington du Canada is the only High School in Quebec sanctioned by Hockey Quebec and Hockey Canada. HCC has student athletes from 21 countries around the world who compete at the College AAA, Midget AA, BB, Bantam AA, BB and GMAA level within Hockey Quebec. College Harrington du Canada offers its student athletes a 10 month training program which includes 4-5 practices per week, 3-4 off-ice training sessions per week as well as video review, mental preparation and a 40-60 game schedule which includes spring hockey tournaments. With an elite team of former NHL players and coaches, former National and Olympic team coaches, former Junior Major, Midget AAA and Advanced Level 3 coaches, College Harrington du Canada provides professional instruction and an ideal training environment for the elite student athlete without compromise to education.

“As much as we are renown for our strong hockey development program, our athletes are students first” explained John Keightley, President and Founder of College Harrington du Canada. “We specialize in small class sizes which allow our students to receive individual attention from our teachers who are very nurturing and committed to the academic success of our student athletes. We are licensed and governed by the Ministry of education of Quebec and it is essential that our student athletes excel academically…this is our priority”

College Harrington du Canada will be holding tryouts for their College AAA and Under 17 Division 1 teams on July 1st and 2^nd. More information can be obtained at www.harringtoncollege.ca or contact Dan D’Astoli Program Director, 450-415-0656 ext 105.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who is eligible to play at this level?
A. Quebec students in grade 10 and 11 (Secondary 4 and 5)

Q. How will U17 D1 compare with other levels in Quebec?
A. U17 D1 will attract elite players who have played at the Midget Espoir, Midget AAA and AA levels making this a premier Under 17 league in Quebec.

Q. Must student athletes attend HCC to play for the team?
A. Yes. HCC offers Day Student Programs as well as 4 Night Boarding and 7 Night Boarding Programs.

Q. How much travel is involved in this league?
A. The league will be divided into 3 divisions. Games will be played on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays within an hour’s drive. All Divisions will meet in tournaments and Provincial Championship which may be within 3 hours drive.

Q. What kind of exposure will a player be subject to in this league?
A. Players from our U17 D1 team will be regular call ups for our College AAA team. Colleges, Universities (Canadian and American) as well as Junior Major Teams will follow this league closely.

Q. What are the costs associated to attend HCC and play on the U17 Team?
A. With various programs, residential needs and price structures, costs vary depending on the package chosen. Contact HCC for more details.

Q. Why was this league created?
A. This league was created in order to offer student athletes a structure aimed to maximize their development in sport, academics and personal growth.

Q. How do players who attend HCC get to games and venues?
A. HCC provides transportation to and from venues to our student athletes in residence. Day students and 4 night boarding students are required to arrange their own transportation to weekend venues.

Q. Where do HCC athletes train and play home games?
A. Our on ice, off ice and home game facility is the Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau in Boisbriand Quebec.

Q. Is there an academic pre-requisite required to enroll at College Harrington du Canada?
A. Yes. Students must write an academic entry exam as well as having successfully completed their previous level.

Q. Must student athletes maintain a certain grade point average in order to train and play for HCC teams?
A. Yes. Students must be doing well academically in order to practice and play on HCC teams.

Q. How many U17 D1 teams will HCC have and how many players will there be per team?
A. College Harrington du Canada will have 1 U17 D1 team with a 20 man roster.

Q. Is there a tryout for the U17 D1 team and what if I cannot attend?
A. Yes. HCC will be having a tryout on July 1^st and 2^nd. If you cannot attend on these dates, contact HCC.

Please visit our website for more information at www.harringtoncollege.ca