Hockey Fest is returning in Owen Sound next month.
The Nov. 19-21 event is a partnership between Owen Sound Girls Hockey, local schools, and the City of Owen Sound, with support from the University of Waterloo Warriors, who compete in Ontario University Athletics (OUA).
Canadian Olympic silver medallist, two-time Olympian, and three-time Canadian national champion Elizabeth Manley will join Hockey Fest as a featured keynote speaker.
A member of the Order of Canada and a mental health advocate, Manley will share her experiences with elite sport, anxiety, and depression. She will speak about mental wellness, resilience, and the importance of seeking support.
Hockey Fest will also welcome Jackie Ralph, suicide awareness and community education coordinator with the Canadian Mental Health Association, and Tyler Nother, owner of the Owen Sound Attack.
There will be a pair of high school hockey games between Owen Sound District Secondary School (OSDSS) and Saugeen District Senior School (SDSS) on Nov. 19. A professional development (PD) day hockey camp and an on-ice clinic will take over on Nov. 20, and the University of Waterloo Warriors will face the Laurier Golden Hawks to finish the on-ice events at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21.
Throughout the weekend, Owen Sound Girls Hockey will also host the Northern Lights Lady Classic, welcoming teams from across Ontario to Owen Sound.
Following the university game, the community can continue the day’s celebrations in the River District with Holiday Magic and the Kiwanis Santa Claus Parade, followed by the kick-off of the Festival of Northern Lights and Sick Shot recreational road hockey games. The road hockey tournament takes place in memory of Josh Olynyk, an Owen Sound minor hockey player who died of cancer in 2009.