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Ottawa Citizen

Tessa Bonhomme's hockey camp brings stars of women's game to Sudbury

While girls across Greater Sudbury have marked their calendars in anticipation of Tessa Bonhomme's annual summer hockey camp, anticipation has also continued to build for members of a star-studded roster of guest coaches. Article content Bonhomme, the Sudbury native and 2010 Olympic goal medallist who has since found success as a broadcaster and podcaster, will team up with Northern Hockey Academy for the third straight year to host four days of skills and conditioning instruction, as well as photo and autograph opportunities with Bonhomme and her guests, from June 28 to 31. Article content Article content Confirmed guests for this year's camp include Sophie Jaques, back-to-back winner of the Professional Women's Hockey League's Walter Cup championship with Minnesota and a recent signee with Vancouver's expansion franchise; Brianne Jenner, tournament MVP of the 2022 Olympics, a four-time world champion and current captain of Ottawa's PWHL club; and Kori Cheverie, a former U Sports and professional player who now serves as head coach of the Montreal PWHL team. Article content Article content Bonhomme is working to secure a few more guests, with names to be confirmed in the coming days. Article content 'It has been kind of fun, year after year, having players be excited to come on back and sometimes, even reach out to me before I can reach out to them,' Bonhomme told The Sudbury Star. 'Some years, it doesn't necessarily work out, like Jamie Lee Rattray, she just recently had a baby and she was disappointed she couldn't make it and Erin Ambrose, as well, was a little bit gutted she couldn't make it again, but they always let me know not to forget about them next year. Article content Article content 'It's nice to see people want to come north and help spread the love of hockey.' Article content Bonhomme and NHA will once again host two camps simultaneously, including a full-day camp for 11- to 18-year-old girls playing at the A and AA levels, held at the academy's facility on Kelly Lake Road, as well as a two-hour mini-camp for seven- to 16-year-old girls of all skill levels, to run at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex. Article content While Sudbury has long been an exporter of hockey talent in the girls game, with Olympic champions Bonhomme and Rebecca Johnston joining a list of NCAA and U Sports players who have come out of the city, youngsters previously had to travel to learn from some of the standouts who now gather in the Nickel City for the event. Article content 'Honestly, I just wanted to bring a hockey world that sometimes feels so out of touch in Northern Ontario to Northern Ontario, to these ladies,' Bonhomme explained. 'I feel like, having lived in Toronto for some time now and seeing how accessible all these players are on a regular basis to young female athletes around here, it almost makes me feel bad that this isn't commonplace for a Northern Ontario kid. I hope, one, it makes the kids feel special and like we're thinking of them and want the best for them, but two, just to create relationships with these world-class athletes and hockey players.'