2010-2011 Camp

During this year’s Christmas break, the Women’s Blues returned to the Sports Institute of Finland in Vierumäki for a week-long training camp. Almost the entire team participated in this training camp, with fifteen players and the team’s coach kitting up for training sessions. The team was coached by Eddy Guay and Niels Garbe, and practised on-ice twice a day as well as in off-ice training and theory. The team worked on basic skating and puck-handling skills, and worked toward game situation drills. Despite aching muscles, players were enthusiastic to improve their own skills at each training session, and the team flourished as a whole. The intensive training schedule paid off, with all members of the team improving significantly over the course of the week. The week culminated in a friendly scrimmage with members  of the  Cambridge Women’s Ice Hockey Team who arrive in Vierumäki toward the end of Oxford’s training week.

Between training sessions, the team enjoyed the various other activities offered at Vierumäki, including the spa and pool, cross-country skiing, toboganning, and walking in the beautiful, snowy surroundings of the Sports Centre. The team also spent two nights in Helsinki, absorbing the sights of the city and experiencing Finnish culture.

Since returning to Oxford, the team has continued to train hard and improve on skills and on game situations. League fixtures have begun and the Women’s Blues are set to play twelve games in Hilary term. The team will meet the Cambridge Women’s Ice Hockey team again both on home ice and away at this year’s Varsity match.