Hockey season may have officially ended when the Pittsburgh Penguins knocked off the Nashville Predators in game six of the NHL finals to capture Lord Stanley's mug back on June 11th, but for 14 year old Jocelyn Pearce of Airdrie, the season for development of her goaltending career is still on.

Today (June 29) Pearce joins 59  other players at the Hockey Alberta U-16 Summer Development Camp in Camrose.  Pearce explained what the camp is all about.  "It's all about development and having good coaches to come out and work with the athletes.  There'll be goalie coaches coming out to help us through the weekend."

The camp features some of the best young hockey players in the province, and Pearce has proven this year that she belongs.  She was named the top goalie in the Alberta Female Hockey League playing for the Olds Grizzlies.  She also won gold at the Alberta Challenge Cup playing for Team South Black and was chosen the tournament's all star goalie.

Last weekend Pearce was one of only three grade nine students to be invited to the Hockey Alberta Elite Goaltender Camp held in Sylvan Lake.  The remaining 14 goalies were all in grades 10 - 12.  Pearce says this has been a breakthrough season for her.

"It's been really exciting.  In my past years I just played with Airdrie Minor Hockey before.  It's been good having that new experience and all those new coaches coming out to work with me."

Pearce says the Hockey Alberta camp will make her better prepared for next season.  "I'm looking forward to having some really good development over the summer in preparation for next season, just working on the little things.  I know there's going to be some great goalie coaches coming out to work with me."

Pearce is focusing on the future for her hockey career.  "I'm hoping for my next couple of years in midget to find myself on a "AAA" team and hopefully U-18 and then eventually, as a young goalie, I'd like to play at a university level."  

After that, perhaps a pro contract or qualifying for the Olympics?  "Oh yeah, definitely, that would be super cool to continue on with Team Alberta and after that Nationals.  That's definitely something I'm working on."

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