{"id":37187,"date":"2016-01-12T14:25:29","date_gmt":"2016-01-12T18:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=37187"},"modified":"2016-01-13T12:50:55","modified_gmt":"2016-01-13T16:50:55","slug":"brock-grads-students-helping-run-u18-womens-world-hockey-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2016\/01\/brock-grads-students-helping-run-u18-womens-world-hockey-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock grads, students helping run U18 Women\u2019s World Hockey Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

It may not have the most athletes or the biggest financial impact, but the IIHF U18 Women\u2019s World Hockey Championship is one of the most significant sporting events to be held in Niagara. And it\u2019s being run by a Brock University graduate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matt Hill (SPMA \u201912), is the week-long tournament\u2019s General Manager, hired by Hockey Canada from his post with the Niagara Sport Commission (NSC) to oversee the event\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a profile and impact standpoint, this is certainly one of the biggest events we\u2019ve had a lead in,\u201d Hill said of the NSC, which is co-hosting the tournament with the Ontario Women\u2019s Hockey Association.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old from Richmond Hill got a behind-the-scenes look at organizing a major tournament during a sport management placement with the NSC when it helped with the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom that experience I was able to get a position with the NSC, which led to my position here,\u201d Hill said. \u201cWithout those connections and the opportunities Brock provided me, I wouldn\u2019t be in the role I\u2019m in today.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to Hill, numerous NSC employees and interns are Brock alumni or students. There are also dozens of volunteers who are in Brock\u2019s Sport Management, Business and Nursing programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrock\u2019s eagerness and willingness to partner with organizations and events when they\u2019re here speaks volumes about Brock and the opportunities it provides to enhance the learning experiences,\u201d Hill said.<\/p>\n

The partnership is mutually beneficial, said Julie Stevens, an associate professor in Brock\u2019s Department of Sport Management.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe exposure helps students realize the work involved in an event of this scale. It\u2019s one aspect to learn in the classroom how to manage sport, but when you\u2019re on site and recognize all the pieces that happen behind the scenes, you are better positioned to enter the job market,\u201d Stevens said.<\/p>\n

Volunteers from Brock are involved in all aspects of the tournament including team services, security, statistics, ceremonies, game-day operations, media and communications and volunteer services.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt emphasizes the value of experiential learning in Brock\u2019s Strategic Mandate and demonstrates a desire in the Sport Management Department to support and promote sport in the Niagara Region,\u201d Stevens said.<\/p>\n

Monday night\u2019s Canada\/U.S. preliminary round game drew a crowd of more than 4,000 to the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, which set a record for any under-18 women\u2019s world hockey championship game. It will, however, be easily surpassed Friday night in the Gold Medal game, where the Meridian Centre\u2019s full 5,300-seat capacity setup will be used, and the game is already nearly sold out. Tens of thousands from around the world have also watched the games online.<\/p>\n\n\t