Olds has been chosen as the host community for the 2017 Alberta Challenge, Hockey Alberta announced last week.
The top-level bantam female tournament will be held from May 4-7 next year.
Olds College and the Town of Olds partnered to bid for the event, which is held during alternating years when the Alberta Winter Games are not being played.
Trina Radcliffe is chair of the host organizing committee. She said representatives from Hockey Alberta's bid selection committee visited the town earlier and toured the Centennial Village student residence, the Pomeroy Inn & Suites, the Elements Dining Centre at Frank Grisdale Hall and the Olds Sportsplex.
"They were very impressed with what the college and the town had to offer," Radcliffe said.
Radcliffe is familiar with the tournament, having volunteered as a director of operations for one of the teams in 2015.
The Alberta Challenge is the first step for high-level bantam female players who have aspirations to make the province's U-18 team, which competes at events like the U-18 national championship or the Canada Winter Games, she said.
She explains that for many girls, this might be the first time they skate on an ice surface where everybody plays at the same high calibre.
"You might be the absolute top player on your club team. Now you're coming together with all of the top players on the club teams. Now you might play as a third-line centre instead of a first-line centre. How you adapt to that really helps develop character and leadership with these female athletes."
Next year, selection camps will be held, to form the three south teams and three north teams that will compete.
"They were very impressed with what the college and the town had to offer."TRINA RADCLIFFECHAIRHOST ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
