OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY: BOTTOM OF THE BARREL

How does Okanagan Hockey Academy stack up with other TRUE prep schools academically and with respect to hockey quality?  The following comment gives an interesting and thoughtful perspective:

"Notre Dame and Shattuck St. Mary's have a number of teams within specific age brackets. This means your player has to be a top player to play on their top team. If they aren't, they will put them on a more developmental team. They both have good programs and have a lot more depth than OHA. Their lesser teams would run over OHA's best teams. Both of these schools do not billet the players as they live in dorms. Both of them also offer much better academic opportunities for the about the same money as OHA. For what OHA charges you should be getting a prep school education. You get it at ND and SSM. You don't at OHA. The money actually goes in the owners pockets and the Americans fund their Canadian friends that can't afford to play there. As you would expect at OHA the more affluent players are Americans, while the less affluent are the Canadian cronies of the Kerr's. I guess OHA is pretty good if you are looking for a over priced, mediocre hockey program, mediocre public education, while paying a premium for others to attend for free. The owners of OHA seem to think that is a hell of a deal."

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY: LAST PLACE

"Thats funny. Looks like Alan and Andy are back on this site. A word of advice to them. Stop sending the same thing acting like a prospective or existing parent who talks about the other peoples players not working hard enough, getting in trouble and being sent home, and what a great opportunity it is for all the players at OHA. Blah Blah Blah!!!!!!!

Very, very few players have been sent home because of bad behavior, very few have come all that way and not worked hard. Have some common sense. What parent and player would come there and spend that kind of money to not give a top effort? That's ridiculous!

What it comes down to again is very poor performance. Every team in last place. Very few advancements in recent years outside the OHA organization. That is how you measure the success of the organization. These guys have done a masterful job convincing parents that coming is last is OK as long as the players are developing. Doesn't that tell you something about the organization. What championship level player ever thought it was OK to come in last. That is again ridiculous!"

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY: A CRACK HOUSE NEXT TO CAMPUS?

"That's about the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Justifying the existence of a crack house right across the street from the school. It's like saying yeah its okay just stay away from it. What does that say about the school, OHA, the city, the police, that they know its there and don't even do anything about it." 

~~~~~~

"a bunch of punk ass dudes were shooting up heroine in a van right in front of academy kids at the 24/7,,,this was 2 years ago, but the fact remains. the fuzy muf were notified and they busted the junkies. They pulled them outa the van with the needles hanging from their arms, all in front of some OHA boys."

~~~~

"yes, it is absolutely true there is a crack house right behind the 24/7 where the OHA boys are picked up daily. Penticton is not a safe place to send your kids."

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY DADDY BRAND HOCKEY

"The bottom line is that OHA needs to raise their standards. It used to be a good place to send your son. It was small and personal. Everything has changed. They have turned into a money making machine. Plus Mr. Kerr should not be coaching his kids, nephews and friends. They have enough coaches to make that happen yet Kerr places himself each year in position to coach his own kids. It's never a good idea to have these guys coach their own. It's not good for the parent coach and it is almost always terrible for the kid. There are a few exceptions but Kerr has a big reputation of being very harsh on his kids and berating them in front of their teammates which is not good for team morale."

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY: ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS

"All these posts are interesting to say the least.  I am a former player and this much is true regarding the academy, they didn't do anything for me, especially when I was leaving the program.  All is great until we decided to look at other options for me. Here is one more peace of info, these so called top end owners, treated the rest of the staff like shit.  They were the gods and the rest of the employees were working dogs getting no credit and doing most of the work.  Any other former players and parents please let the world know just how they treat us after we leave OHA.  As for the hard working support staff, they are underpaid and are not treated fairly.  What a shame! This program could be good if the owners knew how to take care of these major issues.  I was promised alot of things, and some were realized, but most were just smoke and mirrors. This blog is great because I am done hockey now and they can't hurt me any more with threats of calling teams and telling them I was a bad actor. 

Good luck to the next generation of academy students, they are going to need it!"

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY SEARCH FOR TRUTH

"How much of this site is true? My son wants to go to OHA next year and I will not send my son there if there is a crack house next to the high school. Some of the stuff on this site is very disturbing but many people say its not true. I was also under the impression the school is semi-private with special classes only for the hockey boys which are academic in nature and not just study halls.

I am looking for real advice here and not just from people who are angry at the school. Thanks!"

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY RECRUITMENT TRICKS

Okanagan Hockey Schools provides a rich 

recruiting environment for unsuspecting parents and kids alike.  Many families are suckered by Alan Kerr in the method described below.  This person is obviously "in-the-know" about the techniques used to by Kerr to fill the Okanagan Hockey Academy coffers to ensure the continued development of his friends. Note: There is a high probability you do not fall into this category.

"Warning coming into the summer months in Penticton for all prospective players to be recruited by the academy. Alan will take you out to lunch and tell you your player will play Junior hockey and then onto Division 1. Also be prepared for him to commit to them a place on his team. Have your tape recorder with you so you can sue him later. He does this to everyone and doesn't deliver. Don't trust these guys. You will end up holding the bag. Run for your lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY DESERVES BAD PRESS

"What a poor loser trying to defend OHA. Typical idiot who just keeps drinking the koolaid thinking everything will be ok there if he says it enough and blames everything on those problem kids and their stupid parents. The truth is OHA has lied, cheated, stolen from people who placed their trust in them. They deserve all the bad press they are getting and are suffering for their greed. What a bunch of low lifes. But, of course its always the parents fault for trusting OHA to keep their promises and deliver a good product. How dare they!"