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Join us on our annual New Zealand Hockey Exchange, hosted by the Queenstown Ice Hockey Club. It’s the trip of a lifetime for a teenage hockey player. Postponed until further notice.
This will be my third experience with the NZ Hockey Exchange, although the last two times, I stayed for an additional 5-months and served as the head coach of the Queenstown Ice Hockey Club. The South Island of NZ is such a special place to me. The people and families in the hockey community there are amazing, and as you will all find out, the Kiwi’s take great pride in their country and showing visitors a truly epic time. They also love hockey and we will be joining them at a very exciting time: the start of the hockey season in the Southern Hemisphere. I look forward to be being with you all for what should be an unforgettable hockey and life experience.
– Ben Mackay, LGS Coach
Thank you so much for taking Sean on the New Zealand Hockey Exchange. He had the time of his life, met amazing people and I’m sure learned a lot too. It was great knowing that he was well supervised and I didn’t worry for a minute (except maybe on the bungee jumping day!). We will highly recommend this exchange to anyone who is interested!
With huge thanks, Suzanne Fleming, Parksville, BC
We open this annual trip to male and female hockey players from North America (and most recently Australia). We now take approximately 12 players, and spots are very limited. 13-17 year old players have made the best fit to date. The adventures of travelling without parents, living with a host family, and the trip of a lifetime awaits!
Imagine bungy jumping with the co-inventor of commercial bungy, Henry Van Asch, at the 1st ever commercial site, AJ Hackett Bungy, paragliding from Skyline, and mountain biking in the lands used to film Lord of the Rings. We explore far more in the Queenstown area than the rink, you can bet on that! The trip would not exist without the incredible support of the Queenstown Ice Hockey Club, the Queenstown Ice Arena, and the local hockey community. Watch Henry jump from a helicopter in support of their #LiveMoreFearLess campaign here!
The New Zealand Hockey Exchange was definitely the trip of a lifetime for Javier and me. We were never bored, and there was always something fun happening like bungee jumping, paragliding, mountain biking, jet boating and more. I’d like to thank Nate and Boe Leslie for taking me on an unforgettable adventure, and thanks to all of the families and kids for the hospitality.”
Ben Henderson, Vancouver, BC
Thanks once again for providing a great experience for Harry & Matt – they had a wonderful time in Queenstown. I enjoyed the company of the two of you over the week and I hope to see you again at another camp.
Rod Last, Sydney, Australia.
Thank you Nate and Boe for this amazing opportunity to go to New Zealand and play hockey. I’m so happy I did it. I had the time of my life there, and also learned a lot at school, and the rink, and improved on being responsible and being a better hockey player. I want to say a big thank you to the Pankhurst family for hosting me. They were so welcoming and it was so much fun. Thank you to everyone at the rink. I think this is an amazing program. Thank you for letting me go.
Kyle Billy, Campbell River, BC.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for the amazing trip! I had so much fun. Thank you to the Thompson family who hosted me. They made me feel instantly comfortable and at home. I love Queenstown and all the people I met there were so friendly and welcoming. The New Zealand Hockey Exchange isn’t just one of the highlights of my year it is a highlight of my life and always will be! I know that someday I will go back to Queenstown. I look forward to going to Prep Camp this summer! Thanks again for everything see you this summer!
Riley Billy, Campbell River, BC.
Our son Carter Hartigan (12 years old) travelled with Nate & Boe Leslie to Queenstown, New Zealand for the New Zealand Hockey Exchange. With nervous tension before his departure I can sure tell you the reward as a parent on his return to see all that he experienced was simply AMAZING including how wonderful the New Zealand people treated him including his host family. The Mills family made him feel like he hadn’t left home. Nate this was a 1st Class experience with excellent skill development!” Carter has grown!”
Colin Hartigan, Fort MacMurray. AB.
My son Alex was part of the 2015 group of boys who joined the New Zealand Hockey Exchange . His Host family, Nick & Tania Flight are absolutely wonderful people and treated Alex like he was one of their own. He has formed a lifelong friendship with his new kiwi brother, Jackson. From first-hand knowledge, I can say that the entire camp experience is indeed First Class from start to finish. Queenstown is one of the safest and most beautiful cities in the world with lots to do for both kids and adults. If you love travel, adventure, growth, fun, and of course hockey, then this where you sign up!”
Pierre Chavigny, Langley, BC.
My son Ben has been training with Nate for more than three years participating in a range of camps, and other activities. Nate is fantastic with all of the players he works with providing the perfect blend of fun and skills development. This spring Ben had the opportunity to travel with Nate to Queenstown, New Zealand on the New Zealand Hockey Exchange. Ben stayed with a great family while attending school in Queensland, playing hockey every day and having the adventure of a lifetime. Imagine, paragliding into the field in front of the school he was attending, bungee jumping, and playing hockey all in the same day. I can’t imagine a more spectacular experience for any young hockey player, and Ben’s brother Josh has already made me promise to send him when he is old enough to go.”
Paul Henderson, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
(Trip Postponed due to COVID-19).
AMAZING! so worth while doing this camp. Sharon Thompson
Thank you it was a great camp and Jack is very keen to return next year. It was great to see all the kids from throughout NZ getting to know each other. Only have positive feedback for you. Jodie Lewis
Reo and Moki LOVED it!! Thanks…kids were exhausted but still wanted to go back for more so must have been good! Helena Larsson-Allen
Leslie Camp was great! Sarah Gerard
We had a great time on our first visit to Queenstown. Hopefully Callum will make the team and be back soon. He really enjoyed himself and yes made a couple of new friends with Luke and Tristan!! The trainers were great I hope they all try and get some well deserved r and r before the next session. Julie Whiteway
Thank you! She loved it. Karen Iremonger
After attending Nate’s Whistler Summer Hockey Camp for Women, his coaching style impressed me so much that I recruited him to help coach my women’s rec team in Whistler that season. Later, after relocating to New Zealand, I decided to call on Nate and his brother Boe to bring some of their hockey expertise to the Southern hemisphere. After a year of coordinating and much anticipation, they ran a week of various clinics and camps in Queenstown and they certainly didn’t disappoint! All who attended their clinics, myself included, were blown away by Nate and Boe’s progressive coaching techniques, tips and tricks, all combined with an innate ability to adjust their coaching style to the needs of the individual or team at hand.
Their professionalism yet down to earth and approachable manner made for a truly fun and educational hockey experience for players of all ages and abilities. The hockey club was so impressed that they’ve decided to make the Leslie camps an annual event. Thanks so much Nate and Boe for helping grow the sport of hockey in all parts of the world! – Tree Clinton, Queenstown New Zealand, May 15, 2012
Having Nate and Boe run a camp for our Queenstown Ice Hockey Club, at the start of our 2012 season, was a tremendous success. They were extremely professional in all aspects and passed on valuable knowledge to our coaches. The players are still talking about how much they enjoyed the camp. It’s now an annual fixture on the calendar, and we look forward to hosting your Canadian players again next year!”. – Ross Burns, President Queenstown Ice Hockey Club, New Zealand
We really appreciate you coming over to Queenstown and taking the Leslie Coaching Academy giving players from all over the South Island the chance to experience the wonderful camp you have created. You are really talented the way you carve your way around the ice whilst stick handling without even taking a glance at the puck.You have inspired us to to do the best we can and work hard at a sport we love. On behalf of the Queenstown Ice Hockey Club I would like to say thanks and we would love you to come again and teach us more important ice hockey skills. – Hope, 11 year old female player in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Years later Hope is now on the Ice Ferns New Zealand Women’s National Team)