Tashkent, Uzbekistan, August 7, 2023: The OCA/IIHF U16 Asian Ice Hockey Youth Camp will leave a lasting legacy on several fronts – including a new generation of “hockey moms”!
Three mothers – Peachey from the Philippines, Helen from Malaysia and Ann from Singapore – have accompanied their daughters to Tashkent for the week-long youth camp.
And, as the curtain fell on the camp on Monday, August 7, the three proud mothers were all smiles having watched their daughters emerge unscathed from the hurly-burly of ice hockey and armed with a joint certificate from the OCA and IIHF recording their presence at this inaugural collaboration.
“I have been following my daughter every time she goes abroad. I have been to Malaysia and Thailand on ice hockey trips but this is my first time in Uzbekistan, and it has been a wonderful trip. My daughter has enjoyed every bit of it and says she has learned so much,” says Peachey Pe Aguirre.
Her daughter is Mikayla, 14, who has already made a mark on the Philippines Girls’ U-18 national team, and seems destined to attain higher goals on the ice rink.
When she is not travelling with Mikayla – next summer an ice hockey training trip to the United States has been planned – Peachey is an equity trader. But she has taken time off her job to accompany her first-born.
“My husband has no time for this, so I travel. This has been a wonderful experience for me as well. I applaud the Olympic Council of Asia for having this development camp and trying to promote ice hockey,” adds Peachey.
Her new-found friends and fellow “hockey moms” Helen and Ann nod their heads in agreement. “I hope this is not a one-off thing. If ice hockey is to really catch on, we need more camps like this to help our children as well as all the umpires and coaches in Asia,” says Ann Chiam Wah Chen.
Ann embraces her daughter Alyssa after the final day’s action – with the 23 girls split into two teams for a 30-minute match. Helen is also hugging her daughter, Chloe, before she joins the others for a group selfie.
Asia’s “hockey moms” have certainly made their mark, too, alongside their talented daughters.