The Toronto Leaside Wildcats were touring New Zealand for the first time since 2016 and played games across the South Island before arriving in Alexandra.
Wildcats board member Andrew Smyth said the Toronto Leaside Wildcats were one of Ontario’s largest hockey associations for women and girls, with more than 1600 members.
Mr Smyth, originally from Dannevirke, has lived in Toronto for 35 years and been on the association’s board for 20 years with a focus on international development.
In 2012, a programme was started to bring players from New Zealand and put them on the Wildcats competitive teams.
"We roster them with a team of the appropriate level ... then we try and get them as much ice practising [and] in games as they can handle."
This was the association’s first tour of New Zealand in nearly a decade and the first time visiting Alexandra, he said.
For many, in the tour group of girls ages 15-17, this was their first time in New Zealand.
Before arriving in Alexandra on Monday, the team had already played in Christchurch, Tekapo and Queenstown
The Wildcats hoped to showcase hockey by running drills that players in New Zealand had not seen before and playing games.
Mr Smyth said the girls were excited to pass on their knowledge and experience.
He hoped the Alexandra coaches would come away from the training session with some new ideas.
The visitors also took part in a game on Tuesday, with the Wildcats and Alexandra Flames Valkyrie players being equally split into light jersey and dark jersey teams.
The game was a close one, with the dark team winning 2-1.
The Wildcats were then headed to Dunedin to practise and play before heading back to Canada, Mr Smyth said.
