Clearwater hosted the Russian national women's hockey team last week as team members prepared for the world championships being held in Kamloops this week.
A total of 36 members of the team, including 23 players, arrived Sunday evening, March 20 after 18 hours of travel and an 11 hour time difference.
Monday evening they attended a reception at Clearwater Lodge. Mayor John Harwood gave a welcoming speech and Minor Hockey players gave each visitor a gift package. A special treat was the presence of Cst. Jay Meyer in RCMP red serge.
An open practice and hockey game late Wednesday afternoon drew a huge crowd.
The team left for Kamloops on Thursday afternoon and played its first game, against Finland, on Monday.
Town councillor Ken Kjenstad, one of the organizers, said the team members wished to convey how pleased they were to have had their training camp in Clearwater.
Inset photo: Clearwater Minor Hockey player Cleo Coates gets an autograph signed by a player from the Russian national women's hockey team during a reception held for the team at Clearwater Lodge on Monday evening, March 22. All the members of the team got gift baskets presented by Minor Hockey players.