CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced a collaboration with The Botchford Project, a program sponsored by The Athletic, to expand the mentorship experience for aspiring sports journalists that began in 2019 with the Vancouver Canucks.

The Botchford Project was established to honour the legacy of the late Jason Botchford, who was a prominent and trailblazing sports reporter who covered the Canucks and hockey in Canada with The Province and The Athletic for more than 15 years.

Since then, it has provided more than 30 individuals with the opportunity to cover an NHL game as a credentialed media member, receive on-site mentorship from Canucks beat reporters and publish a paid article on Canucks.com.

Many of The Botchford Project participants are now working full-time in sports media, including as part of the Canucks beat.

As part of the initiative’s expansion with Hockey Canada this season, two successful applicants will be chosen to cover a Team Canada game during the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and write one paid feature on Canada’s National Junior Team that will be published on HockeyCanada.ca.

Leading up to and during the experience, they will also receive mentorship from journalists at The Athletic.

“Jason prided himself on mentoring young writers and championing authentic storytelling, and my family and I are so grateful that his legacy continues through this incredible initiative,” said Kat Botchford, who founded The Botchford Project with the Canucks. “Expanding the program in partnership with Hockey Canada will connect us with even more aspiring journalists from across Canada and help preserve the art of real journalism.”

Applications for The Botchford Project are open until Sept. 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET/8:59 p.m. PT.

“Media play a critical role in telling the stories of Hockey Canada and hockey in Canada and we believe the more opportunities there are to welcome additional voices to coverage of the game, the better it is for the sport,” said Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “We are inspired by Kat’s vision to positively impact even more people who dream of working in sports media through the expansion of The Botchford Project , and we look forward to hosting this year’s cohort with her at the World Juniors in Edmonton.”

The Botchford Project continues to be made possible with the support of Kat Botchford, Thomas Drance, Jeff Paterson, the Vancouver Canucks and The Athletic.

“The Canucks have been tremendous partners and advocates for The Botchford Project since day one, and we are so excited to welcome successful candidates in two cities this season for the first time,” said Botchford.

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