WHL Awards 300 Scholarships To Graduate Players 

Western Hockey League Commissioner Ron Robison announced today that a total of 300 WHL graduate players have been awarded WHL Scholarships for the 2011-12 academic year.

The WHL Scholarship recipients are enrolled as full-time students in 71 different post-secondary institutions throughout North America.

This season 154 of the 300 WHL Scholarship recipients are furthering their education while playing elite hockey in the Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) Association. In Western Canada 111 of these student athletes are playing in the Canada West University Conference and have combined their WHL Scholarship with additional financial assistance from their University to receive Western Canada’s Premier Hockey Scholarship.

The University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon) leads the way with 33 WHL graduates enrolled in full time studies while 28 former WHL players are registered at the University of Alberta (Edmonton). The University of Manitoba (Winnipeg) also boasts 28 WHL graduates who are attending full time classes. The University of Calgary has 25 former WHL players enrolled, the University of Lethbridge has 16 WHL graduates, the University of Regina has 15 and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver 11 WHL graduates enrolled in full time studies.

Among the 2011-12 WHL Scholarship recipients, 56 WHL graduates are enrolled at Universities in Eastern Canada with 43 currently playing hockey in the Ontario and Atlantic Conferences of the CIS. Another 54 WHL graduates are enrolled at a Canadian College or other post-secondary institution, with 12 playing hockey in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) or the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL), and 9 are attending other post-secondary institutions throughout North America.

Administered by the WHL office, the WHL Scholarship is solely funded by the member Clubs of the WHL. This season WHL Clubs will contribute $1.6 million to graduates utilizing the WHL Scholarship.

“The WHL and our 22 Member Clubs are very proud to be the leading provider of hockey scholarships in Western Canada”, commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “The WHL takes great pride in continuing to provide our current and graduate players with the most comprehensive education and scholarship program available in North America today.”

All players who play in the WHL are eligible to receive the WHL scholarship. For every season a player plays in the WHL, they receive a full year guaranteed WHL Scholarship, including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees, to a post-secondary institution of their choice. In addition, over 100 current WHL players are receiving financial assistance to enroll in post secondary classes while playing in the WHL, including 75 studying at the Athabasca University. The WHL and Athabasca University have partnered to offer, through online and other distance education vehicles, fully accredited university courses to any WHL player interested in further pursuing post-secondary studies while playing in the WHL.

The WHL continues to be the leading provider of Hockey Scholarships in Western Canada. Since 1993, the Western Hockey League has awarded more than 4,300 Scholarships to graduate players, representing a contribution of more than $13.5 million.

The WHL Scholarship is considered to be the most attractive hockey scholarship due to the fact it is a fully guaranteed academic scholarship with no requirement to play university hockey to qualify, and the student athlete can apply the funding to any post-secondary program of his choice.

The WHL gratefully acknowledges the support of Husky Energy as an Associate Partner of the WHL Education Program.

 

The Hockey Alberta Foundation is pleased to announce the 2011 post-secondary student scholarship winners through the Future Leaders Scholarship program. Each recipient was awarded a $1000 scholarship in recognition of their excellent leadership skills in Hockey Alberta’s Future Leaders Development Program. 

In addition to the $1000 scholarships, the Hockey Alberta Foundation also granted two Distinguished Future Leader Scholarships for $3000. These awards went to student leaders who demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication throughout the program, which is operated by Hockey Alberta each year. The recipients of the Distinguished Future Leader Scholarships for 2011 are Brandin Cote and Cody Reynolds.

“The Hockey Alberta Foundation is very proud to award these funds to some of Alberta’s brightest young leaders in Hockey,” said Gary Seher, chairman, Hockey Alberta Foundation. “This year’s group of students was exceptional and we look forward to their continued involvement in communities and programs in Alberta in the years to come.”

The Hockey Alberta Future Leaders program identifies and trains University and College students who aspire to become future coaches and/or volunteers in Hockey. The Future Leaders Scholarship program awards the top student leaders with scholarships for their demonstration of leadership and excellence throughout the program.

On November 13, 2011, Kyle Fundytus of Edmonton, tragically passed away at the age of 16 years.

Kyle will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his loving parents, Laurie and Sue; his sister and best friend, Jenny; grandmother, Yvonne Foisy; and Dido, William Fundytus. He is also survived by numerous aunts and uncles, cousins, school mates, many friends and his hockey family.

Prayers will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 7508 - 29 Avenue, Edmonton where a Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.

Fundytus passed away in Edmonton. Fundytus was playing for the South Side Athletic Club’s (SSAC) Don Wheaton Midget AA team at the Clareview Arena when he was struck in the neck by the puck during a hockey game against the Maple Leaf Athletic Club (MLAC) Saturday afternoon. Fundytus was rushed to the hospital, but succumbed to the injury.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Fundytus family and to all the athletes and staff of both the SSAC and MLAC hockey teams during this difficult time,” said Hockey Alberta President, Rob Virgil. “This was a tragic accident that has deeply affected the hockey community in Alberta. Our focus right now is to ensure the emotional & psychological needs of those involved are being looked after.”

Hockey Alberta and BC Hockey announced Tuesday the 22-player roster that will represent Team Pacific at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, December 29, 2011 – January 4, 2012 in Windsor, Ontario.

Team Pacific is comprised of 11 players from BC and 11 players from Alberta. Each province held a provincial camp over the summer to identify a set number of players. These players were evaluated during the first part of the club team season by a selected group of high performance evaluators.

“We’re very excited about the talented group of athletes we’re bringing to this competition,” said Team Pacific Head Coach, Michael Dyck. “We feel we have the right pieces in place to compete against the top teams in Windsor next month.”

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2011 TEAM PACIFIC ROSTER

“Now that the team is solidified, we can focus on bringing this group together and preparing them to compete at a very high level,” added Dyck. “Preparation is key for a short-term competition like this and we look forward to beginning the process with the 22 players.

The 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will bring together the top players in the world born in 1995 or later. The tournament is made up of 10 teams; five (5) from Canada - Quebec, Ontario, Pacific (Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon), Atlantic (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) and West (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut), and five (5) International teams - Germany, Sweden, Russia, Czech Republic and the United States.

Team Pacific has included some of the top hockey players that Canada has ever produced.  Some notable graduates who have competed on Team Pacific include:

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 2010

• Joe Sakic, Team Pacific 1986

• Jarome Iginla, Team Pacific 1994

• Brent Seabrook, Team Pacific 2002

• Dion Phaneuf, Team Pacific 2002

• Mike Green, Team Pacific 2002

• Evander Kane, Team Pacific 2008

The Under 17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence.  Many players who compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge go on to represent Canada with the National Men’s Under 18 Team, National Junior Team and National Men’s Team.

At the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg, Manitoba Team Pacific finished third winning the bronze medal.