The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for January.
West Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for January in the West Division is left winger RJ Mahalak of the Plymouth Whalers. Mahalak, 17, a native of Monroe, Michigan is currently enrolled at Plymouth and Canton High School. “RJ is a model student that combines a time consuming junior hockey schedule and one of the toughest course workloads. He gets along with fellow students and his teachers can’t say enough about what a joy it is having him in their classes. RJ was having difficulty in one of his classes early on in the semester and took it upon himself, with help from the club, to get a tutor and really turn his grade around,” commented Whalers’ assistant coach Joe Stefan.
Midwest Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for January in the Midwest Division is defenceman Brett Cook of the Erie Otters Hockey Club. Cook, 17, a native of Washago, Ontario currently is a Grade 12 student at McDowell High School in Erie. “ Brett is an exemplary student and role model at McDowell High School. “He has excelled in all of his coursework and is such a strong leader in the classroom that teachers have begun to rely on Brett as a peer mentor. He has recently been nominated by his teachers as a candidate for the monthly Kiwanis Good Citizenship Award. This award is nominated and voted upon by the faculty and staff to ONE junior a month (out of 600 + juniors). Clearly, Brett is a worthy nominee for an Academic Player of the Month, having earned all A’s for the second quarter marks for this year,” commented Deborah Figarski, Otters Guidance Counselor at McDowell High School.
Central Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for January in the Central Division is centre Adam Payerl of the Barrie Colts. Payerl, 17, a native of Kitchener, Ontario is a Grade 12 student at Innisdale Secondary School in Barrie. Colts Academic Advisor Randy MacIntyre had this to say about Payerl, “Adam has just completed semester 1 and he achieved an overall average of 85.3%. He has worked very hard in his classes while playing a vital role with the Colts in his NHL Draft year!”
East Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for January in the East Division is defenceman Robert Stellick of the Belleville Bulls Hockey Club. Stellick, 17, a native of Toronto, Ontario, is currently attending Queen’s University. “Rob is dedicated to his prowess on the ice and his achievements in the classroom. He fast tracked through high school during his rookie year with the Bulls so he could begin University in his sophomore year as he planned. He is very focused and dedicated as a student-athlete who has both outstanding time management skills and work ethic. He is currently maintaining an 80% average in his two subjects at Queen’s,” commented Peggy Burris, Academic Advisor for the Bulls.
90% of the players currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League are attending high school or post-secondary institutions.
The Ontario Hockey League recently awarded 316 scholarships to current and former OHL players.
2008-09 OHL Academic Players of the Month:
West Division
January – RJ Mahalak, Plymouth Whalers
December – Austin Watson, Windsor Spitfires
November – Tyler McGee, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
October – Nathan Chiarlitti, Sarnia Sting
Midwest Division
January – Brett Cook, Erie Otters
December – Steven Shipley, Owen Sound Attack
November – Tucker Hunter, London Knights
October – Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
Central Division
January – Adam Payerl, Barrie Colts
December – Josh McFadden, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
November – Marcus Foligno, Sudbury Wolves
October – Freddie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs
East Division
January – Robert Stellick, Belleville Bulls
December – Tony Romano, Peterborough Petes
November – Brian Birkhoff, Ottawa 67’s
October – Kevin Bailie, Oshawa Generals
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