Friday, January 11, 2013

OHL Academic Players for December

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for December, 2012, which includes Riley Corbin of the Plymouth Whalers, Justin Felker of the Erie Otters, Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts, and Jordan Subban of the Belleville Bulls.

West Division: The OHL Academic Player of the Month for December in the West Division is Riley Corbin.  Corbin currently attends Plymouth High school where he is taking Grade 12 Statistical Reasoning, French IV, Forensic Science and Chemistry.  A 17-year-old native of Thunder Bay, ON, Corbin was a fifth round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection and currently maintains an A average in all of his subjects.

Midwest Division: The OHL Academic Player of the Month for December in the Midwest Division is Justin Felker of the Erie Otters.  Felker, a 16-year-old native of Niagara-on-the-lake, ON, and a second round pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection, attends McDowell High School.  Entering the start of the school year from Ontario, he came into McDowell with one of the strongest transcripts, complete with all A’s.  He has transitioned beautifully into the American system at McDowell, and is taking all math and science in the first semester, including an honours level mathematics class.  His teachers comment that he is a pleasure to have in class and describe him as an enthusiastic learner.  As a 16-year-old who has moved to a new country, a new school, and having an increased commitment to the sport of hockey, not to mention living with another family, Felker is to be commended for his excellent performance in the classroom.

Central Division: The OHL Academic Player of the Month for December in the Central Division is Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts.  Ekblad, a 16-year-old native of Belle River, ON, is a full-time student at Blyth Academy in Barrie.  The first overall pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection is a tremendous young man who is a star on the ice and in the classroom.  Ekblad has already completed his grade eleven Math and Biology credits at the university level, with a 90% average and has almost completed English and History credits where he also has shown significant capability.  He has achieved this while maintaining his rigorous OHL practice and game schedule and being captain of Team Ontario at the recent World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

East Division: The OHL Academic Player of the Month for December in the East Division is Jordan Subban of the Belleville Bulls.  Subban, a 17-year-old native of Toronto, ON, was a first round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection and is described as a student that demonstrates a strong work ethic towards his academics and is more than willing to put in the extra time to maintain his high marks.  He is a leader in the classroom and a great communicator.  Eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft, Subban was recently named to the Team Cherry roster for the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be held in Halifax next week.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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