OHL Academic Players of the Month

Press Release

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for November.

West Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the West Division is center Tyler McGee of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. McGee, 18, a native of Timmins, Ontario is currently enrolled at Bawating High School in Sault Ste. Marie. “Tyler is currently maintaining an overall average of 87% highlighted by outstanding marks of 86% in grade 12 Physics and 87% in grade 12 Geomatics.,” commented Jerry Bumbacco, Academic Advisor for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Midwest Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the Midwest Division is center Tucker Hunter of the London Knights Hockey Club. Hunter, 18, a native of London, Ontario currently is a Grade 12 student at Saunders Secondary School. Rob Waugh, Academic Advisor for the London Knights, had this to say about Tucker, “Tucker’s current mid-term average is 90% while studying all university entrance level courses.”

Central Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the Central Division is center Marcus Foligno of the Sudbury Wolves Hockey Club. Foligno, 17, a native of Sudbury, Ontario is a Grade 12 student at St. Benedicts Secondary School in Sudbury. “Marcus has achieved and maintained an outstanding academic standing while playing in the OHL,” commented Gord Ewin, Academic Advisor for the Wolves.

East Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the East Division is defenseman Brian Birkhoff of the Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club. Birkhoff, 17, a native of Richmond Hill, Ontario, is a Grade 12 student at Hillcrest High School. Theresa Kelly, Academic Advisor for the Ottawa 67’s commented on Brian’s achievements, “Brian has put forward a great effort and has a good work ethic. He possesses a very positive attitude towards school.”

Each month, the OHL recognizes a player from each Division who is striving to reach his full potential in his educational program while playing in the Ontario Hockey League.

90% of the players currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League are attending high school or post-secondary institutions.

From the 2007-08 playing season, 189 OHL graduates are currently attending Canadian universities on scholarships from their OHL teams.

The Ontario Hockey League recently awarded 316 scholarships to current and former OHL players for the 2008-09 Academic year.

2008-09 OHL Academic Players of the Month:

West Division
November – Tyler McGee, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
October – Nathan Chiarlitti, Sarnia Sting

Midwest Division
November – Tucker Hunter, London Knights
October – Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers

Central Division
November – Marcus Foligno, Sudbury Wolves
October – Freddie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs

East Division
November – Brian Birkhoff, Ottawa 67’s
October – Kevin Bailie, Oshawa Generals

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)