EBERLE WINS WHL SCHOLASTIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Calgary, Alberta – Forward Jordan Eberle, who will celebrate his 18th birthday on May 15th, has joined some select company in being chosen the 2007-08 winner of the Doc Seaman Scholastic Player of the Year Trophy as the Western Hockey League hosted its annual Awards Luncheon in Calgary Wednesday afternoon.

A grade 12 student from Regina, Saskatchewan, Eberle becomes the third Pat ever to win this prestigious award, and the first Pat player to win it since Perry Johnson during the 1994-95 season. The other former Pat to win the award was Mark Janssens, who won the award in back to back years in 1985 and 1986.  Other notable winners of this award include the likes of Vancouver Giants' scoring star Gilbert Brule, and Scott Niedermayer of the Kamloops Blazers.

In 70 games this past season, Eberle scored 42 goals and added 33 assists for 75 points. During his two years in Regina, the former 7th round bantam draft pick has 70 goals and 130 points in 136 regular season games.

Eberle’s current grade point average is a remarkable 85%, having enrolled in four grade 12 classes last semester at O’Neill High School in Regina.  Jordan is currently in Calgary where he is attending Bishop O’Byrne High School.

“We are very proud of Jordan’s accomplishment winning the Scholastic Player of the Year in the WHL,” commented Pats General Manager Brent Parker. “Education is a large part of what the WHL stands for and this is another example of how we are not just producing top hockey talent but we are producing top end, well educated young men. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the staff and teachers at O’Neill High School for all of the efforts that they put forth with our players over the course of the school year. Our players are privileged to have such a tremendous environment in which to learn. I also want to thank the Pats two education advisors; Al Ebenal and Denis Jakubowski for their tireless work they put in with our players in helping them achieve academic success.”

Daryl (Doc) Seaman has been a pioneer in promoting higher education and hockey for many years. A staunch supporter of the efforts of Hockey Canada and the WHL to ensure all players are able to combine education with hockey, Seaman has been a great promoter of the City of Calgary, as evidenced by his efforts to bring the Atlanta Flames to the southern Alberta city.

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