CALGARY, AB – Ron Robison, Commissioner of the Western Hockey League, announced today that a total of 246 WHL graduate players have been awarded WHL Scholarships for the 2008-09 academic year.

The WHL Scholarship recipients are enrolled as full-time students in 57 different post-secondary institutions throughout North America.

This season 105 of the 246 WHL Scholarship recipients are furthering their education while playing elite hockey in the Canada West University Hockey League of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Association.  These students have combined their WHL Scholarship with additional financial assistance from their Canada West University to receive Western Canada’s Premier Hockey Scholarship. 

The University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon) leads the way with 29 WHL graduates enrolled in full time studies while 25 former WHL players are registered at the University of Alberta (Edmonton).  The University of Calgary has 21 WHL graduates attending full time classes; the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg) has 17; the University of Regina has 16; the University of British Columbia in Vancouver has 15 while the University of Lethbridge has 13 WHL graduates enrolled in full time studies.

The WHL Scholarship recipients include 189 graduates attending a Canadian University, 152 of which are attending University in Western Canada.  37 WHL graduates are enrolled at Universities in Eastern Canada with 29 currently playing hockey in the Ontario and Atlantic Conferences of the CIS.  Another 50 WHL graduates are enrolled at Canadian Colleges with six playing hockey in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) and seven are attending other post-secondary institutions throughout North America.  

The WHL Scholarship is solely funded by the member Clubs of the WHL.  This season WHL Clubs will contribute over $1 million to graduates utilizing the WHL Scholarship.

“The WHL Scholarship program allows our graduate players to not only pursue their post-secondary education at the institution of their choice, but also to continue playing an outstanding caliber of hockey at the University and College levels in Canada,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison, “Our top players in Western Canada now recognize they can stay in Canada and receive one of the finest scholarships available in North America today.”

All players who play in the WHL are eligible to receive full WHL academic scholarships.  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, while playing in the WHL, players receive financial assistance for education expenses such as high school fees and tutoring or fees for post-secondary courses, to ensure players reach their academic potential.

The WHL continues to be the leading provider of Hockey Scholarships in Western Canada.  Since 1993, the Western Hockey League has awarded more than 3,000 Scholarships representing a contribution of more than $9 million.

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

19 Pats have been awarded WHL scholarships for the 2008-09 academic year, and these are the post secondary institutions they are attending.

(**) - Currently playing in the Canada West Conference of the CIS

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Preston Mosewich – Saskatoon, SK – Regina Pats
Curtis Patterson – Saskatoon, SK – Regina Pats**

University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Braden Appleby – Camrose, AB – Regina Pats

           
University of Calgary – Calgary, AB
Brennan Chapman – Lloydminster, AB – Regina Pats

University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, MB
Jesse Deckert – Winnipeg, MB – Regina Pats
Terrance Delaronde – Winnipeg, MB – Regina Pats**

University of Regina – Regina, SK
Kyle Ross – Regina, SK – Regina Pats**
Matt Sawa – Regina, SK – Regina Pats**
Jordan McGillivray – Regina, SK – Regina Pats 

University of British Columbia, - Vancouver, BC
Craig Lineker – Calgary, AB – Regina Pats**

University of Lethbridge – Lethbridge, AB
Landon Jones – High Prairie, AB – Regina Pats**

Brock University – St. Catherines, ON
Isaac Smeltzer – Estevan, SK – Regina Pats**

NAIT – Edmonton, AB
Derek Reinhart – Rosalind, AB – Regina Pats

Grant MacEwan College – Edmonton, AB 
Dan Waschuk – Edmonton, AB – Regina Pats **

Mount Royal College – Calgary, AB
Matt MacDermott – Lloydminster, AB – Regina Pats      

Lakeland College – Lloydminster, AB
Jordan Fuder – Cold Lake, AB – Regina Pats

Kwantlen University College – Vancouver, BC
Darryl Yacboski – Langley, BC – Regina Pats

Vancouver Police Academy – Vancouver, BC
Andrew de Sousa – Richmond, BC – Regina Pats 

University of Oregon – Eugene, OR
Michael Senseman – Beaverton, OR – Regina Pats

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