Badenhorst One Of OHL Academic Players of the Month
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for October 2015, including defenceman Jack Hanley of the Hamilton Bulldogs, and goaltenders Ruan Badenhorst of the Barrie Colts, Jake Lawr of the Erie Otters and Kyle Keyser of the Flint Firebirds.
West Division: The West Division Academic Player of the Month for October is Flint Firebirds goaltender Kyle Keyser. A native of Coral Springs, FL, and Flint’s fourth round pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, Keyser is currently a grade eleven student at Grand Blanc High School. The rookie goaltender is described as “personable and highly engaged in his classes” by his teachers as he achieves a high GPA in Business, American Government, Algebra, Chemistry and American Literature courses. The 6’2″, 182Ib 16 year-old has appeared in four games with the Firebirds so far this season, going 1-2-0-0 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. He recorded his first OHL win on October 4th when he made 28 saves in a 2-1 win over the Mississauga Steelheads.
Midwest Division: The Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for October is another goaltender. Rookie netminder Jake Lawr of the Erie Otters is a high achiever in Chemistry and Trigonometry courses as a grade twelve student at McDowell Senior High School. Lawr is having a great deal of success thanks to his “keen attention to detail that allows him to have success on and off the ice,” as described by Otters assistant coach B.J. Adams. After being chosen by the Otters in the second round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, Lawr has appeared in four games this season, going 3-1-0-0 with a 4.23 goals-against average and an .856 save percentage. The Toronto native recorded his first OHL victory on October 10th when he made 32 saves in a 4-3 win over the Windsor Spitfires.
Central: The OHL’s Central Division Academic Player of the Month for October is Barrie Colts goaltender Ruan Badenhorst who is currently a grade twelve student at Blyth Academy. A 17 year-old from Tiny Township, ON, Badenhorst was a ninth round pick by the Colts in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection and is currently excelling with a 92% average in Nutrition and an 88% in English. The 5’10”, 155Ib goaltender has appeared in one game with the Colts this season after suiting up in three as a 16 year-old last year. He recorded his first OHL victory on November 7, 2014, making 24 saves in a 9-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves.
East Division: The East Division Academic Player of the Month for October is Hamilton Bulldogs defenceman Jack Hanley. A 17 year-old native of Whitby, Hanley wins his second Academic Player of the Month award after being recognized in February of last season. The grade twelve student at Ancaster High School is currently excelling in his schoolwork, being described as “a very determined and intelligent student,” by his teachers. The fourth round pick in 2014 recently scored 100% on a very difficult Advanced Functions test the morning after a big game in Niagara. He is achieving high grades in University level Advanced Functions, English and Resource Management courses this fall. Hanley has recorded an assist in 10 games this season.
