Jonah De Simone, Excelling in the Classroom and on the Ice
Before Jonah De Simone hits the Meridian Centre ice for a 2:30 PM practice, the Niagara IceDogs’ sophomore forward has already been put through his paces academically.
A solid contributor on the ice, the Grade 12 Governor Simcoe student is a variable phenom in the classroom, where he boasts an 87% average in his course work. He has also earned multiple Ontario Hockey League and IceDogs’ academic accolades. In OHL action, he managed ten goals and six assists in 63 games this year.
The 18-year-old’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed by IceDogs’ academic advisor Tim Tope. “Jonah is an exceptional student, who is focused on his academic studies,” he said. “His teachers have been impressed with his maturity and insight during class discussions.”
The hard-working right-winger is quick to credit the team for his academic success, “The IceDogs make sure your school environment is a top priority, academic wise. It will be a time I look back at on for years to come.”
De Simone’s studies are weighted towards mathematics and science — his favourite subjects and the areas he excels in the most. He has also taken on a range of challenging courses that include: Advanced Functions, Biology, Calculus, English, Kinesiology, Multi-Subject Instructional Period, and a University prep course.
“I was focused on staying on top of my academics,” he said. “While making sure I was taking the courses that were the most beneficial to me in an academic sense, and was still confident that I’d be able to maintain my grades while having an on-ice presence.”
The university prep course is particularly important for the Richmond Hill native, who is enrolled in Brock University for the fall semester with a plan to major in Business.
His message to fellow student-athletes is clear, “high school is the other half of your life that you have to stay on top of, and it’s not impossible, by any means. If you’re able to stay focused, then you can excel on both sides of the equation.”
De Simone’s pursuit of excellence fits the organization’s mission perfectly, the IceDog’s mandate is clear to create a world-class culture of champions on the ice, in the community, and in the classroom.
For more information on the Niagara IceDogs’ academic program, please click here.
