Supporting Success On and Off the Ice
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is committed to helping players reach their highest potential — not just as elite athletes, but as students, professionals, and individuals. Our Education Services are designed to empower OHL players with the tools, opportunities, and support they need to achieve their academic and career goals.
🎓 OHL Scholarships
Every OHL player is eligible for a scholarship funded by their team upon graduating from the league. These scholarships are administered through the OHL office and support post-secondary education at a university, college, trade school, or in an OHL-approved career advancement program.
💰 Scholarship Benefits (Post-April 2025 Contracts)
Minimum standardized amounts paid directly to the education provider:
- Canadian Players: $10,000 CAD per season played
- American Players: $15,000 USD per season played
- Import Players: Amount determined by team location
➡ ➡ See more scholarship details further below
🏫 Academic & School Support
📈 OHL Graduation Rate
99% of OHL players graduate high school — well above Ontario’s average of 84.3%.
👥 Academic Advisors
Each team has 1–2 dedicated Academic Advisors — experienced guidance counsellors or high school teachers — who:
- Develop tailored academic plans
- Support both high school and post-secondary education
- Help facilitate the return to home schools in the off-season
📚 Tutoring Services
- Every player has access to tutoring throughout the season
- Includes “Paper” — an online platform with 24/7 one-on-one tutoring
⚙️ Additional Education Supports
- Practice schedules flexible to school hours
- Latest educational technology and tools provided
- No high school player may be traded without consent of the player and family
💵 Education Financial Assistance
For Rostered Players Still in High School
- Up to $3,000 (in contract currency) toward tuition, books, and fees
- Paid directly to the education provider
For Rostered High School Graduates
- Up to $3,000 (in contract currency) toward tuition and fees (not books)
- Paid directly to the education provider
For Overage Players
- Tuition and compulsory fees up to the amount of player’s scholarship entitlement
- Only courses completed before April 30 of the overage year are covered
- Expenses are deducted from the first year of the scholarship (liability to that team)
📘 Education Eligibility Guidelines
To maintain amateur status and scholarship eligibility, players will:
- Complete and graduate high school (minimum 2 courses per semester, including summer)
- Commence post-secondary education (university, college, trade school), or
- Complete at least 12 hours of OHL-approved micro-credentials/certifications
🏆 OHL Academic Awards
Bobby Smith Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year)
The Bobby Smith Trophy is awarded annually to the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year who best combines high standards of play and academic excellence. The trophy is in honour of Bobby Smith, former Ottawa 67’s star who exhibited the standard of excellence required by the award. Each team’s nominee for the award becomes a member of the OHL Scholastic Team of the Year.
Ivan Tennant Memorial Award (Top Academic High School Student)
The Ivan Tennant Memorial Award is given out each year to the top academic high school student in the OHL. The award is named in honour of Ivan Tennant who spent a lifetime combining hockey and education. He was the Kitchener Rangers’ Education Consultant for 20 years and a key figure on the OHL’s Academic Advisor’s Committee.
Last year’s winner of both academic awards was Owen Sound Attack goaltender Carter George. George was the OHL’s busiest netminder this past season, stopping a league-high 1,744 shots, and excelled in the classroom with a 93.8 percent average in Grade 12 University-level courses at Owen Sound District Secondary School. George’s transcript was headlined by a 99 percent grade in Business Co-Op, a 97 percent in Organizational Business and 95 percent finishes in both English and International Business. After never winning the award until 2023, the Attack franchise has back-to-back Bobby Smith Trophy recipients as George follows teammate Colby Barlow in receiving the Award. Read More / Watch
Other past winners of the Bobby Smith Trophy have included two-time winner Connor McDavid and three-time recipient Dustin Brown. George joins four other former Attack players as the latest to claim the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award, following Cal Uens (2022), Logan LeSage (2020), Mack Guzda (2019, ’18) and Andrew Shorkey (2007).
Roger Neilson Memorial Award (Top Academic Post-Secondary Student)
The Roger Neilson Memorial Award is presented each year to recognize the top post-secondary player in the OHL. The Roger Neilson Memorial Award is named in honour of the Hall of Fame Coach. While coaching the Peterborough Petes in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Neilson, a former high school teacher, was a pioneer in stressing the importance of education to all of his players.
Last year’s winner was Ottawa 67’s defenceman Thomas Sirman, who achieved an overall average of over 83 percent in studies at Queen’s University, with excellence in Geography, French and Liberal Arts, doing so during his third season on the 67’s blue line. Read More / Watch
Other past winners have included two-time recipients Adam Varga, Stephen Gibson, Derek Lanoue and Danny Battochio.
🔗 OHL Scholarships
Eligibility
- Must be a graduated OHL player
📌 3 General Scholarship Rules:
- Activate your scholarship within 18 months of your OA-eligible year
- Maintain full-time student status (minimum 3 courses per *term from September–April)
- Use your scholarship in consecutive years
✅ To Activate Your Scholarship:
- Register at your school and pay deposit upfront
- Complete Scholarship Processing Form at least two months before Fall semester
- Email: [email protected] – Subject line: ACTIVATE SCHOLARSHIP, Introduce yourself in body of email
🗓 2025–26 Scholarship Information Package: Currently being updated – To be posted soon
💡 Scholarship Use
- Tuition and compulsory fees only
- Paid directly to the education provider
- Valid for:
- Undergraduate degree
- College Diploma or Certificate
- Trade school
- OHL-approved career-advancing program
💼 OHL Internship Opportunities
OHL League Office Internships – Fall 2025
To be posted late May
- Communications & Content
- Player Experience (Recruiting, Education, Culture & Community)
- Business Operations
OHL Member Team Internships
👉 Click here for a full list of opportunities
📞 Contact Us
Julie Kuiken
Director of Education Services
Ontario Hockey League
📞 416-299-8700 ext. 421
📧 [email protected]