Education Services - Ontario Hockey League

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