OHL Academic Players for February
(Photos: Gallant, Hague, Phillips – OHL Images / Auger – Tim Cornett)
Thursday March 3, 2016
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for February 2016, including forward Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes and defencemen Nicolas Hague of the Mississauga Steelheads, Markus Phillips of the Owen Sound Attack and Kyle Auger of the Windsor Spitfires.
East Division: Peterborough Petes rookie forward Zach Gallant is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for February after maintaining a 91% average in grade 12 university level functions, data management and healthy active living courses at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School. He is enrolled in grade 11 university english, chemistry and biology this semester and already sits two credits ahead of schedule after earning 18 in his first four semesters of high school. “Zach has a strong work ethic, and matched with solid intellect he is academically successful at whatever he puts his mind to,” said Petes Academic Advisor Kim Driscoll. “The Petes organization is proud of the excellent marks earned by Zach,” added general manager Michael Oke. “He has shown a high level of commitment to his academics and ability to balance both hockey and education.” The 16-year-old has four assists in 43 games with the Petes this season. He was Peterborough’s first round (5th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.
Central Division: Rookie defenceman Nicolas Hague of the Mississauga Steelheads is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month. The native of Kitchener, ON, completed grade 12 university level english, data management, law and co-op courses at Phillip Pocock Secondary School with an 84.5% average. The 6’5″, 207Ib. rearguard has applied and received early acceptance from a number of Ontario Universities and will commence his full-time post-secondary studies next season while playing in the OHL. Mississauga’s second round (29th overall) pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, Hague has 11 goals, 10 assists and 21 points in 59 games from the blueline this season.
West Division: 16-year-old defenceman Kyle Auger of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for February. The Thunder Bay, ON, native finished first semester with an 87% average in university level courses at St. Anne High School. “Kyle is always seeking academic help and striving to do better,” said Spitfires academic advisor Danielle Chevalier. Auger is pursuing a career in business and is described as very hard working and dedicated by his teachers, coaches and teammates. In 24 games with the Spitfires this season, the second round (39th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection has a goal and two assists.
Midwest Division: Rookie blueliner Markus Phillips of the Owen Sound Attack is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for February. The 16-year-old Toronto native has excelled in his university level studies as a grade 11 student at West Hill Secondary School, earning five credits in the first semester. “Markus is an amazingly gifted student athlete,” said Attack academic advisor Sarah Rowe. “He is self-motivated and takes responsibility for his own learning. Teachers have commented on his maturity and absolute dedication to his school work.” Owen Sound’s first round (9th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, Phillips has two goals, eight assists and 10 points in 54 games this season.
2015-16 OHL Academic Players of the Month:
West Division:
February – Kyle Auger (Windsor Spitfires)
January – Conor Timmins (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
December – Sasha Chmelevski (Sarnia Sting)
November – Brady Gilmour (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Kyle Keyser (Flint Firebirds)
Midwest Division:
February – Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack)
January – Cliff Pu (London Knights)
December – Luke Richardson (Kitchener Rangers)
November – Brock Philips (Guelph Storm)
October – Jake Lawr (Erie Otters)
Central Division:
February – Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)
January – Brady Pataki (Sudbury Wolves)
December – Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
November – Jacob Ramalho (North Bay Battalion)
October – Ruan Badenhorst (Barrie Colts)
East Division:
February – Zach Gallant (Peterborough Petes)
January – Austen Keating (Ottawa 67’s)
December – Riley Stillman (Oshawa Generals)
November – Sam Field (Kingston Frontenacs)
October – Jack Hanley (Hamilton Bulldogs)
During the 2014-15 season, the CHL proudly awarded 769 graduate players with academic scholarships representing an investment of over $6.2 million this season. Scholarship Programs throughout the CHL are solely funded by the member clubs of the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.