OHL Academic Players for January

Thursday February 5, 2015

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for January 2015, including rookies Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires, Keenan Reynolds of the Owen Sound Attack, Stephen Gibson of the Mississauga Steelheads, and Jonathan Ang of the Peterborough Petes.

West Division: Windsor Spitfires forward Aaron Luchuk is the West Division Academic Player of the Month for January. The grade 12 student at St. Anne’s High School is excelling in his studies, taking courses in English, Business, Religion, Sports Management and Data Management. The Kingston, ON, native is described by his teachers as “a hard working student who puts 100% into his work and is always mature, responsible and polite.” Luchuk has nine goals and eight assists in 47 games as a rookie this season. He was Windsor’s fourth round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection and is eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Midwest Division: Rookie winger Keenan Reynolds of the Owen Sound Attack is the Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month. The graduate of the Ottawa Jr. 67’s Minor Midget program holds an 86% average across University level courses at West Hill Secondary School. The 16 year-old native of Ottawa, ON, is described as an asset in his class. “Keenan’s teachers describe him as a conscientious, positive student who manages his time effectively and balances the demands of his school and hockey commitments,” said Attack Academic Advisor Sarah Rowe. “He is a dedicated individual who demonstrates an incredible work ethic both on and off the ice.” Reynolds has a goal and two assists in 36 games this season. He scored his first career OHL goal on October 24 in Kitchener.

Central Division: Rookie blueliner Stephen Gibson of the Mississauga Steelheads is the Central Division Academic Player of the Month. The grade 12 student at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School holds an 80% average in Biology, Philosophy and Advanced Functions courses. A native of Kitchener, ON, Gibson is a 6’2″, 197Ib defenceman with a goal in 38 games this season. He scored his first OHL goal January 9 in Guelph. Gibson is a graduate of the Kitchener Jr. Rangers Minor Midget program and was Mississauga’s seventh round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.

East Division: The OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month is rookie Jonathan Ang of the Peterborough Petes. The 16 year-old grade 11 student at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School is excelling in his studies with an average in the mid-80’s earned in University level Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics courses. “Jonathan’s teachers are impressed with his critical thinking and problem solving skills,” said Petes Academic Advisor Janet Wylie. “He is eager to learn and takes his academics very seriously.” Peterborough’s first round, ninth overall pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, Ang represented Canada in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this past November. The Markham, ON, native has four goals and three assists in 37 games this season.

2014-15 OHL Academic Players of the Month:

West Division:
January – Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
December – Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
November – Jakob Chychrun (Sarnia Sting)
October – Ryan Orban (Saginaw Spirit)

Midwest Division:
January – Keenan Reynolds (Owen Sound Attack)
December – Drake Rymsha (London Knights)
November – Mason Kohn (Kitchener Rangers) 
October – Matthew Hotchkiss (Guelph Storm)

Central Division:
January – Stephen Gibson (Mississauga Steelheads)
December – Trenton Bourque (Sudbury Wolves)
November – Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
October – Mark Shoemaker (North Bay Battalion)

East Division:
January – Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
December – Travis Barron (Ottawa 67’s)
November – Sam Harding (Oshawa Generals)
October – Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs)