Record 391 WHL Scholarships awarded to graduate players for fall academic semester

 

*207 WHL graduates further playing career at U SPORTS level in Canada West, Ontario University Athletics and Atlantic University Sport

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that to date a total of 391 WHL graduate players have been awarded WHL Scholarships for the fall semester of the 2019-20 academic year. The 391 WHL Scholarships awarded represent the highest total for the fall academic session in WHL history, improving upon the mark of 386 set in the fall of 2018-19.

WHL Scholarships are solely funded by the member Clubs of the WHL and administered by the WHL Office. This season, WHL Clubs will contribute in excess of $2.8 million to WHL graduates utilizing the WHL Scholarship. Since 2009-10, WHL Clubs have awarded 3,868 WHL Scholarships, representing a contribution in excess of $22 million by WHL ownership to WHL graduates.

“Once again, the WHL and our WHL member Clubs are very proud to see a record number of WHL graduate players making the most of their WHL Scholarships as they further their education at Canadian Universities and post-secondary institutions throughout North America,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “We are very pleased our graduates are utilizing their WHL Scholarships at an increasing rate each year, which provides a clear indication that our WHL Club ownership continue to provide one of the most comprehensive education programs in North America, in addition to a world-class hockey experience.”

 

 

Every player who plays in the WHL is eligible to receive the WHL Scholarship. For every season a player plays in the WHL, they receive a guaranteed, full-year WHL Scholarship including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees to a post-secondary institution of their choice. The WHL Scholarship is a fully-guaranteed academic scholarship with no requirement to play university hockey to qualify. The WHL graduate can apply the funding to any post-secondary or career-enhancing program of his choice, including trades schools or professional career training programs.

Fully funded by WHL member Clubs, all current WHL players are encouraged to enroll in post-secondary courses. This season, over 140 current players are taking post-secondary courses while playing in the WHL. The financial assistance received for post-secondary studies while playing does not impact on the WHL Scholarship benefits a WHL player is entitled to upon graduating from the League. The WHL and Athabasca University have partnered to offer, through an online distance education platform, fully-accredited university courses to any WHL player interested in further pursuing post-secondary studies while playing in the WHL.

This year, 246 of the 391 WHL Scholarship recipients are furthering their education at Universities in Western Canada, with 140 of those playing Canadian University hockey at the U SPORTS level in Canada West (CW) hockey league. In many cases, these student-athletes have combined their WHL Scholarship with additional financial assistance from Canada West Universities to receive the Western Canada Premier Hockey Scholarship.

The University of Alberta and University of Saskatchewan lead all post-secondary institutions with 39 WHL graduates enrolled in full-time studies at each institution. The University of British Columbia (30), University of Calgary (25), University of Manitoba (23), Mount Royal University (21), University of Regina (21), and University of Lethbridge (19) also lead the way in WHL graduate enrollment.

WHL Scholarship recipients are enrolled this year as full-time students at 76 different post-secondary institutions throughout North America.

Alberta leads all western provinces, having produced 149 WHL graduates currently accessing their WHL Scholarship, followed by British Columbia (87), Saskatchewan (83) and Manitoba (42). A total of 31 U.S. and international graduates are accessing their WHL Scholarship.

Among the 2019-20 WHL Scholarship recipients, 145 WHL graduates are enrolled at universities in Eastern Canada, Canadian colleges, trades or technical institutions, or attending post-secondary in the United States.

The number of WHL Scholarships awarded during the fall academic semester has continued to trend upwards for 11 consecutive years. During the fall academic semester for 2009-10, a total of 253 WHL Scholarships were awarded. With 391 WHL Scholarships awarded for the fall semester of the 2019-20 academic year, this represents an increase of 54.5 per cent in activations since 2009-10.

CLICK HERE for a detailed list of all WHL Scholarship recipients for the 2019-20 fall semester.

Summary: WHL Scholarships 2019 – 2020
Canadian Universities, Western Canada – 246
Canadian Universities, Eastern Canada – 71
Canadian Colleges and other institutions – 57
U.S. Colleges, Universities – 17
Total –  WHL Graduate Scholarships – 391

WHL Graduates continuing to play hockey at the elite Canadian University or College level:
Canada West Conference – 140
Ontario University Athletics – 46
Atlantic University Sport Conferences – 21
ACAC – 22
BCIHL – 9
Total – 238

Provincial Summary: WHL Scholarships 2019-20

British Columbia – 87
Alberta – 149
Saskatchewan – 82
Manitoba – 41
USA / International – 31

Totals – 391

11-year Review – WHL Scholarships (Fall Academic Semester)

‘09-10	‘10-11	‘11-12	‘12-13	‘13-14	‘14-15	‘15-16	‘16-17	‘17-18	‘18-19	’19-20
253	275	300	301	305	317	337	355	364	386	391

About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

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