17 former Rockets currently on WHL scholarships this year
7 of those 17 contending for U SPORTS title this weekend
The WHL announced Wednesday that a record total of 382 graduate players have been awarded scholarships for the fall and winter semesters of the 2017-18 academic year, with 60 of those alums also competing for the U SPORTS David Johnston University Cup this weekend in New Brunswick.
The previous record was 374 scholarships during the 2016-17 academic season.
Of the 382 — the highest fall and winter total in WHL history — 17 were received by former Kelowna Rockets players. That list includes: Jordan Borstmayer (University of Saskatchewan), Chance Braid (Acadia University), Mitch Chapman (University of British Columbia), Jordon Cooke (University of Saskatchewan), Michael Herringer (University of Regina), Mackenzie Johnson (University of Saskatchewan), Colten Martin (Texas Christian University), Tyson Baillie (University of Alberta), Austin Glover (University of British Columbia), Colten Heffley (Dalhousie University), Jesse Lees (Mount Royal University), Cole Linaker (University of Alberta), Spencer Main (University of British Columbia), Jake Morrissey (University of Calgary), Rodney Southam (Acadia University), Mitchell Wheaton (St. Francis Xavier University) and Cody Chikie (NAIT).
This weekend, 68 WHL alumni will compete for U SPORTS supremacy at the 2018 David Johnston University Cup in Fredericton, N.B., including seven of those former Rockets in Baillie and Linaker for Alberta, Cooke and Johnston for Saskatchewan, Southam and Braid for Acadia, and Wheaton for St. Francis Xavier.
The WHL is represented with players on seven of the eight teams competing in the tournament.
All tournament games, including Sunday’s bronzemedal game, will air on USPORTS.LIVE.
Saturday’s semifinals will be broadcast on Sportsnet 360 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. PT. Sunday’s goldmedal final will also air live on Sportsnet 360 at 11 a.m. PT.
Other Okanagan products vying for that title include Vernon’s Cole Sanford for Alberta, plus Penticton’s Jagger Dirk and Matt Needham, both for St. Francis Xavier.
For more information on the 2018 U SPORTS David Johnston University Cup, go online to UniversityCup.ca.
Back on the topic of scholarships, 183 of the 382 recipients this year are furthering their education while playing Canadian university hockey at the U SPORTS level.
In Western Canada, 133 of these studentathletes are playing in Canada West and have in many cases combined their WHL scholarship with additional financial assistance from their university to receive the Western Canada Premier Hockey Scholarship.
The University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Sask.) leads all post-secondary institutions with 38 WHL graduates enrolled in full-time studies, while 34 former WHL players are registered at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alta.).
The University of British Columbia (31), University of Lethbridge (25), University of Calgary (24), University of Manitoba (19), University of Regina (19) and Mount Royal University (17) also have plenty of WHL grads enrolled. There are full-time students on WHL scholarships at 78 different post-secondary institutions throughout North America.
Hockey Alberta leads all Western Canada branches, having produced 162 WHL grads currently accessing their WHL scholarship. BC Hockey (83), the Saskatchewan Hockey Association (75) and Hockey Manitoba (34) are also leaders, with Hockey North (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) and Hockey Yukon combining to produce two WHL scholarship recipients. A total of 26 players from USA Hockey are also currently accessing their WHL scholarship.
Every player who suits up in the WHL is eligible to receive the league’s scholarship. For every season played in the WHL, they receive a guaranteed full-year scholarship, including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees to a post-secondary institution of their choice. It is an academic scholarship, with no requirement to play university hockey.
WHL scholarships are solely funded by the league’s 22 member clubs, and this season they will combine to contribute in excess of $2.5 million to graduates utilizing their scholarships.