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WHL Scholarship Program Invests in Academic Pursuits of 350 Graduate Players for 2023-24

November 22, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that 350 WHL graduate players have been awarded WHL Scholarships for the 2023-24 academic season.

The 2023-24 campaign serves as the 31st year of the WHL Scholarship program. Established on a League-wide basis in 1993-94, nearly 8,000 WHL Scholarships have been awarded, representing an investment of over $35 million by WHL Clubs. This season, WHL Club ownership will contribute in excess of $2.5 million to the 350 WHL graduates utilizing the WHL Scholarship.

"With another 350 WHL graduates accessing the WHL Scholarship this year, the commitment our WHL member Club ownership make to continue delivering a world-class hockey experience and industry-leading scholarship has never been more clearly demonstrated," commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. "On an annual basis, it is very rewarding to see WHL graduates reap the benefits of the WHL Scholarship. The WHL not only produces many of the world's finest hockey players, but just as importantly, highly educated student athletes who, through the WHL Scholarship program, move on to highly successful business careers and leaders in their communities."

Administered by the WHL Office, WHL Scholarships are solely funded by the ownership of the WHL member Clubs. Every player who plays in the WHL is eligible to receive the WHL Scholarship. For every season played in the WHL, players receive a guaranteed, full year of 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.

In addition to the WHL Scholarship players receive upon graduation from the WHL, all current WHL players are encouraged to enroll in post-secondary courses and these courses are also fully funded by WHL Clubs. This season, 150 current WHL players take 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 player is entitled to upon graduating from the League. The WHL and Athabasca University have partnered to offer, through an online distance education platform, full-accredited university courses to any WHL player interested in further pursuing post-secondary studies while playing in the WHL.

This year, 207 of the 350 WHL Scholarship recipients are furthering their education at Universities in Western Canada, with 129 of those playing Canadian University hockey at the U SPORTS level in the Canada West (CW) men's hockey conference. 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 Saskatchewan leads all post-secondary institutions with 31 WHL graduates enrolled in full-time studies. The University of Calgary (28), University of British Columbia (27), University of Alberta (25), Mount Royal University (22), and University of Regina (21) also lead the way in WHL graduate enrollment.

WHL Scholarship recipients are enrolled this year as full-time students at 79 different post-secondary institutions throughout North America.

Alberta leads all Western provinces, having produced 126 WHL graduates currently accessing the WHL Scholarship, followed by British Columbia (86), Saskatchewan (63), and Manitoba (47). A total of 28 U.S. and other WHL graduates are accessing their WHL Scholarship.

Among the 2023-24 WHL Scholarship recipients, 143 WHL graduates are enrolled at universities in Eastern Canada, Canadian colleges, trades or technical institutions, or attending post-secondary in the United States.

Summary: WHL Scholarship 2023-24

Canadian Universities, Western Canada - 207

Canadian Universities Eastern Canada - 63

Canadian Colleges & other institutions - 60

U.S. Colleges, Universities - 20

Total - WHL Graduate Scholarships - 350

WHL Graduates continuing to player hockey at elite Canadian University or College level

Canada West Conference - 129

Ontario University Athletics - 47

Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) - 20

Atlantic University Sport Conferences - 12

B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) - 3

Total - 211

Branch Summary: WHL Scholarships 2023-24

British Columbia - 86

Alberta - 126

Saskatchewan - 63

Manitoba - 47

USA - 26

Other - 2

Total - 350

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