The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is committed to providing a wide range of informative resources to players and parents in their considerations with respect to prospective student athletes and their hockey futures during and after their playing careers.
Our mission statement is "Building Strong Career Foundations For Brighter Futures" goes hand in hand with our junior hockey players choosing a number of educational or vocational options available to them through each teams education consultant.
The wide range of options include information packages for U.S. based Colleges, Canadian Universities as well as other post-secondary opportunities.
Players along with their individual team education consultants should create portfolios based on their own future goals in mind.
Coaches and team management have the necessary templates in place and with the help of the team’s education consultant, players have at their disposal all the necessary material to start their career planning whether it is hockey, educational or vocational in nature.
If that future is hockey, education or going into the workforce the teams of the SJHL want to ensure that the player is as prepared for their future as much as the individual player wants to be prepared.
NCAA OPPORTUNITY
The advantages of competing in college sports are both immediate and lifelong. Participating in college sports provides opportunities to learn, compete and succeed. Student-athletes receive top-notch academic support, quality medical care and regular access to outstanding coaching, facilities and equipment. Student-athletes as a group graduate at higher rates than their peers in the general student body and feel better prepared for life after college.
- 33% of NHL players played college hockey, the most ever
- 70% of these players played at least three years of college hockey
- 92% of men who play college hockey will earn a degree
College-bound student-athletes preparing to enroll in a Division I or Division II school need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to ensure they have met amateurism standards and are academically prepared for college coursework.
U SPORTS OPPORTUNITY
It is very difficult for Canadian universities to review the accomplishments of every athlete in Canada.
Keeping this fact in mind, it is important to understand the recruitment process, and ensure each potential student-athlete, the opportunity to be identified and be considered. This plan can be as simple as initiating phone calls to college coaches, and then the submission of their athletic resumes for consideration at U SPORT universities.
Once this process has taken place, interested coaches can contact potential students, to advise them of opportunities at their particular university, should the student apply for admissions and subsequently be accepted.
There are certainly many differences between the American and Canadian sports programs. These differences for the prospective student-athlete are important considerations when doing their homework before making that final commitment.
Academically, there are many credible American institutions, as there are Canadian, so it becomes very important to research the choices that are available, to insure the college that best suits the family needs and expectations.
Financially, Division I NCAA schools offer scholarships in varying percentages. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they do provide financial assistance.
Canadian universities / colleges do not offer scholarships. Financial assistance awards are offered by Canadian institutions in the areas of athletics and academics. Each institution offers their athletic financial assistance awards program. Canadian awards have established a trend of increasing amounts in recent years, and there is reason to believe that this trend will continue in upcoming years.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE (WHL)
The WHL provides the top young hockey talent in the west with the opportunity to develop their skills on the ice at the highest possible level, without compromising their academic goals.
Each WHL Club's Education Advisor, along with the WHL Director of Education Services, tracks the academic progress of all players throughout the season. While playing in the WHL, players receive financial assistance for education expenses such as high school tutoring or fees for post-secondary courses, to ensure players reach their academic potential.
While a player's primary on-ice goal is to win the WHL Championship and compete for the storied Memorial Cup, it is equally important for that player to set his sights on academic success as well. WHL Club's are governed by League-wide Education Standards that ensure players complete their high school in timely fashion and achieve the highest level of academic success possible.
The WHL is committed to recognizing academic excellence. Awards are presented annually to the WHL's Scholastic Player and Scholastic Team of the Year.
"Each year, the WHL awards over 400 scholarships to current and graduate players to attend a post secondary institution of their choice in North America."
The WHL recognizes the paramount importance that parents and players place on education. That is why the WHL and Canada West Universities have teamed up to provide - Western Canada's Premiere Hockey Scholarship.
For every season a player plays in the WHL, they receive a full year guaranteed Scholarship, including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees, to a post-secondary institution of their choice. For example, players graduating from a four-year WHL career are eligible to receive four years of scholarship funding. The WHL Scholarship, combined with additional financial assistance from Universities in Western Canada, makes the WHL - Canada West Universities joint scholarship equivalent to any other offer available in North America today.
Since 1993, Western Hockey League Clubs have provided close to 3,000 Scholarships representing an investment in excess of $9 million, making the WHL the leading provider of hockey scholarships in Western Canada.
The WHL Scholarship not only encourages its graduates to pursue a post-secondary education, it also affords graduates the opportunity to continue playing hockey at an elite level in the Canadian University or College systems. Each year over 230 WHL graduates receive a WHL Scholarship.
"WHL graduates make up the majority of players on the rosters of teams in the Canada West University Conference."
Frequently Asked Questions...
1. Can you play Canadian University or College Hockey after playing in the WHL?
Universities and Colleges in Canada utilize WHL graduates extensively. Players in the WHL earn financial aid for post-secondary education while they are playing. In addition to that assistance, players remain eligible for scholarships available at Canadian institutions. If a WHL player wishes to, he can attend university or college in Canada, continue playing hockey at a high level of competition, and utilize academic and athletic scholarships in addition to education assistance earned during his WHL career.
2. How does participation in the Western Hockey League affect U.S. College eligibility?
The NCAA in the United States rules that if a player plays a game in the WHL or signs a Standard Player Agreement, he forfeits his eligibility to participate in hockey.
3. How does the WHL Scholarship work?
Players go to school while playing in the WHL, with their team paying for any expenses incurred. Many older players start their post-secondary programs. When a player joins the WHL, he signs a Standard Player Agreement through which he earns financial aid for every year that he plays in the WHL. Basically, a player receives one year of tuition and books for each year he plays in the WHL.
For further information on the WHL Scholarship or Education programs please contact:
Jim Donlevy
WHL Director, Education Services
Work: 403.693.3023
Email: donlevyj@whl.ca
ALBERTA COLLEGES ATHLETICS CONFERENCE (ACAC)
BRITISH COLUMBIA INTERCOLLEGIATE HOCKEY LEAGUE (BCIHL)
