Canada West celebrates 30 years of WHL scholarships
CW students constitute largest base of recipients
CALGARY – Canada West is recognizing 30 years of scholarship opportunities provided by the Western Hockey League for former players of the league. As the WHL enters its 30th year of providing financial support to athletes now pursuing their post-secondary education in Canada, CW appreciates the investment into its students.
Administered by the WHL Office, WHL Scholarships cover tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees to post-secondary institutions of the players' choice. Solely funded by the WHL member Clubs, every player who plays in the WHL is eligible to receive the WHL Scholarship. The player receives the scholarship for the same number of years they played in the WHL. 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.
This year, the WHL Scholarship program will benefit 341 former players, 143 of which are attending Canada West institutions.
CW universities lead the way when it comes to enrolment of former WHL players. At the very top of that list is the University of Saskatchewan with 28 WHL graduates each enrolled in full-time studies, while 27 former WHL players are registered at the University of British Columbia. Mount Royal University (25), University of Calgary (22), University of Alberta (20), University of Manitoba (20), MacEwan University (19), and University of Regina (19) all fall subsequently on the list.
“On an annual basis, it is very gratifying to see our graduates take advantage of the WHL Scholarship. The WHL not only produces many of the world’s finest hockey players, but just as importantly, highly-educated students who through the WHL Scholarship program move on to very successful business and professional careers,” said Ron Robison, WHL Commissioner.
This year, 208 of the 341 WHL Scholarship recipients are furthering their education at Universities in Western Canada, with 143 of those playing Canadian University hockey at the U SPORTS level in the Canada West (CW) men’s 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.
Alberta leads all Western provinces, having produced 125 WHL graduates currently accessing the WHL Scholarship, followed by British Columbia (78), Saskatchewan (61), and Manitoba (48). A total of 23 U.S. and international WHL graduates are accessing their WHL Scholarship.
CLICK HERE for a detailed list of all WHL Scholarship recipients for the 2022-23 academic year.
WHL Graduates continuing to play hockey at the elite Canadian University or College level:
Canada West Conference – 143
Ontario University Athletics – 48
Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) – 23
Atlantic University Sport Conferences – 14
B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) – 2
Total – 230
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 375 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.
About Canada West
Canada West (CW) is the leading university athletic conference in the country and is home to champion student-athletes that excel in the classroom and their communities. Canada West and our 17 members from across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba collectively carry on a legacy of competitive excellence, as our champions proudly go on to represent the conference at U SPORTS national championships.
Canada West – training leaders, building champions