The Western Hockey League announced last week 378 WHL graduate players were awarded WHL scholarships for the 2024-25 academic season.
The 2024-25 campaign serves as the 32nd year of the WHL Scholarship program. Established on a league-wide basis in 1993-94, more than 8,000 WHL scholarships have been awarded, representing an investment of over $38 million by WHL clubs. This season, WHL club ownership will contribute in excess of $2.7 million to the 378 WHL graduates utilizing the WHL Scholarship.
“As we look at the everchanging landscape of hockey, the WHL remains steadfast in its commitment to education, as evidenced by the strong investment in the WHL Scholarship this season,” said WHL commissioner Dan Near.
“On and off the ice, WHL Clubs continue to invest in the future of WHL players and graduates. Though many are accustomed to seeing WHL players advance to the NHL and professional hockey, WHL Clubs are immensely proud of the important community members and business leaders that emerge from their ranks thanks to the investment in the WHL Scholarship.”
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 a 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. WHL graduates 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, 235 of the 378 WHL Scholarship recipients are furthering their education at universities in Western Canada, with 146 of those having played Canadian university hockey at the U Sports level in the Canada West 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 37 graduates enroled in full-time studies. The University of Alberta (32), University of Calgary (30), University of British Columbia and Mount Royal University (27 each), and University of Regina (22) also lead the way in WHL graduate enrolment.
WHL Scholarship recipients are enroled this year as full-time students at 80 different post-secondary institutions throughout North America.
Alberta leads all Western provinces, having produced 127 WHL graduates currently accessing the WHL Scholarship, followed by British Columbia (98), Saskatchewan (71), and Manitoba (54). A total of 28 U.S. and other WHL graduates are accessing the WHL Scholarship.
