The Alberta Junior Hockey League announced this week that Blackfalds Bulldogs forward Tyler Wallace is one of two recipients of the 2023 OpenCircle AJHL Scholarship.
The 20-year-old will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship to go toward his schooling at Niagara University. He will be playing Division I hockey there next season while going to school after graduating from junior hockey.
“Over the four years that I taught Tyler, I have found him to be an incredible student-athlete and a strong contributing member to the Springbank Community High School community,” stated SCHS Teacher Shane Martell in a media release.
“He is caring, thoughtful, passionate, selfless, and dedicated to not only his academics but also to his athletics and to the community as a whole. Throughout high school, Tyler carried an academic average of 90% and graduated receiving ‘honors with distinction,’ all while he continued to support and advance his athletic prowess.”
Wallace, as well as fellow recipient Reed Jacobson of the Canmore Eagles, were evaluated on their academic performance and reference letters from both a coach and a teacher of theirs. They were also asked to write and submit an essay on leadership.
“Tyler is a very talented two-way center that possesses a lethal shot as reflected by his league-leading 42 goals this season,” said Bulldogs assistant coach Ryan Tobler.
“Tyler is a very well-rounded player that is reliable, hard-working, and plays in all situations. Simply put, he can control a hockey game and make players around him better. As a teammate, Tyler is someone that players look up to for advice, both on and off the ice, as they greatly respect and value his opinions. He truly cares about helping his teammates grow as hockey players while taking the time to share ideas and experiences that he has garnered over his hockey career.”