Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for December 2018, including defenceman Thomas Harley of the Mississauga Steelheads, goaltenders Tye Austin of the Peterborough Petes and Mack Guzda of the Owen Sound Attack as well as forward Jordan Frasca of the Windsor Spitfires.
East Division: Peterborough Petes rookie goaltender Tye Austin is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for December. The 16-year-old from Dunrobin, Ont. is currently excelling in his Grade 11 studies at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, posting a 90% average over university level Chemistry, Visual Arts and Environmental Science courses. “Tye is highly motivated to succeed and he is invested in his school work,” said Petes academic advisor Kim Driscoll. “His ability to balance his academic and hockey commitments is a direct result of his work ethic and determination. Peterborough’s third round (43rd overall pick) in 2018, Austin has played in eight games this season, going 1-2-0-0 with a 4.51 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. He earned his first career OHL victory on Nov. 25th in Hamilton.
Central Division: Draft eligible Mississauga Steelheads defenceman Thomas Harley is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for December. The 17-year-old from Syracuse, NY, has maintained an 81.25% average in his Grade 12 studies at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School, taking on a course load that includes English, Kinesiology, Physics and Co-op programs. The 6-foot-3, 183Ib defender has 29 points (6-23–29) over 36 games this season and has been selected to compete in the 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game later this month in Red Deer, Alta. Harley was Mississauga’s first round (14th overall) pick in 2017 from the Vaughan Kings Minor Midgets.
Midwest Division: Draft eligible Owen Sound Attack sophomore netminder Mack Guzda is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for December. The 17-year-old from Knoxville, Tenn. carries an overall average of 97% in Grade 12 studies at K12 International Academy, a course load that includes British & World Literature, Government & Politics, Trigonometry, Criminal Justice and Environmental Science. The OHL’s Ivan Tennant Award winner in 2017-18, Guzda currently holds a 100% average in his British & World Literature course. “Mack continues to demonstrate the remarkable commitment to education that won him last year’s Ivan Tennant Award,” said Attack academic advisor Sarah Rowe. “He is to be commended for the incredible success he has achieved in his full load of academic courses. He is the epitome of the student athlete.” Now in his second OHL season, Guzda is 11-9-1-1 with a 3.42 goals-against average and an .883 save percentage with two shutouts over 25 games.
West Division: Windsor Spitfires forward Jordan Frasca is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for December. The 17-year-old from Caledon, Ont. carries an 85% average in his Grade 12 studies at St. Anne High School in Windsor. Frasca is currently studying university level Chemistry, Functions, Business Leadership and English. In 29 games this season, the 6-foot-1, 176Ib left-winger has 15 points (6-9–15). Frasca was Windsor’s seventh round pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection from the Mississauga Senators Minor Midgets. He spent last season with the Chatham Maroons Jr. B club, recording 38 points (12-26–38) over 43 games.
2018-19 OHL Academic Players of the Month:
East Division:
December – Tye Austin (Peterborough Petes)
November – Will Cranley (Ottawa 67’s)
October – Nick Wong (Oshawa Generals)
Central Division:
December – Thomas Harley (Mississauga Steelheads)
November – Peter Stratis (Sudbury Wolves)
October – Jonah De Simone (Niagara IceDogs)
Midwest Division:
December – Mack Guzda (Owen Sound Attack)
November – Gerard Keane (London Knights)
October – Isaac Langdon (Kitchener Rangers)
West Division:
December – Jordan Frasca (Windsor Spitfires)
November – Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
October – Colton Kammerer (Sarnia Sting)
Last season, the OHL Centrally Administered Scholarship Program facilitated scholarships for 321 OHL Alumni at 66 different academic institutions across North America with a total scholarship payment in excess of $3.2 million. Since the 2007-08 season, OHL Scholarship payments have totaled more than $22 million.
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OHL Writers 