Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for February 2019, including defencemen Jacob Murray of the Kingston Frontenacs, Pacey Schlueting of the North Bay Battalion, Zack Terry of the Guelph Storm, and forward Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit.
East Division: Kingston Frontenacs rookie defenceman Jacob Murray is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for February. Murray carries a 92.5% average in grade 11 studies at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School as he studies university level Physics, Functions as well as Leadership and Peer Tutoring. “Jake’s teachers describe him as an exceptional student and an extremely well rounded, polite young man,” said Frontenacs academic advisor Kim Hulton.” Murray has seven points (2-5–7) over 57 games this season. He was Kingston’s first round (13th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection from the Oakville Rangers Minor Midgets. Murray represented Canada Red at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, recording three points (1-2–3) in six contests.
Central Division: North Bay Battalion defenceman Pacey Schlueting is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for February. The 17-year-old from North Bay, Ont. owns an overall record of 89% following a first semester that yielded an 85.5% average in grade 11 studies at Chippewa Secondary School. The hometown product has three assists over 55 games this season after being the first round (9th overall) pick of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot, 182Ib rearguard was last season’s Great North Midget League Rookie of the Year, putting up 34 points (13-21–34) over 24 games with the North Bay Trappers Minor Midgets.
Midwest Division: Guelph Storm blueliner Zack Terry is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for February. Terry put together a 96% average in his first semester grade 11 studies at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School. The 16-year-old from Oakville, Ont. has been studying university-level Chemistry, Functions, World Religions and Dynamics of Healthy Relationships. “Zack is an outstanding student who exemplifies the ‘best of both worlds,’ said Storm academic advisor Colleen Driscoll. “His commitment to excellence in the classroom is a direct reflection of his dedication to his studies and his tremendous work ethic.” Guelph’s second round (36th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection, Terry has four points (1-3–4) over 45 games this season. Terry represented Canada Black at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
West Division: Saginaw Spirit rookie forward Cole Perfetti is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for February. The 17-year-old from Whitby, Ont. maintained a 91.5% average in his first semester studies at Heritage High School. The grade 11 student is currently studying Biology, English and Literature, Marketing and Independent Living courses. “Cole is an enthusiastic student with a great work ethic,” said Spirit academic advisor Pamela Moretuzzo. “He’s a very strong student and has assumed the role of peer tutor in numerous study sessions. Cole welcomes academic and personal challenges and works diligently to accomplish the tasks at hand.” Perfetti has had a tremendous season on the ice, scoring a Spirit franchise record 31 goals by a rookie. He currently leads OHL rookies with 66 points (31-35–66) over 57 games this season along with a plus-29 rating. Perfetti was the first round (5th overall) pick of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection from the Vaughan Kings Minor Midgets. In five games with Canada White at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Perfetti recorded nine points (2-7–9).
2018-19 OHL Academic Players of the Month:
East Division:
February – Jacob Murray (Kingston Frontenacs)
January – Logan Morrison (Hamilton Bulldogs)
December – Tye Austin (Peterborough Petes)
November – Will Cranley (Ottawa 67’s)
October – Nick Wong (Oshawa Generals)
Central Division:
February – Pacey Schlueting (North Bay Battalion)
January – Peter Fleming (Barrie Colts)
December – Thomas Harley (Mississauga Steelheads)
November – Peter Stratis (Sudbury Wolves)
October – Jonah De Simone (Niagara IceDogs)
Midwest Division:
February – Zack Terry (Guelph Storm)
January – Alex Gritz (Erie Otters)
December – Mack Guzda (Owen Sound Attack)
November – Gerard Keane (London Knights)
October – Isaac Langdon (Kitchener Rangers)
West Division:
February – Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit)
January – Ethan Keppen (Flint Firebirds)
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 