Bill Ohlhausen Division Bursary recipients

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is proud to announce the 12 student-athletes who competed during the 2022-23 season that it has selected to receive league bursaries. Each bursary is valued at $1,000 and will be applied towards post-secondary studies.

Tuesday, April 18 – Doug Birks Division recipients

Wednesday, April 19 – Eddie Mountain Division recipients

Thursday, April 20 – Neil Murdoch Division recipients

Today we announce the Bill Ohlhausen Division recipients

Scott Burgess – Princeton Posse – A 2020 graduate of Ernest Manning High School in Calgary, Burgess has been pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomechanics from the University of Calgary and is interested in working in finance and business analytics. Burgess is also the recipient of the Jaxon Joseph Memorial Scholarship. While studying, Burgess is considering his options to play at the college or university level.

Being involved and helping in the community is important to Burgess. His Head Coach Mark Readman says that the third-year defenceman is a “lead by example kind of guy.” He’s helped with the Princeton Harvest Festival in the Fall and the Remembrance Day ceremony assisting veterans and members of the Royal Canadian Legion.

“He steps up without needing to be asked and never looks for any recognition,” said Readman.

Jake McCulley – Princeton Posse – McCulley attended Mount Elizabeth (Kitimat) and Princeton Secondary School during his senior years of high school, graduating in 2020. With an interest to pursue a carpentry career, McCulley has applied to a few schools, including Thompson Rivers University and has interest in playing college hockey.

Among the ways he helped in the community was sandbagging during the Princeton floods, the Learn to Skate program, assisted students with their reading, seniors with shoveling and bailing hay among others.

“Jake has epitomized what it means to be a member of the KIJHL. He has grown within his game and has become one of the best young leaders I have had the chance to work with,” said Posse Head Coach Mark Readman. “He shows respect for all people both within the game and in the community. He shows accountability for his actions and is one of the first people to offer support to those in need.

Kevin-Thomas Walters – North Okanagan Knights – A graduate of Vernon Secondary School in 2020, Walters is pursuing a career as an engineer and will study to earn an engineering degree through Okanagan College and UBC-O while playing for the Okanagan Lakers in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League.

He helped in the community by bagging groceries, shoveling snow, reading for elementary school students, assisting with a community food drive, Christmas with the Salvation Army and volunteering at an animal shelter among other things.

“As a captain, KT did an excellent job of bringing the whole team into the battle,” said Knights Head Coach Liam McOnie. “He made a point of asking the coaching staff what he needed to do to make an impact on each game and help give the team its best chance to win, and he bought into it immediately.”