Celebrating scholars in stripes

Hockey Canada is happy to announce the recipients of the Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarships for the 2022-23 season. These scholarships are awarded yearly to officers within the Hockey Canada Officiating Program of Excellence (OPOE) and assist to offset the price of post-secondary schooling, as officers pursue their tutorial and officiating targets. Hockey Canada congratulates these officers for exemplifying the rules of the Officiating Program by way of their continued success each on and off the ice.

“It is always a pleasure to be able to award the Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarships,” says Dan Hanoomansingh, Hockey Canada’s supervisor of officiating. “A goal of the officiating program is to facilitate excellence both on and off the ice, and the Seaman Hotchkiss Foundation helps us do that. These individuals commit a tremendous amount of time to officiating, not just at the rink, but also in their training and preparation, and to see them do that while maintaining their academic progress is a true accomplishment.”

This yr’s recipients are six officers from throughout the nation, at numerous phases of the OPOE, representing 4 Member packages:

Adam Culbert — St. Mary’s University — Hockey Nova Scotia

Adam started his officiating profession in 2016 with South Shore Minor Hockey Association and has progressed by way of the Hockey Canada Officiating Pathway over the past eight years. Adam at the moment officiates within the Maritime Junior Hockey League and the Atlantic University Sport USPORTS convention. In the earlier yr, Adam was chosen to officiate the 2022 National Men’s U18 Club Championship in Okotoks, Alta., and officiated pre-tournament video games forward of the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship, whereas sustaining prime marks within the Bachelor of Commerce program at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, N.S.

Marc Guitard — University of Saskatchewan — Hockey Saskatchewan

Marc took his first steps in officiating in 2015 with Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association and obtained his Member High Performance certification with Hockey Saskatchewan in 2022. Marc at the moment officiates within the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and Canada West USPORTS convention, balancing his hockey commitments with the rigorous course load on the University of Saskatchewan, the place he’s working in direction of his Bachelor of Engineering diploma. Recently, Marc attended Hockey Canada’s West Regional Camp in Chilliwack, B.C., and was chosen for the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, P.E.I., officiating a semi-final in his first nationwide match.

Michelle Ngan — McGill University — Hockey Québec

Michelle started her officiating profession in 2018 and joined Hockey Québec’s Provincial Program of Excellence, incomes her Level 3 certification in 2022. Michelle at the moment officiates within the LHEQ U18AAA division and the RSEQ ladies’s school leagues, incomes a variety for the finals of the Division 2 playoffs. A multi-sport athlete in her youth, Michelle impressed in stripes this season, whereas additionally enjoying for the McGill University Martlets and sustaining glorious marks in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Shadei Saadé — Collège Ahuntsic — Hockey Québec

Shadei’s officiating profession started in 2018, after a decade-long love affair with hockey. The little one of immigrant dad and mom from Lebanon, Shadei began enjoying hockey in her hometown of Laval, Que., however discovered a brand new love for the game in her position as an official. Currently, she officiates within the LHEQ U18AAA division, in addition to the RSEQ’s ladies’s school and college leagues. This 2022-23 season was a banner yr for Shadei. Provincially, she started the season incomes her Level 3 certification and completed with assignments to the RSEQ Division 2 semi-finals and University playoffs. Nationally, Shadei attended the Hockey Canada OPOE’s central regional camp in Montréal, Que., and earned a variety to the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Academically, Shadei continued her research at Collège Ahuntsic in policing, sustaining robust marks throughout the board.

Kaitlyn Sauser — University of Saskatchewan — Hockey Saskatchewan

Since embarking on her officiating profession in 2015, Kaitlyn has taken the officiating program by storm. This season, she was acknowledged as the highest official within the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League, whereas additionally officiating the Prairie Junior Hockey League and within the Canada West USPORTS convention. Kaitlyn has additionally made a reputation for herself on the nationwide stage within the final yr. She has attended Hockey Canada’s nationwide summer time OPOE camp in Calgary, Alta., earned semi-final assignments in back-to-back Esso Cup championships in Okotoks, Alta., and Prince Albert, Sask., respectively, and was chosen for the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Not solely does Kaitlyn possess a formidable officiating background, however she additionally graduated with nice distinction with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness. Furthermore, her tutorial journey will proceed as she pursues a Master of Science diploma in Agricultural Economics beginning within the fall.

Franco Veneziano — Confederation College — Hockey Northwestern Ontario

Franco first donned the stripes on the age of 13 and fell in love with officiating, at the same time as he continued his enjoying profession. This season, Franco officiated each stage of hockey in northwestern Ontario, whereas enjoying Junior B for the Schreiber Falcons, and persevering with his schooling in direction of a Diploma in Business at Confederation College, in Thunder Bay, Ont. Franco started the 2022-23 season attending the Hockey Canada central regional OPOE camp in St. Marys, Ont., represented Hockey Northwestern Ontario on the Ontario Winter Games, and completed the season with a variety to the finals of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

The Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarship was established by the Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation (previously Project 75) and Hockey Canada in 2006 in recognition of Ken Stiles, a former president of Project 75, and his great contributions to grassroots hockey in Canada. Stiles was a catalyst in planning and designing an initiative geared toward gamers and officers who exhibit excellence in sport and dedication to schooling.

Scholarships are awarded on the idea of educational achievement, officiating achievement and group involvement. Since 2006, this system has awarded greater than $309,000 to officers throughout the nation. Since the mid-Nineteen Eighties, the Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation—an oil and fuel legacy from the unique Flames possession group—has donated over $7.15 million to minor hockey growth initiatives in Canada, in addition to different charities in Alberta.

For extra data on the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, go to HockeyCanada.ca or contact your member.