Image Credit: Marissa Baecker via Kelowna Rockets

The Kelowna Rockets are proud to announce that 14 former Rockets have been awarded WHL scholarships for the fall semester of the 2016-17 academic year.

Headlining the list of Rockets are players like Tyson Baillie who is attending the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Baillie played parts of five seasons with Kelowna including three spent as an alternate captain. He accumulated 310 points in 329 games. He was also part of the 2014-15 championship Rockets team. Baillie was also named as a WHL first all-star in 2015-16. He is currently playing for the University of Alberta Golden Bears men’s hockey team.

Cole Linaker is another Rockets alumni that is attending the University of Alberta and collecting the WHL scholarship. Linaker amassed 120 points in 253 games with the Rockets that spanned over parts of five seasons. He was also part of the championship Rockets of 2014-15. He spent one season serving as an alternate captain for Kelowna. Linaker is also playing for the U of A Golden Bears men’s hockey team.

Zach Franko played parts of four WHL seasons with the Rockets collecting 199 points for Kelowna in 252 games. Franko is attending Mount Royal University in Calgary as well as playing for their men’s hockey team.

Other Rockets alumni included in this semesters scholarships are:

Cody Chikie – Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Mitchell Wheaton – St. Francis Xavier University

Colton Heffley – Dalhousie University

MacKenzie Johnson – University of Saskatchewan

Jordan Cooke – University of Saskatchewan

Cody Fowlie – University of Regina

Jesse Lees – Mount Royal University

Kevin Smith – University of British Columbia

Spencer Main – University of British Columbia

Mitchell Chapman – University of British Columbia

Chance Braid – Acadia University

Including the 14 Rockets there are a total of 355 WHL graduate players have been awarded WHL Scholarships for the fall semester of the 2016-17 academic year. The 355 WHL Scholarships awarded represent the highest total for the fall academic season in WHL history, improving upon a mark set last year.

“The WHL and our member Clubs are very proud to continue offering our players the most comprehensive hockey scholarship program of its kind in North America today,” stated WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “WHL Clubs are fully committed to providing a world class experience for our players which includes the opportunity to pursue both their academic and hockey goals while playing at the top level of the Canadian amateur hockey system.”

WHL Scholarship recipients are enrolled this year as full-time students at 67 different post-secondary institutions throughout North America.

Administered by the WHL Office, WHL Scholarships are solely funded by the member Clubs of the WHL. This season, WHL Clubs will contribute in excess of $2.0 million to graduates utilizing the WHL Scholarship.

News from © iNFOnews, 2016