California Rubber

California’s and Nevada’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey

More OHL honors for Chmelevski as Huntington Beach native wins Roger Neilson Memorial Award

 

The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that Ottawa 67’s forward Sasha Chmelevski of the Ottawa 67’s has won the Roger Neilson Memorial Award as the top post-secondary school student for the 2018-19 season.

Chmelevski is currently pursuing courses at Oakland University in Michigan where he achieved over a 96 percent average. While his goals are Health Science directed with studies in Biology and Human Nutrition, he also demonstrated his diverse academic interests by opting to take an International Economics course during the winter term.

READ OUR LATEST ISSUE

“I think it’s an honor for me,” Chmelevski said of the award. “All my life, I’ve always wanted to be a hockey player, but my parents always pushed me to be better in school. Education is something I take very seriously, and I take a lot of pride in representing the 67’s with this award.”

A 19-year-old from Huntington Beach, Chmelevski is no stranger to academic awards having been named both the OHL and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year back in 2017.

On the ice, the 67’s leader and Wildcats Hockey Club graduate produced 35 goals and 40 assists for 75 points in 56 games helping Ottawa to a record finish atop the OHL standings.

Chmelevski has spent almost his entire OHL tenure with the 67’s joining the club during his rookie season after being chosen by the Sarnia Sting in the first round of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection. Over his 216 career games he’s scored 102 goals and 111 assists for 213 points and was a 2017 pick of the San Jose Sharks and a 2019 member of the silver medal-winning Team USA winning at World Juniors.

“Sasha is a driven leader, whose on-ice achievements speak for themselves,” said Jan Egert, 67’s assistant GM and director of scouting. “Throughout his OHL career, Sasha has placed a continued importance on maintaining personal academic development, and has excelled in successfully reaching those ambitions. We are thrilled to see that Sasha is recognized for his efforts and achievements again this season.”

The Roger Neilson Memorial Award is named in honor of the Hall of Fame coach who served behind the Peterborough Petes bench in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Roger Neilson, a former high school teacher, was a pioneer in stressing the importance of education to all of his players. Ottawa goaltender Dan Battochio was the first award recipient back in 2005 and is also one of three two-time winners after receiving the honor again in 2006. Derek Lanoue (Windsor 2010, 2011) and Stephen Gibson (Mississauga 2017, 2018) also share the distinction.

Photo/CHL Images

(May 7, 2019)

Free Website Hit Counter
Free website hit counter