Players know first-hand the commitment needed to succeed at a high level on the ice and in the classroom. With this important year of high school, the hard work put forth by graduating students deserves to be recognized.

The OMHA is proud to partner with Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) to present the Bursary Program, which recognizes minor hockey players for their outstanding commitment to:

• Community service: assisting in building stronger and healthier communities
• Athletics: on-ice success/achievement, as well a passion for the game of hockey
• Academics: dedication to studies and attainment of high grades in the classroom

The OMHA Bursary Program is composed of two awards – the Dairy Farmers of Ontario Bursary and the Wally Scott Bursary. It reflects the achievements of young hockey players who are committed to their community, athletic ability, and academic achievement. Each recipient will receive financial support toward their post-secondary education.

Five DFO Bursaries will be awarded at $8,000 each and up to two Wally Scott Bursary recipient(s) can receive between $1,000 and $2,500.

“We are thrilled to support our young athletes at the OMHA’s bursary program for the fourth consecutive year, who show tremendous resilience, sportsmanship and leadership on and off the ice,” said Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer of DFO. “Through this bursary, we recognize outstanding Ontario youth athletes pursuing academic excellence, who also demonstrate MilkUP's values: perseverance, originality and heart.”

“Our Bursary Program with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario highlights some of the top student-athletes in the OMHA who are entering post-secondary education. We hope these bursaries help our players achieve their goals and that they continue to be leaders within their communities,” said OMHA Executive Director Ian Taylor. “These bursaries are a testament to the time commitment, focus and dedication needed to succeed at a high level both in the classroom and on the ice.”

All applicants must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Requests can only be made for active players aged up to 20 years and must have been a registered player in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association for a minimum of five years.
• A player attending a post-secondary institution for their first year during the 2023-2024 school year.
• Maintain a high standard of academic excellence.
• Active in their local community programs (any community sport or social program).

Candidates must complete the application form below and submit it to the OMHA by 8:00 pm on February 26, 2023. Each application will be reviewed by a panel and only the winning recipients will be contacted by the OMHA. We wish the best of luck to all applicants.