The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and SIAST are pleased to announce a joint partnership commencing with the 2004-05 season. The partnership is designed to help players explore post-secondary opportunities. Together with SIAST, the SJHL can help players explore their education options at times and locations convenient to them. In addition, SJHL players and their families will benefit from presentations by SIAST student recruitment personnel. The goal will be to provide information that will assist players in making well-informed decisions about their education and career paths. SJHL players will be invited to Spend-A-Day at one of SIAST's four campuses or pre-arrange a campus tour. SIAST's strengths lie in developing and delivering quality programs that produce employable graduates. Officials at SIAST realize people have different needs and that is why programs are designed to meet those needs for a variety of learners. SIAST is committed to offering high quality programs that strengthen a graduate's job prospects, while at the same time positioning them to pursue additional opportunities later. SIAST has negotiated credit transfer options for several of its programs with a number of universities and colleges across Canada. "SIAST is excited about working with the SJHL and its players," said David Walls, SIAST Associate Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. "SIAST knows that education needs to be flexible and mobile and has many options that will fit the players' needs." SIAST is Saskatchewan's primary public institution for post-secondary technical education and skills training; recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise and innovation. More than 12-thousand students are registered in SIAST programs, which touch every sector of the economy. Additionally, the organization draws almost 29-thousand individual course registrations. It operates campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon. It provides a number of courses and programs through distance education as well. SJHL Scholarship Recipients The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is has announced the winner of the $1000 Old Dutch Wayne Kartusch Scholarship as well as the names of five other players who will receive $1000 scholarships through the SJHL Scholarship Award. To be eligible for these awards, the individual must be determined to be a team player, community minded, respected by peers, proficient in both hockey and academics, eligible for CIS play, and show proof of enrollment at a post secondary institution. The following winners are: Wayne Kartusch Scholarship Award Recipient Conrad Wilgenbusch, Flin Flon Bombers Wilgenbusch was a virtual unanimous choice to serve as Bomber captain last year, and as a top two defenseman, he logged valuable minutes before succumbing to a season ending injury in November. The coaching staff admits to struggling to fill the void left by his departure on the ice and in the dressing room. Wilgenbusch has been an active 4-H member for fourteen years. He volunteered for the 2002 Saskatchewan Winter Games, Humboldt Special Olympics Floor Hockey Team, and also coached beginner hockey. He was also on the organizing committee for the 2003 Canadian National Charolais Youth Conference. SJHL Scholarship Award Recipients Cale Jordison, Weyburn Red Wings Jordison, a graduate of Peacock Collegiate in Moose Jaw, is attending the University of Saskatchewan and enrolled in Engineering. He backstopped the Red Wings to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Membercare Cup finals, where his team lost a hard fought series to the Kindersley Klippers to conclude the 2003-04 season. Jordison's community involvement consisted of visiting schools in Weyburn, Francis, and Stoughton. They offered pep talks and played floor hockey and basketball with students. Jordison feels that friendships gained through playing hockey will help his ability to work with people in the employment world later in life. Derek Blais, Flin Flon Bombers Blais played his entire junior career with Flin Flon and graduated from Debden School in June 2001. He made the Honor Roll in grade twelve and later got on the President's Achievement List at Keewatin Community College. Blais is attending Mount Royal College in Calgary where he is majoring in business/sports/recreation and suiting up for the Cougars. Blais says he has learned a lot about attitude, responsibility and teamwork throughout his hockey career. On the ice, Blais was named the Flin Flon Bomber MVP for 2003-04. Brock Acorn, Battlefords North Stars Acorn graduated from Carlton High School in Prince Albert and is headed to the University of Saskatchewan, where he is majoring in Sociology and eventually looking at joining the police force. A four year veteran of the Stars and La Ronge Ice Wolves, Acorn worked in a number of different capacities with young people, including as a chaperon during school dances, a reading mentor, and volunteering at the local youth center. Acorn credits being able to draw on positives from negative situations as being a big factor in shaping his adult life. Mark Stoicescu, Nipawin Hawks A three year veteran with the Hawks, Stoicescu portrayed leadership qualities on the ice through his hard work and pursuit of excellence. Head Coach Tyler Harris says Stoicescu works extremely well with others and motivates people around him by doing things first and leading by example. Majoring in Fitness & Lifestyle and the University of Regina, Stoicescu is a graduate of LP Miller High School in Nipawin. One of the more interesting extra-curricular activities enjoyed by Stoicescu is the North East EMS Stretcher Push. It's a 15-km push by a team of four that is designed to raise money for the local EMS disaster fund for updated emergency equipment. Steve Pearce, Weyburn Red Wings A native of Oromocto, New Brunswick, Pearce is going to McGill University this Fall. In graduating from high school in his hometown, Pearce received academic honours of distinction in each of his last three years. He also picked up the Air Vige Marshall Award for academic achievement. In addition to being a solid member of last year's Sherwood Conference champion Red Wing blueline corps; Pearce found extra time to visit schools in Weyburn and also served as a Teacher Assistant at the Mini Go-School Program at Family Place in Weyburn. It's purpose is to provide an outlet for high risk and disabled children in a pre-kindergarten program. Steve is looked up to by many youngsters, including a twelve year-old who lost his dad to cancer two years ago. Pearce wore a letter with the Wings for each of the last two seasons and filled in admirably on forward when the team needed his presence.
