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ttso nfti tu l economist sunsuntribune sports saturday aug 27 2005 stouffville spirit graduate jon smyth will captain the colgate universi ty hockey team this year the markham resident ignored the bright lights of the ontario hockey league for a shot at a scholarship gogliano heading new class woqdbridges andrew cogliano is the most famous york region res ident with a hew one this fall oak ridges simon gysbers has one guaranteed for next season its the scholly or the full ride better known as the hockey schol arship to a us school cogliano a firstround draft choice ofthe nhls edmonton oil- eirs this summer will attend the university of michigan this season he earned his scholarship play ing for torontos st michaels buzzers ofthe ontario provincial jr a hockey league other york region players in the provincial league starting scholar ships this fall include vincent rocco who played for the vaughan vipers attending niagara universi ty near buffalo and markham wax- ers graduate nathaniel brooks who will play for the university of mass- achusettsamherst simon gysbers a thirdyear defenceman with the stouffville spirit of the provincial league has committed to attend lake superior state university in sault ste marie mich in 2006 windsorarea native jeric agosta of the aurora tigers will attend nebraskaomaha on scholarship next year source membersaolcomhockey recruitsrecruit05htmh york region hockey stars say by mike hayakawa staff writer the carrot is free university tuition room and board and theres an opportunity to play their sport at a very high level for many minor hockey prospects of both genders an athlet ic scholarship from a postsecond ary school south of the border is the ultimate prize there is however a catch with a limited number of us universities giving out full athletic scholarships for hockey worth about 90ooous for a fiveyear stay earning one isnt easy there is also increased competi tion from youngsters in the us who are taking up the game in larger numbers so is it worth the challenge receiving a scholarship is a great opportunity i wouldnt change my decision for the world said candice moxley the captain of the niagara uni versity purple eagles womens team last season the 22yearold markham native was on a full ride for four years at the niagara falls ny campus ms moxley picked niagara because it had the business course she wanted and was only two hours from home hockey can only take you so far because there are no highpaying leagues for women to play in after were done school and at some point you have to be prepared for the real world she said a firstyear goalkeeper for the yale university bulldogs womens team last season shivon zilis had no regrets going the prestigious ivy league route where athletic schol arships arent given out but students receive assistance through academic scholarships or financial aid an 18yearold graduate of unionville high school and a former member ofthe aurora panthers she said her aurora coach former nhl star mike gartner had an instru mental role in directing her towards yale mr gartners son josh is a goalie for the bulldogs mens team being onyour own and being at ah ivy league school where aca demics come first its sometimes hard to find enough time in a day to do school work she said youve got to work on self disci pline procrastination cannot be a part of your vocabulary but every one wants you to succeed in any way they can when jon smyth weighed an opportunity to play hockey and attend colgate university it was an offer he couldnt refuse for me a chance to get an edu- candice moxley markham native captained niagara university hockey team last season cation from one of the best schools in the world drove me there the 22yearold markham resident said a forward with the stouffville spirit junior a club for from 1999 to 2001 mr smyth will be the senior captain at the hamilton ny school this season while kids at my age began to jump to the bright lights of the ontario hockey league i was focused on what really mattered to me and i think at the same time this is one ofthe most difficult times for a youngster in hockey he said theres nothing wrong with a kid like rick nash or jason spezza going the major junior route but what happens to the other 98 per cent who dont play a game in the nhl jon smyth colgate university captain parents and kids struggle with the politics and emotions of draft lists junior scouts agents and every thing else that distances the kid from why we started to play in the first place mr smyth who has been working out this summer in philadelphia loves being a studentathlete as challenging as it is there are few experiences that- offer as much as this you find yourself in an atmos phere that is above all else fun you learn things away from the rink that make you a better hockey player and you learn things under great coaches and players that make you a better person he said theres nothing wrong with a kid like rick nash columbus blue jack ets or jason spezza ottawa sena- 1 sf-ijfr- fsfrm tors going the major junior route but what happens to the other 98 per cent who dont play a game in the nhl i love the fact that i have the option to play hockey professionally enter the work force with a great job or continue my studies at graduate level mr smyth said that is the best thing about college whichever option i choose i am well prepared to head in that direction i wouldnt want it any other way ms moxley warns studentath letes to be prepared to work on the ice and in the classroom consider ing the money schools invest they expect positive results she said it is a sense of commitment that is totally different than anything else you have experienced she said you have to commit fully to the team and the goals of the team always giving it 110 per cent you practise every day on the ice work out in the gym every day and have games every weekend grades checked your grades are monitored to make sure you are doing well in class and if youre having troubles with a subject you have to get a tutor ms zuis said a typical week for her was four classes mondays wednes days and fridays from 930 am to 230 pm during the hockeyjseason she says the team does weight lifting twice a week and they are on the ice for around 90 minutes five to six days a week games are played on weekends smaller division hi schools do not give out full athletic scholarships but do provide financial help wayne wilson head mens coach at rochester institute of technology a division iii school speculates players from canada are enticed to compete at schools like his because of the calibre of play the team is moving to division 1 this season in the us hockey is perceived by the athletes that they want to move up in the ranks the commit ment level is stronger and the fan support is stronger where we might have anywhere from 1000 to 2000 fans at each game fewer women take the division iii rodte charles giliberto executive member ofthe markham- stouffville girls hockey association and a rep coach for six years believes women should only accept offers to play for us universities if they receive a full ride to a big school the calibre of hockey economics and value of an education offered at canadian universities is far superior to what usrdivision ii or hi schools can provide he said i sa es s aas l- simply the best llm i i jhwy7e-l- 3150 highway 7 east unit 1 markham ontario l3r 5a1 9059469466