The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) has selected 13 student-athletes and one game official from the 2020-21 season to receive league bursaries, including three from the Eddie Mountain Division. Each bursary is valued at $1,000 and will be applied towards post secondary studies.
The recipients were chosen from a large field of applicants based on academic achievement, sportsmanship, hockey participation and/or quality of contribution as well as community participation and service.
Greg Parker- Columbia Valley Rockies
A graduate of Louis St. Laurent in Edmonton, Alta., Parker plans to study power engineering at Portage College, where he will play for the Voyageurs.
Parkers says being privileged enough to be a recipient of the KIJHL bursary is a considerable honour.
“This bursary means a lot to me because of the support and endorsement I received from my high school teachers, and the team staff,” says Parker of the Rockies. “These people have shaped my life in significant ways and I am honoured that they believed in me and supported me to receive this bursary.”
Parker spent his entire career with the Rockies and valued his time in the league as it provided him opportunities to be involved and support the Invermere community, develop friendships and connections that will endure beyond his time in the league. His community involvement includes coaching the Melfort Mustangs peewee A team, helping at the Invereme Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Shop, Edmonton Food Bank, Boyle Street Community Centre and Invermere Fire Department.
“Playing in the KIJHL helped me to develop independence and grow as an athlete,” says Parker, who has been named most inspirational player (March 2019) and best defenceman (March 2017). “The coaching and management staff were fantastic and really helped mentor me to develop my leadership skills.”
