Juggling hockey and high school

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Wishlow is one of the longest, holding the position for the past 17 seasons.

“Being a teacher and loving hockey, my principal at the time hooked me up with the team, and from there we have been working alongside them ever since.”

Those who are still in high school, take grades 11, or 12 at Kelowna Senior Secondary.

It allows the players to remain together. They can practice and make it to school as everyone is on the same schedule.

“You do have to hold them [players] accountable”, Wishlow told RocketFAN. “It is hard for them when you are juggling hockey and school. You have eight kids that are going to school and the other 12 are going home to have a nap after a bus ride.”

The number of courses a player enrolls in varies. Some will have a heavy course load, while others will meet the minimum requirements to get their high school diploma.

“Our main role is to make sure the players are comfortable and are graduating”, Wishlow added. “We have to transfer courses from back home to here, and if they are in grade 12, we make sure that they graduate in their home province once the season is over.”

The team has had several players nominated for the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year in the past.

Forward Spencer Main, now 30 years-old, was a standout athlete who took his education very seriously.

Playing for the Rockets from 2008-2012, Main was named the Kelowna Rockets Scholastic Player of the Year – twice.

Main is now a financial advisor in Toronto after eventually graduating from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree and a Minor in Economics.

“There have been some really good academic kids that have come through, not just on our team but other teams”, Wishlow added. “There have also been kids that have come through that haven’t been rock stars in the classroom in high school, but by the time they get done their hockey career and get on with university, they really turn it around.

“We make sure they take the right courses, give them support, provide them with tutors and the odd time, give them a little pressure to get going on their work and make sure they complete it.”

While playing pro is the focus, players shouldn’t ignore the WHL Scholarship Program, where everyone who plays a single game in the league receives a year of books and tuition paid for at any Canadian University.

“It is a great deal for the players,” Wishlow added. “Going into post-secondary, they usually get to play hockey in the institution and have school paid at the university level.”

Two current players, Adam Kydd and Dylan Wightman, are 20 and 19 years old respectively, and taking a few college courses.

“Some of the players will take a course while they are still playing through the University of Athabasca, or online at another university”, Wishlow said. “It gives them a head start in their program with the dream of continuing on with hockey.”

The importance of completing high school starts at the top.

If you are skipping out on classes or aren’t getting decent grades, you will feel the wrath of GM Bruce Hamilton.

“We always want the players to excel at whatever they are doing”, Wishlow added. “We know most are not going to be making a living at the NHL, so school is important and the Hamilton family recognizes that, and so does the WHL.”

Class dismissed!