Cambridge, ON – who knew you could be from Wyoming and Ontario and be geographically correct?
Jace McGrail, 18, a defenceman with the Sarnia Legionnaires of the Greater Ontario Hockey League, is from there (Wyoming, Ont., pop: 2,348), though was born nine kilometres up the road in Petrolia.
Click here to see Jace’s Bursary Winner Video
At age three the sands from McGrail’s hockey hourglass began to fall. It was a family affair.
To apply for the 2024 Bursary click here
“Dad built a backyard rink and taught me the fundamentals of hockey. My Mom taught me how to skate backwards,” said McGrail, who skated both ways to the tune of 23 points (6-17) over a steady 50 regular season games.
“I logged a lot of hours on that backyard rink.”
Perspective affected his performance. McGrail earned a near-perfect (93 per cent) average while a student at Sarnia’s Lambton College in the Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technician program. In this sense, sound perspective has also resulted in precision.
There is additional awareness of a larger world. McGrail and three friends took part in a Funds for Fraser program. The triumvirate ran, biked and roller bladed 100 kilometres to raise money for a local boy suffering a brain tumour. He’s also ran the local Terry Fox Run for a decade and assisted the Petrolia Minor Hockey Association.
McGrail is the exact type of the person and player for the which the coveted Dairy Farmers of Ontario Bursary Program was largely created, and was so named a recipient this year.
“I have had lots of opportunities that other people don’t have or aren’t able to take part in.
“Thank you to the Dairy Farmers on Ontario for sponsoring this bursary.”
2024 Bursary Program – HOW TO APPLY
Candidates must complete the application form below and submit it to the OHA by 8 p.m. on May 6, 2024. Each application will be reviewed by a panel and only the successful recipients will be contacted by the OHA. We wish the best of luck to all applicants.
To apply for the 2024 Bursary click here
About the Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) was founded on November 27, 1890, and is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior hockey in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is a Member Partner of the Ontario Hockey Federation which is one of thirteen Provincial and Regional Branches of Hockey Canada.
It is comprised of three Junior hockey leagues and two Senior hockey leagues: Junior A – Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior B – Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior C – Provincial Junior Hockey League, Senior – Allan Cup Hockey (AAA) and Ontario Elite Hockey League (AA). For the 2023-24 season, these five leagues encompass 125 teams.
The objectives of the OHA are to foster and encourage the sport of amateur hockey, to conduct competition in the various categories established, to determine teams for entry into the inter-branch competitions that may be provided by Hockey Canada, and to provide for the affiliation of other hockey organizations.
The OHA provides administrative resources, coordinates programs, services and events for hockey participants and provides support to various Development Programs for coaches, officials, trainers and players, Safety and Risk Management Issues and offers resources for Harassment and Abuse education.
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For more information or to set up an interview, please contact:
Chris McCleary
General Manager, Operations & Marketing
Ontario Hockey Association
