By: Mason Detre
Ottawa, Ontario – The Central Canada Hockey League Tier 2 is proud to announced that ’99 born Winchester Hawks forward and captain Kyle Kuehni is the winner of the 2019-20 CCHL2 Academic Player of the year award.
Kuehni, 20, is in his fourth and final year of junior hockey after spending three years of his career with the Winchester Hawks and one with the Ottawa Jr. Canadians. This year, Kuehni is a third year student at the University of Ottawa and is taking Bachelor of Science in Statistics with a minor in Business. He has posted a 80 average this year. Outside of the classroom, the Sittsville, Ontario native ranks 14th in the league in goals (24), tied for 37th in assists (23) and tied for 18th in points (47) while playing in 40 games.
President and GM of the Winchester Hawks Dominic Menard talks about on how Kuehni was able to balanced out school and playing hockey this season.
“Kyle (Kuehni) is and organized and motivated young man, determined to succeed both academically and on the ice,” said Menard. “He has learned to balanced academics and hockey over the past three years by understanding the demands of both and by managing his time accordingly. Kyle’s hard work and organization has allowed him to miss very little hockey while achieving his high academic goals.”
Menard also added that he is taking a Co-op program and part-time job at the Canada Revenue Agency, Kyle has put to good use of many of the skills that he has learned.
After spending his first CCHL2 season with the Ottawa Jr. Canadians, Kuehni decided to come to the Winchester Hawks in the 2017-18 season. Menard has been very pleased of Kuehni’s development as a hockey player with Winchester during the three years.
“Since coming to the Winchester Hawks three seasons ago, Kyle has been a leader on our team. He has been an integral part in changing the culture of the Winchester Hawks and is one of the guys we hitch our horse to when we need direction,” said Menard. “He is our captain for a reason… as much because of his on-ice performance (47 points in 40 games), as for his straight forward attitude and impeccable work ethic. We are very proud that such a deserving young man has won this prestigious award.”
Kuehni’s Winchester Hawks are in the post-season for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Winchester faces off against the Casselman Vikings in the best of three wild card series. Game one happens on Sunday night inside the Jr Brisson Complex.
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