Neil Murdoch Division bursary recipients

 

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is proud to announce the 12 student-athletes who competed during the 2022-23 season that it has selected to receive league bursaries. Each bursary is valued at $1,000 and will be applied towards post-secondary studies.

Tuesday, April 18 – Doug Birks Division recipients

Wednesday, April 29 – Eddie Mountain Division recipients

Friday, April 21 – Bill Ohlhausen Division recipients

Today we announce the Neil Murdoch Division recipients

Bennett Anklewich – Nelson Leafs – A 2020 graduate of Central Memorial Secondary in Calgary, Anklewich will continue his education at King’s College in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania where he will play NCAA Division III hockey with the Monarch’s men’s hockey team. Anklewich intends to earn an Exercise Science degree to become an athletic therapist to specialize working with hockey players. 

Through hockey, Anklewich has helped with several groups, including being a coach for the Calgary Royals summer program, being an assistant coach for the Nelson District Hockey Academy and the Nelson Elementary School Floor Hockey program. Away from the rink, he’s helped with senior assistance, the Salvation Army Christmas campaign and the Nelson and District Community Centre as a labourer. 

Leafs Head Coach Briar McNaney said in his brief time with the organization, Anklewich left an immediate and lasting impression.

“Bennett is a hard worker, positive and trustworthy individual who never had to be asked twice to do something and went out of his way to mentor younger players,” said McNaney. “He took charge in a positive way and showed strong leadership qualities to our younger players and young fans in the community.”

Spencer Dixon-Reusz – Beaver Valley Nitehawks – A 2021 graduate of J.L. Crowe Secondary in Trail, Dixon-Reusz has been taking Science classes at Selkirk College. He plans to continue studying at Selkirk College while playing for the Nitehawks and then will pursue a general sciences degree at university. He has an interest in playing hockey while getting his education and would like to pursue a career that allows him to continue contributing to sports and learning.

His community engagement includes helping with the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Bells, Fruitvale Bingo clean up, officiating an elementary school volleyball tournament, being a pool camp volunteer and assisting people move.

His Head Coach Terry Jones describes him as a tremendous leader. 

“He leads by example demonstrating his thoughtfulness, actions, efforts and quiet resilience,” said Jones. “Academically, Spencer is a high achieving honour roll student and his teachers will describe Spencer as a student who took great care with his studies, always completed his very best work, and someone who students liked and admired.”

Cody Laybolt – Grand Forks Border Bruins –  A 2020 graduate of George Elliot Secondary in Lake Country, Laybolt plans to study Bachelors of Business Administration from Okanagan College. 

His community engagement includes helping with bottle drives, Remembrance Day poppy donations, elementary school public skates and building a Christmas float for a volunteer and more.

Laybolt has a desire to stay involved with hockey by becoming a coach and helping Lake Country minor hockey players develop their skills. In his time playing in the KIJHL, Cody received the unsung hero award for being a person his team could rely on in tough situations, and helped the team in many ways. He credits playing in the KIJHL for changing him and adding new skills such as leadership, communication and teamwork, which will help him in life.