Canadiens and the Aléo Foundation Award $60,000 in Scholarships

Olivier Bertrand-Metcalfe from Boisbriand selected

The Montreal Canadiens and the Aléo Foundation announced the awarding of $60,000 in scholarships and support services to 28 elite young hockey athletes who have distinguished themselves over the past year.

The 17th edition of the Montreal Canadiens Scholarship Program, managed by the Aléo Foundation in partnership with Hockey Quebec, the Quebec M18 AAA Hockey Development League (LHM18AAAQ), and the Quebec Student Sports Network (RSEQ), once again supported the best up-and-coming hockey players.

 

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Twenty-eight student-athletes aged 15 to 17 were recognized for their talent, athletic achievements, and exceptional academic records during a scholarship ceremony held on Monday at the Bell Centre. A female hockey player was selected from each of the eight M18 AAA women’s teams of the Quebec Excellence Hockey League (LHEQ), as well as two male hockey players from the M17 AAA division of the same league. Additionally, one player was chosen from each of the 15 male teams in the M18 AAA Hockey Development League. Three bursary recipients from the RSEQ will also receive financial support. To promote the pursuit of studies and preparation for life after sports, each recipient will receive an individual scholarship of $2,000, along with lifetime access to all support services offered by the Aléo Foundation.

North Shore young hockey star selected

Among the distinguished recipients was Olivier Bertrand-Metcalfe, a 17-year-old from Boisbriand who attends École secondaire Saint-Gabriel. Playing with the Vikings de Saint-Eustache, Olivier was selected for his exceptional performance and dedication both on the ice and in his academic pursuits. He was awarded a $2,000 bursary to support his continued development in both areas.

“The Montreal Canadiens organization is proud to highlight the perseverance and achievements of up-and-coming hockey players. Each year, welcoming these promising talents to our home, in collaboration with the Aléo Foundation, is an important moment for our club. By inviting them to the Bell Centre to receive their scholarship and walk in the footsteps of their idols, we hope to inspire them to realize their dreams.”  said Geneviève Paquette, Vice President, Community Engagement, Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club

“The Montreal Canadiens are a rallying force, a source of pride and inspiration for all Quebecers, and, of course, even more so for all young hockey players. Counting them among our close collaborators to focus on the recipients’ sporting and academic successes and celebrate their efforts both on the ice and in the classroom is a great privilege for us.” added Patricia Demers, Executive Director, Aléo Foundation

Numerous past recipients of the Montreal Canadiens scholarships have made significant achievements since the program’s inception, including Olympic medalists Mélodie Daoust, Ann-Renée Desbiens, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Lauriane Rougeau, all of whom joined the Women’s Professional Hockey League (LPHF) this season. Among the scholarship recipients who played in the NHL last season are Sammy Blais of the St. Louis Blues, Elliot Desnoyers of the Philadelphia Flyers, Anthony Duclair of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Samuel Girard of the Colorado Avalanche, Alexis Lafrenière of the New York Rangers, Devon Levi of the Buffalo Sabres, Kevin Mandolese of the Ottawa Senators, Mike Matheson of the Montreal Canadiens, Jakob Pelletier of the Calgary Flames, Sam Poulin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nicolas Roy of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Joe Veleno of the Detroit Red Wings.

About the Aléo Foundation

Founded in 1985, the Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ) has awarded over $20 million in scholarships to nearly 4,000 outstanding student-athletes from across Quebec. In 2022, to better reflect its mission of propelling athletes beyond sports, the FAEQ rebranded as the Aléo Foundation. In addition to continuing its scholarship awards and support services to tomorrow’s leaders, it confirms its personalized approach where the overall development and well-being in performance of its scholarship recipients are central to its actions.