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The Official Magazine of the British Columbia Hockey League MARISSA BAECKER photo


SEAN BONAR PENTICTON VEES


He may wear the No. 1 on his jersey,


but to his family, education was always the number one goal for Penticton Vees netminder Sean Bonar. “With my parents, education has al-


ways come first,” says Bonar. “And it was always a goal for me in terms of how far I wanted hockey to take me.” Turns out, the sport will take him all the


way to Princeton University next season. Bonar had many schools chasing his


commitment, but at the end of the day he realized he couldn’t pass up the opportu- nity to study at an Ivy League school. “It’s going to be the best education


possible,” he said of his decision. “It was really a no-brainer for me.” Schooling has always been important


for the 18-year-old who graduated last June. During his Grade 11 season, Bonar


“Sean takes a serious approach in all he does and that is why he is so successful.”


- Fred Harbinson


put in a concerted effort to work ahead, taking four Grade 12 courses to make his workload in the final year of high school easier to manage. And that is just one example of the


type of person Bonar is, says his coach. “He is a very intelligent and grounded


young man,” says Fred Harbinson. “Sean is one of those kids who does everything 100 per cent or he doesn’t do it at all.” In Bonar’s case, that refers to his schooling, hockey and everything else.


-G.A.


academic all-stars


GARRETT JAMES photo


BRENDAN ELLIS WESTSIDE WARRIORS


Fourth-year Westside Warriors de-


fenceman Brendan Ellis received the mes- sage loud and clear. With his parents stressing the value of


education from the time he was a child, Ellis knew that it was important to have something to fall back on for when his hockey-playing days were done. “Hockey isn’t everything; we are all


going to be done playing eventually and you need something to fall back on,” the 20-year old says. With that goal in mind, Ellis firmed up


his college future by commiting to Mer- rimack College earlier this season. Merrimack is a four-year Catholic col-


lege and Ellis plans on studying business while also suiting up for the Warriors — really! — hockey squad. This year, Ellis is enrolled in three


“Brendan is definitely a good example of how so much hard work can pay off.”


- Darren Yopyk


courses at Okanagan College as he pre- pares to head south next season. “Brendan is definitely a good example


of how so much hard work can pay off,” says head coach Darren Yopyk. Ellis’s intelligence and decision-making


off the ice is part of what makes him such a dangerous weapon on it. “His hockey IQ is incredible, especial-


ly offensively,” Yopyk says. “And he just sees the ice so well. On top of that, he’s a rock for us on the blueline.”


-G.A. 2010 EDUCATION ISSUE | 39


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