(Pictured L-R): Locals Matthew Van Stone and Brandon Holhoyi accept their scholarships along with their diplomas as they walked across the stage for graduation at JPII. (Submitted photos/Bruce Yockey, JPII)

By Martin Martinson

Barons Standouts Recognized

Battlefords Minor Hockey announces 2021 Scholarship Award recipients

Jul 5, 2021 | 5:43 PM

The Battlefords Minor Hockey Association (BMHA) Board of Directors have announced their scholarship winners for 2021.

Locals Matthew Van Stone and Brandon Holhoyi of John Paul II Collegiate will each receive a $500 scholarship to put towards their secondary education.

Matthew Van Stone

Van Stone called it ‘something really special’ to receive the scholarship, considering what the local hockey association has meant to him through the years.

“I was so happy because I’ve been playing and (later) reffing with the BMHA since I was just learning how to skate, from initiation right through,” Van Stone said. “I’ve been with them my whole life, and it was really just like another family to me, so it’s awesome to receive this award and it means a lot more than just money to me too.”

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Battlefords Minor Hockey has played a key part in Matthew Van Stone’s life, both as a Timbits player learning to skate and later with the Battlefords Barons U18 team. (Submitted photos/Matthew Van Stone)

Following his graduation from JPII last week, Van Stone said he plans to attend Sask Polytech in Saskatoon in the future to become a paramedic.

Brandon Holhoyi

Holhoyi, who also grew up in the Battlefords community playing hockey, said it meant a lot to him that the BMHA recognized him for the award, as someone who’s played his entire hockey career to this point in the local community colours.

“It’s great. I’ve been playing hockey since I was about seven years old, so it was nice to see that they recognized me as a player in the community and wanted to give back,” he said. “I started playing hockey my first year in novice [and have since], so that was really cool that they did that.”

From the time he strapped on the skates for organized hockey to this point, Brandon Holhoyi has proudly displayed the Barons’ burgundy and yellow threads. (Submitted photos/Brandon Holhoyi)

Holhoyi plans to apply for the firefighting course in Vermilion, Alta., this summer to become a firefighter.

President of the BMHA, Kyle Kellgren said the organization was pleased with the strong quality of applicants for the annual scholarship program again this year, wishing both Van Stone and Holhoyi the best in their post-secondary endeavors.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1