Toronto, ON - The Ontario Hockey League announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for November.

West Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the West Division is left winger Brandon Saad of the Saginaw Spirit.  Saad, 18, a native of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, currently is a Grade 12 student at Heritage High School.  “Brandon is an excellent student who has made a seamless transition balancing school and hockey.  He is a model student-athlete,” commented Spirit Assistant Coach Adam Mattson.  Saad is a projected 1^st round selection for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and was ranked second among OHL skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their Preliminary Rankings. 

Midwest Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the Midwest Division is goaltender Garret Sparks of the Guelph Storm.  Sparks, 17, a native of Elmhurst, Illinois, is currently a Grade 12 student at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Guelph. “Garret is a very strong student with an 87% average.  As an American he has had no difficulty with the transition to the Ontario school system and in fact is leading his Kinesiology class.  He is a mannerly gentleman whom his teachers have said is a pleasure to teach.  He gets along well with teammates, classmates and is a part of the school community,” commented Donna Rawbone, Academic Advisor for the Storm.

 Central Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the Central Division is defenseman Jordan Auld of the Brampton Battalion.  Auld, 17, a native of Toronto, Ontario, is a Grade 12 student at Turner Fenton High School in Brampton.  Battalion Academic Advisor Ted Blackbourn had this to say about Jordan, “His average is 76%, while taking University English and French and University Advanced Functions.

Jordan is making fine progress in his first season in the OHL, both on the ice and in the classroom.  He brings a positive, mature attitude to his school work.”

East Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the East Division is goaltender Franky Palazzese of the Kingston Frontenacs Hockey Club.  Palazzese, 17, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, is currently in Grade 12 attending Holy Cross Secondary School in Kingston. “Franky is holding an honour roll status in his full time, University bound program,” commented Mike Hamilton, Academic Advisor for the Frontenacs.

OHL Academic Highlights:

• OHL players successfully completed 97% of high school courses during the 2009-10 season.

• Of the 57 overage players that competed in the league during the 2009-10 season, 31 have signed professional hockey contracts while 26 have accessed their academic scholarships in 2010-11 at various institutions across North America.

• 363 OHL graduates and current players are on scholarship from OHL Member Teams at 66 different institutions across North America.