The Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) is excited to announce the four winners of the Student-Athlete of the Month Award for January: Connor Alward, Ryann Faulkner, Maddox Rinn, & Seth Baptiste.
During the 2024/25 season the CSSHL introduced the Student-Athlete of the Month Award for the four different CSSHL divisions/age brackets: Eastern, West Female, West U18 Male (U18 Prep, U17 Prep, U17) and West U15 Male (U15 Prep and U15) .
This award is aimed at recognizing the student-athletes within the CSSHL and acknowledges their hard work, dedication, commitment, leadership, academics and community impact.
We would like to congratulate these four student-athletes, who were all nominated by their programs, for their hard work in the month of January.
East Division – Connor Alward, Mount Academy
“Connor Alward is a 2010-born goaltender with the Mount Academy U17 Prep program, hailing from Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Connor joined Mount Academy this year following a strong season with Pictou County U15 AAA Major, and he has made an immediate and meaningful impact on both our school and hockey environments.
Although Connor may not be big in stature, he brings a very big positive attitude and is a larger-than-life personality within our school community. He is an outstanding young man who provides a genuine spark to our program. Connor can often be found in classrooms, study halls, on the bus, or even in hotel hallways working with fellow students on academic projects—or simply offering support and being a steady presence for teammates navigating the highs and lows of a demanding season at Mount Academy.
On the ice, Connor was initially slated to start a limited number of games. Through his work ethic, preparation, and performance, he has put himself in a position where he is being considered for more starts as we move into the next phase of our schedule. The players in front of him respect him and trust the quality he brings to each opportunity.
Recently, Connor competed in a demanding four-game set in Montréal, Quebec, and Cornwall, Ontario, during a stretch in which several players were sidelined by flu. The illness affected two of our goaltenders in our three-goalie system, leaving Connor without a backup for the weekend. Facing heavy workloads—often 45+ shots per game—Connor battled through difficult outcomes, held his head high, and did everything he could for his team. While it was not an easy weekend, it was one in which Connor demonstrated resilience, maturity, and a positive mindset that helped steady and support his teammates.
Connor Alward is an extraordinary student who always submits high quality work. He is a leader in the classroom, often offering help and guidance to his peers that are facing academic challenges. He sets high expectations for himself and works hard to ensure he is meeting his goals. Connor is a dedicated student-athlete that always submits work on time, or even early, no matter how busy his schedule is.”
West Female Division – Ryann Faulkner, Okanagan Hockey Academy
“Ryann Faulkner exemplifies what it means to be a true student-athlete. Her unwavering dedication to academics, teammates, and off-ice habits consistently sets the standard within the OHA program. Ryann can always be counted on to show up prepared and give her best effort, regardless of any challenges or obstacles in her way.
Academically, Ryann is extremely driven and remains consistently on top of her schoolwork, demonstrating strong time management, discipline, and accountability. Her commitment in the classroom mirrors the same focus and work ethic she brings to the rink every day.
Ryann leads by example, holding herself accountable while maintaining a strong team-first mentality. Reliable, supportive, and selfless, Ryann genuinely wants the best for those around her and consistently puts the needs of the team first.
Ryann’s dedication, leadership, and character make her a well-deserving recipient of the CSSHL Female Student of the Month for January.”
West Male U15 Division – Maddox Rinn, RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg
“Maddox Rinn is an exceptional student who consistently sets the standard for academic excellence. He earned a perfect 100% on his ELA exam and maintains an outstanding overall average of 96%, reflecting both his dedication and strong work ethic. Maddox goes above and beyond in the classroom, regularly offering help to others and approaching every task with enthusiasm and care. Maddox approaches his learning with dedication, integrity, and a genuine desire to do his best. Outside of academics, Maddox demonstrates compassion and service through his volunteer time with the SuperHEROS hockey program, which he describes as both fun and rewarding. A motivated individual who strives for excellence in all that he does, Maddox is a natural leader and a positive influence on his peers, leading celebrations after each team win and modelling enthusiasm, respect, and sportsmanship both on and off the ice.”
West Male U18 Division – Seth Baptiste, Indigenous Sports Academy
“Seth Baptiste is Grade 12 student from Red Pheasant First Nation and he represents the Indigenous Sports Academy out of Saskatoon.
Throughout January, Seth demonstrated exemplary focus, consistency, and leadership in both study hall and his academic classes. This recognition celebrates his ability to successfully balance the rigorous demands of high-performance hockey with strong academic commitment.
We are incredibly proud of Seth and all that he has accomplished during his first semester, both in the classroom and on the ice.”
