The Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL) is pleased to announce Carleton Place Canadians forward Geoff Kitt as the winner of the 2017-2018 Arthur K Nielsen Memorial Award.
This award goes to the player who combines hockey excellence with academic success. In the classroom Geoff’s classroom performance while playing for the Carleton Place Canadians has been extraordinary. He is currently taking four courses at Algonquin with marks all in the A+ range. Prior to this year, while playing with the Carleton Place Canadians, Geoff took four courses at Carleton University receiving A’s in all of these.
It’s not only in the classroom where Geoff has excelled, his on ice performance has also been extraordinary. He is captain and first line center of the CCHL’s first place Carleton Place Canadians. In 55 games this season he scored 20 goals and has 36 assists for 56 points – 10th most points in the entire CCHL. While this many points show’s his offensive prowess it should be noted that he is also one of Carleton Places primary penalty killers. He has successfully killed penalties but offensively he has gotten nine short-handed points including three shorthanded goals and a league leading six short-handed assists – #1 shorthanded overall. His strength both one the ice and in the classroom did not go unnoticed by NCAA scouts. Geoff is committed to Mercyhurst for next year where he will be studying engineering.
Geoff’s excellence in hockey and in the classroom are matched buy his commitment to volunteering. He has participated in numerous memorials and fundraisers for various charitable organizations and has led the Carleton Place Canadians within the local school community where for example he leads and co-ordinates the teams reading programs. Geoff also volunteers with a local coach who organizes power skating and skills sessions for local youth and is a volunteer assistant Coach for a local Novice team and also as a volunteer teaching power skating to kids.
Congratulations to Geoff Kitt, the CCHL’s 2017-2018 Arthur K Nielsen Memorial Award winner for his strong performance on the ice, in the classroom and in the community.
Congratulations as well to Elie Boulerice from the Ottawa Junior Senators and Ryan Horvath of the Nepean Raiders who were the finalists for this award and who have also been named first team CCHL academic all stars. Both these players were stars both in the classroom and on the ice.
By: Jonathan Calof,
