Balancing the demands of Junior A hockey with academic commitments can be challenging. Through its educational partnership with the South-Central Interior Distance Education School (SCIDES), the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) is helping provide student-athletes with greater flexibility as they pursue both their academic and hockey goals.
Through SCIDES’ specialized Junior Hockey Program, part of its broader Competitive Athlete Program, BCHC players can work toward their BC graduation requirements through a flexible online learning model designed to accommodate the demands of high-performance sport.
As a publicly funded Provincial Online Learning School within School District 58 (Nicola-Similkameen), SCIDES provides accredited courses taught by BC-certified educators. The program allows student-athletes to build their academic schedules around practices, training, competition and travel throughout the hockey season.
The flexibility can also be valuable for players whose academic needs change during the season. A student-athlete who begins the year in a traditional classroom setting and later finds that the demands of hockey make that schedule difficult to maintain can transition to online learning without putting their academic progress on hold.
Supporting the Whole Student-Athlete
For the BCHC, the partnership with SCIDES is part of a broader commitment to supporting players in all aspects of their development.
BCHC Director of Education Tom McEvay has spent the past five years working with the KIJHL to build capacity in education advisement. With the formation of the BCHC, the goal is to continue building on that foundation and create stronger education support systems across the league.
“Hockey is a powerful developmental tool, but it shouldn’t be the end goal,” said McEvay. “It is part of a young person’s life journey, and there are many other factors to be considered in that journey. That is what I am all about, helping these young men understand the long game and how education helps you get there.”
McEvay says the BCHC’s long-term goal is to establish education advisors within its member clubs who can help student-athletes navigate their academic pathways while building a stronger culture of education throughout the league.
Built for the Junior A Lifestyle
The SCIDES Junior Hockey Program is designed with the realities of competitive hockey in mind. Whether a player is managing a demanding travel schedule, adjusting to a new team or transitioning from a traditional school environment, online learning provides the flexibility to keep academics moving forward throughout the season.
Key benefits for BCHC student-athletes include:
- Anytime, Anywhere Access: Course content is available online 24/7, allowing students to build a study schedule around practices, games, training and travel.
- Flexible Mid-Year Transfers: Students who find that a traditional classroom setting is no longer meeting their needs can transition to SCIDES during the school year.
- Specialized Athlete Electives: SCIDES offers nine specialized athlete electives, including three hockey-focused courses, providing opportunities to earn credit related to high-performance training and sports psychology.
- Customized Graduation Planning: Each student receives individualized academic planning based on their goals, whether they are working toward graduation, pursuing post-secondary opportunities or upgrading their transcript.
- Dedicated Hockey Guidance: SCIDES Athlete Advisor Corey Hermiston, a former player and coach, provides personalized guidance to help student-athletes navigate their academic pathways and stay on track.
Getting Started
Student-athletes and families interested in learning more about SCIDES and its education options for competitive athletes can contact Athlete Advisor Corey Hermiston at chermiston@365.sd58.bc.ca.
The BCHC encourages players and families to explore their education options early and identify a learning pathway that works alongside their academic and hockey commitments.
