Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to partner with Special Olympics Ontario in an exciting new endeavour that will see a total of $100,000 awarded to students in the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program pursuing a post-secondary education over the next five years.
The newly unveiled David Branch Leadership Scholarship will present four different $5,000 scholarships per year to aspiring university and college Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools students who have demonstrated commitment, leadership, teamwork and community involvement.
The new scholarship honours the legacy of former long-time OHL Commissioner David Branch, who served in the role over a span of 45 years from 1979-2024. Mr. Branch was a champion of the cause of Special Olympics Ontario, and is remembered for his leadership, vision and the instrumental role he played in the evolution of junior hockey in Ontario, across Canada and throughout the world.
“I’m very thankful this scholarship has been established, and will have a tremendous impact on a cause that has always been very important to me,” said Branch. “The OHL has a long-standing relationship with Special Olympics, and to be able to help these young people achieve their goals means a tremendous amount.
“I look forward to learning more about the recipients each year, and what it is they’re pursuing in their studies.”
The David Branch Scholarship was publicly unveiled on Wednesday at the 2025 Special Olympics Ontario School Championships that took place in Ottawa.
“The OHL and David Branch have been incredible partners and supporters of the Special Olympics movement,” said Cody Jansma, President & CEO of Special Olympics Ontario. “We’re so happy to partner with them on this initiative to support students involved in the Unified Champion Schools program.”
Those interested in applying for the David Branch Scholarship can do so by July 25, 2025 at specialolympicsontario.com (click here) by filling out the application form located at the bottom of the web page. The inaugural round of four scholarship recipients will be announced this fall.
About the Special Olympics Unified Champions Schools® program
The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® program promotes social inclusion through intentionally designed activities that drive systemic change in K–12 schools. Built on the foundation of sports, its three-component model combines impactful strategies that empower students with the tools and training to foster inclusive environments in sports, classrooms, and across the entire school. The result is a school climate where students with disabilities feel welcomed, actively included, and meaningfully engaged in all activities, opportunities, and functions.
About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has long been regarded as the number one development league in the world, continuing to serve as a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League. The OHL consists of 20 teams, with 17 located in Ontario, two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania. A proud member of the Canadian Hockey League, the OHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships, with over 329 graduates receiving OHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice in 2024-25, resulting in a collective investment of over $42 million by OHL member teams over the past 15 years.
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• Rangers sign top prospect Adam Valentini
• Bulldogs sign second generation talent Caleb Malhotra
• Generals promote former back-to-back Memorial Cup champion Mario Pouliot to Head Coach
• Sting sign second round selection Sarvir Jaworski
• Fifteen OHL Alumni competing in 2025 Stanley Cup Final
• Otters sign free agent forward Luc Plante
• OHL Establishes David Branch Leadership Scholarship in Partnership with Special Olympics Ontario
• Knights celebrate storybook ending in front of fans
• Nineteen OHL players attending NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo
• Greyhounds sign former second round pick Callum Croskery
• U.S. standout Cooper Dennis signs with Bulldogs
• Spitfires sign Pennsylvania product Caden Harvey
• Greyhounds sign first round pick Ryan Kaczynski
• Bulldogs acquire 36-goal scorer Sam McCue
• Generals’ Malone accepts assistant coaching position with AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Frank Evola named IceDogs’ General Manager
• Steelheads sign top-drafted goaltender Lucas Johnson
• London Knights reign supreme, capturing third Memorial Cup title
• Colts’ Dalyn Wakely commits to UMass Lowell
• CHL Announces New Multi-Year Partnerships with Under Armour and Bauer Hockey
• Generals captain Ben Danford nominated for 2025 Dayna Brons Honorary Award
• Attack’s George a steadying presence during busy 2024-25 season
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