OHL Unveils Inaugural Recipients of David Branch Leadership Scholarship – Canadian Hockey League
TORONTO – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is pleased to congratulate four aspiring young students who have been selected as inaugural recipients of the David Branch Leadership Scholarship, each receiving $5,000 towards their pursuit of post-secondary education at institutions across Ontario.
The David Branch Leadership Scholarship has been established to honour 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.
Each of the following scholarship recipients have demonstrated the commitment, leadership, teamwork and community involvement that David himself championed in his time as OHL Commissioner.
Lydia Kirupa – Ajax, ON – York University, Bachelor of Honours in Political Science Certificate in Public Administration and Law
Lydia is in her third year as a Special Olympics unified partner and has been selected as a recipient of this year’s David Branch Leadership Scholarship as a result of her tremendous work through creating the Special Olympics Ontario Unified Leadership Council.
“Lydia was a wonderful addition to our team, and got along great with all of our Special Olympics athletes because she was kind, took time to get to know the athletes and really made them feel like equal teammates. Lydia currently works for Special Olympics Ontario and along with a co-worker started the Unified Leadership Council (ULC) which aims to educate high school students about starting and growing Special Olympics Unified programs in their own high schools. Through monthly sessions where Lydia co-created the curriculum, she was able to empower studentsall over the province through sports and learning.”
– Amanda Morra, Special Education Resource Teacher at J. Clarke Richardson & Toronto FC Unified Head Coach
Lucas D’Onofrio – Hamilton, ON – McMaster University, Social Sciences
Lucas is in third year as a Special Olympics Ontario student athlete and is an honour roll graduate from Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton. Heading to McMaster University this fall, Lucas has been selected as a David Branch Leadership Scholarship recipient after he was named the 2024 Special Olympics School Athlete of the Year. He aspires to attend law school once he has completed his undergraduate studies and is setting high goals for himself, showing his dedication to excellence in both the classroom and on the sports field.
“Lucas has been a shining example of what it means to be a leader, both in spirit and in action. He has led by example with his inclusive attitude, unwavering encouragement of teammates, and commitment to creating a space where everyone feels valued. His presence has elevated the culture of our team – bringing athletes of all abilities together with joy, purpose, and shared pride. Through his involvement with the Special Olympics, Lucas found a platform to build his confidence, refine his leadership, and share his voice beyond school. A particularly proud moment came when he spoke at Queen’s Park with the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford and the Minister of Sport, Hon. Neil Lumsden, about increased funding and awareness for inclusive sports programs offered by Special Olympics Ontario. His voice was clear, courageous, and compassionate – a true reflection of his character.”
– Linda Siena, Mathematics Teacher & Special Olympics Coach at Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School
Elliott Hartell – Ottawa, ON – Canada Topflight Academy (Basketball Prep Program), Kinesiology
Elliott is in his third year as a Special Olympics Ontario unified partner and has been selected as a recipient of the David Branch Leadership Scholarship as a result of his tremendous and work and advocacy as a coach, team captain, athlete and champion for inclusion.
“Elliott is the team captain for our Unified Champion School team, JaysCare Team and the Senior Boys Basketball team. He is also the Head of the Athletic Committee and a Link Leader, and has been a part of the Best Buddies Chapter at Glebe. He has proven to be a role model to his fellow athletes in his fair play as well as in his respect of those with disabilities and their abilities to be a part of the greater community. Elliott is a kind, caring, hard-working young man. He understands the importance of inclusion, acceptance and respect. He spends his time being a positive role model for all those who are lucky to be near him, and is also very focused on his schooling, and holds an average of 93%. I foresee him doing many more great things in his future and positively affecting many lives.”
– Angela Nixon, Educational Assistant Job Coach at Glebe Collegiate Institute
Kavin Mohanadas – Oshawa, ON – University of Waterloo, Mathematics
Kavin is in his second year as a Special Olympics Ontario unified partner, and has been selected as a recipient of the David Branch Leadership Scholarship as a result of his commitment to the Special Olympics Unified Leadership Council at Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute where he graduated as an honour roll student and received the Grade 12 Math Award.
“Kavin collaborated closely with peers from across Ontario who were also chosen to help promote inclusion through sport, organize events such as fundraisers, door decorating competitions, and inclusion week, and share best practices for schools looking to create Unified programs or expand their existing ones, as we meet monthly. Kavin made excellent efforts in coming up with days for inclusion week, such as giving tips on how we can extend bake sales/candy grams and tie it back into Special Olympics itself (such as insight during the Tim Horton Donut Day campaign). This brings both excitement and opportunity, it was a new jump we took into making the council, but the dedication and efforts of our students like Kavin, helped the ULC as an inclusive space where youth leaders, with and without intellectual disabilities, come together to build community, lead initiatives, and grow the Special Olympics Ontario movement within their schools.”
– Lydia Kirupa, Unified & School Program Developer at Special Olympics Ontario
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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• 2026 NHL Training Camp Tracker
• Petes visit Bulldogs in Friday Night Faceoff
• 163 OHL graduates included 2025-26 U SPORTS men’s hockey opening night rosters
• Attack, 67’s climb OHL Power Rankings
• IceDogs’ Ethan Czata named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
• Spitfires’ Joey Costanzo named Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week
• Bulldogs’ Caleb Malhotra named OHL Rookie of the Week
• Rangers prospect Alex Forrest named GOHL Prospect of the Week
• Toronto Jr. Canadiens kick-off U16 AAA season as Titans Early Bird Tournament champions
• Cameron Reid named 60th captain in Rangers history
• Frontenacs name Jacob Battaglia captain
• Steelheads name Mason Zebeski captain
• OHL Battle of the Border returns for Fall 2026
Which team will stay undefeated the longest?
View Results
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