April 11, 2025
Burnaby – On-ice hockey skills, top academic achievements and dedicated volunteer community involvement have earned five players a $1,000 scholarship from the Vancouver Canucks Alumni.
In recognizing this year’s scholarship recipients, Pat Quinn Classic Honorary Chair Cliff Ronning also paid tribute to parents and hockey families. “I want to congratulate the parents for their efforts in helping their children to become young leaders both on and off the ice.”
The Vancouver Canucks Alumni Scholarships support Pat Quinn’s passion for hockey achievements, academic excellence and giving back to the community.
The latest recipients come from Abbotsford, Burnaby, Quesnel, Pitt Meadows and Powell River. Each year, B.C. players who participate in the Pat Quinn Classic are eligible to apply for the $1,000 scholarships.
The 2024 Pat Quinn Classic Vancouver Canucks Alumni Scholarships have been awarded to the following players:
Jovan Sandhu (Abbotsford) – Pat Quinn Award
A grade nine student at the Mennonite Educational Institute, Jovan Sandhu plays for the Fraser Valley U15 Thunderbirds. He’s part of a hardworking farming family in Abbotsford. During the November 2021 atmospheric river floods in the Fraser Valley, thieves ransacked the family’s property using his hockey bag to steal their belongings and discarding his gear into the floodwaters. After the floods, with a grant from the United Way, he organized a free hockey shooting camp for kids from Abbotsford and surrounding area to help build connections through sport. In 2024, he helped coordinate the donation of more than $75,000 of vegetables for the local food bank. Sandhu welcomes being recognized for his on and off-ice achievements. “It means a lot for myself; it’s very kind,” he says. For his future studies, he hopes to help young athletes build mental strength to overcome adversity as a sports psychologist.
Melina Bezic (Burnaby) – Kirk McLean Award
A goalie for the Burnaby Bulldogs U15 A1 team, Melina Bezic attends Burnaby North Secondary School. “Overall, my journey as a female athlete in a male-dominated sport has not been without its challenges,” says Bezic. “But it has shaped me into a stronger and more determined individual. My passion for hockey drives me to push past obstacles, and it inspires me to continue striving toward my dreams, including one day playing for a NCAA hockey team and becoming a sports psychologist.” She stays connected to her community by volunteering at the Odd Squad Production Society, a non-profit organization that helps young people stay away from drugs and alcohol and gangs.
Blake Riley (Quesnel) – Harold Snepsts Award
Blake Riley grew up in Quenel and attends Sa-Hali Secondary School in Kamloops and plays for the U17 AAA Thompson Blazers. Diagnosed at a young age with both Crohn’s and Celiac diseases, he navigates the demands of competitive hockey and managing chronic health conditions. He earned an impressive 91 per cent grade average in the first quarter of grade 11. Outside of academics and hockey, he gives back to his community by helping young players build their skills and confidence and volunteers for a local food and toy drive during the holiday season. Balancing hockey and school and volunteer activities takes a lot of work. “It’s tough, but I stay on top of everything and stay organized,” says Riley. “Hockey is special to me. You meet so many good friends through hockey.” He has a strong interest in pursuing a career in the medical field.
Kaustav Pradeep (Pitt Meadows) – Cliff Ronning Award
A focused and ambitious student athlete, Kaustav Pradeep plays for the RINK Kelowna U17 AAA Team, that won gold in the U17 Flight 2 Championship at the 2024 Pat Quinn Classic. Living away from his home in Pitt Meadows, he billets with a family while attending George Elliot Secondary School in Lake Country. He has shown his resilience through unexpected setbacks including a fractured wrist earlier this season and a serious illness at age 13. “There are so many lessons to learn from a team sport,” says Pradeep. “It’s about working with others, despite different values. It teaches you so much.” Pradeep has earned top marks in school and over the winter, he and his teammates packed and donated food to the Central Okanagan Food Bank. “Time management is key,” adds Pradeep. “You have to know your priorities.”
Lucas Gruntman (Powell River) – Gino Odjick Award
Living in the remote community of Powell River has unique challenges, as nearly every weekend, Lucas Gruntman and his team take long ferry rides to make it to games. He actively contributes to his team fundraisers to help ease the financial burdens of travel. As team captain for the Powell River Kings U15A T3 team, he fosters an inclusive and encouraging environment and also referees games for younger hockey players. “I’m really honoured because it’s coming from the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association,” says Gruntman after winning the scholarship. “I’m super proud of myself.” In the classroom, he maintains Honour Roll grades. He plans to pursue post-secondary education to become a physical education teacher or accountant for the Vancouver Canucks.
MEDIA CONTACT: info@patquinnclassic.com
GALLERY
About the Pat Quinn Classic and the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Scholarships
Held annually in Burnaby, the objective of the Pat Quinn Classic is to create a top international-calibre tournament in Western Canada to showcase local teams alongside some of the strongest programs in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. Organizers worked with the Quinn family to create a unique tournament that strikes the right balance between exciting hockey, skill and leadership development and community engagement. Quinn motivated players at all levels to work hard on the ice and live with passion and integrity off the ice. The vision of this tournament exemplifies his love of hockey and his unwavering commitment to give back to the community.
The Vancouver Canucks Alumni are a foundational partner in the Pat Quinn Classic. Both the tournament and the scholarships recognize Pat Quinn’s passion for creating leaders on and off the ice, and his unwavering commitment to give back to the community.
The scholarships selection committee, which includes a representative of the Quinn Family and Cliff Ronning, review the applications and select the recipients.