2011-12 NEWS RELEASES

UOIT Athletics Media Release
Friday, June 10, 2011

UOIT's Nathan Spaling named to the Capital One Academic All-America Team

OSHAWA, Ont. - University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) men's hockey senior Nathan Spaling (Drayton, Ont.) has been named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Men's At-Large second team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Spaling becomes the first student-athlete in UOIT history to have earned Academic All-America honours and is the only CIS athlete to be named to the men's at-large team this season.

CoSIDA recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments by honouring deserving athletes with All-Academic recognition with the official sponsor of Capital One.  The Men's At-Large program for the Academic All-America includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling.

Spaling was eligible for All-America recognition after receiving first team honours from district five (Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ontario and Manitoba). First team all-district winners from across North America are then put forward on the ballot for the Academic All-America Award.

To be eligible for national or regional selection, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.0, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his current institution and be nominated by his sports information director.

The fourth-year captain played in all 28 games for UOIT this season, leading his team with 10 goals and 16 assists. Spaling has played in every UOIT game in the programs four-year history and is the team's all-time leading scorer.

Off the ice, he excels in the classroom and in the community. He is a two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian (eligible in 2010/11), two-time UOIT Ridgebacks Scholastic award winner, and a two-time James-Baun Cup Recipient as the male hockey student-athlete who best represents commitment, dedication, perseverance, academic responsibility, leadership and excellence at UOIT. He also earned his second consecutive UOIT male athlete of the year award in April.

Complete list of award winners attached

A QUICK LOOK AT NATHAN SPALING

2010-11 Season Highlights
- UOIT Overall Athlete of the Year
- James–Baun Cup Recipient
- UOIT men's hockey leadership award winner
- Captain of the UOIT Ridgebacks men's hockey team
- Led the UOIT Ridgebacks in scoring with 26 points
- Only six penalty minutes this season

Career Highlights (Hockey)
- UOIT Ridgebacks all-time leading scorer (86 points)
- Only 34 career penalty minutes
- Has played in every game of the Ridgebacks four year history
- UOIT Ridgebacks leading Scorer (2007/08 & 2010/11)
- UOIT overall male athlete of the year (2009/10 & 2010/11)
- UOIT men's hockey MVP (2009/10)
- Assistant Captain (2008/09 & 2009/10)
- Team Captain (2010/11)
- Two-time Men's Hockey Leadership Award Winner (2009/10 & 2010/11)

Highlights (Academic)
- Two-time UOIT Ridgebacks Scholastic award winner (Highest GPA of any varsity athlete) (2008/09 & 2009/10)
- Two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian (2008/09 & 2009/10) *Eligible in 2010-11
- Two-time UOIT Ridgebacks Men's Hockey Top Scholar Athlete winner (Highest GPA of any men's hockey player) (2008/09 & 2009/10)
- Inaugural James-Baun Cup Recipient –The James-Baun Cup is presented to a student-athlete on the men's and women's hockey teams who show commitment, dedication, perseverance, academic responsibility, leadership and is a great teammate in the pursuit of excellence. The Cup is named after Bobby Baun and his long time friend Don James.

Highlights (Community)
- Sunday School Teacher at Drayton Community Church.
- Motivational speaker in public schools in Thorold.
- Youth Advisor at Drayton Drop in Centre
- Youth Addictions Counselor at the RAFT in St. Catharines.
- Ongoing Assistance in bereavement services and maintenance at the Drayton Heritage funeral home.   
- Personal Support Worker in a Community Living group home.
- Ongoing Key Speaker, Event Volunteer, Class Room assistant at Drayton Heights Public School.
- Instructor at Craig Fisher's Hockey Camps.
- Organized UOIT's Men's Hockey Terry Fox Run in Oshawa.    
- Speaker at sports psychology seminar in Oshawa run by Anne Ottenbrite.
- Assists with the outreach at Eastview Boys and Girls Club in Oshawa.
- UOIT outreach fundraiser organizer.


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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College & UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca