Former Golden Bear defenceman wins WHL Alumni Achievment Award

Photo credit Uwe Welz, U of Alberta

CALGARY, AB. – The Western Hockey League and the WHL Alumni Association announced today the recipients of this year's WHL Alumni Achievement Awards. In the Academic Scholarship category, the recipient is former WHL defenceman Jeff Zorn.

The WHL Alumni Achievement Award annually recognizes WHL graduates who pursued professional hockey and achieved a distinguished career in the NHL as well as an Alumnus who has obtained a post secondary education through the WHL Scholarship Program and has moved on to a highly successful business career. The recipients are selected annually by the WHL Alumni Association Executive Committee, which is headed by former WHL and NHL graduate Kelly Hrudey.

Academic Recipient – Jeff Zorn

Jeff Zorn, originally from Tisdale, Saskatchewan, played five seasons in the Western Hockey League from 1995-2000. Originally selected in the fifth round of the 1994 WHL Bantam Draft by the Moose Jaw Warriors, Zorn spent the majority of his career with the Prince George Cougars, before joining the Saskatoon Blades as a 20 year old. During his five years in the WHL, the defenceman appeared in 252 games, recording 34 goals, 105 points and 316 penalty minutes. He is the third U of A Golden Bear to win the Academic Achievment award, following selections of former team captains Gavin McLeod (2010), and Blair St. Martin (2008).

Following his junior hockey career, Zorn chose immediately to utilize his five year WHL Scholarship and enrolled in Medicine at the University of Alberta in 2000. Subsequently, Zorn also went on to a five year hockey career with the University of Alberta Golden Bears from 2000-05, winning a Canadian University National title in 2005. He played in 190 Canadian University games compiling 27 goals and 130 points. He captured the Canada West Freshman of the Year Award in 2001, was named Canada West Defenceman of the Year in 2002 and in 2004 he was honoured with the Dr. Randy Gregg Award as the Canadian University Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year.

The four time Canadian University Academic All-Canadian (2002-05), Zorn graduated from University of Alberta Medical School with his Bachelor's in 2008 and received his Doctoral in 2009. Dr. Jeffrey Zorn is currently in his second year of a five year residency, specializing in urology at the University of Alberta Hospital.

The WHL Alumni Association was formed in November 2007 to take an active role in assisting with the operation and promotion of the WHL at both the Club and League level. The WHL Alumni Association hopes to provide a medium through which past players, coaches, officials and management personnel can reconnect with former teammates and continue to make a contribution to the growth and development of the WHL.

The WHL Alumni Achievement Award recipients will be honoured at the 2011 WHL Awards Luncheon being held in Calgary, Alberta on Wednesday, May 4th, 2011.

Source:

Alberta Sports Info