GTHL Awards season is here. To celebrate, we will be profiling each of the 12 award winners individually leading up to the ceremony on June 16.

For William Olmsted, competitive kayaking was the family sport, but it would be hockey that would capture his heart. As the nephew of Barb and Nancy Olmsted, both of whom are accomplished Olympic kayakers, it seemed that William was destined to be on the water. Little to his family’s knowledge, it would be a sport played on frozen water in which William would excel.

Starting off as a 5-year-old in the Erindale Minor Hockey Association, Will wasn’t sold on the game during his first season, and contemplated pursuing another sport.

“I agreed to play for another year. It was then that I realized that Erindale had some really great coaches and I knew, as did my parents, that it was their influence and encouragement that really brought me back that year and each year that followed,” explained Will.

The positive influence of the Erindale program led Will to continue playing for Erindale until his Midget season. He notes his 13th and final season with Erindale as his most memorable to date.

“Our coach, Cary Leon, gave us the best  year ever and helped the team form a bond that will not easily be broken or forgotten.”

Will hopes to attend Queens University in the Fall to study Engineering. His older brother Adam, who also played with Erindale, is currently pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering at Queens.

Will is set to be presented with the Frank D. Smith Midget “A” Scholarship Award. Named after the founder of the Toronto Hockey League (now the GTHL). The Award is presented to a Midget “A” player who achieves a high standard of excellence academically and in hockey.