TORONTO, ON – The Greater Toronto Hockey League proudly announced Kayo Lake as the 2025 recipient of the George F. Dufton Under-18 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award during the annual GTHL Awards Gala presented by Nothers The Award Store, held June 12 at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The George F. Dufton U18 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award is presented annually to a U18 ‘AAA’ player who demonstrates exceptional achievement in both academics and hockey. The award includes a $2,000 one-time post-secondary scholarship generously provided by the Don Mills Flyers Hockey Club.
This year’s recipient, Kayo Lake, has spent the final two seasons of his minor hockey career competing with the Thunder Bay Kings in the GTHL. A well-rounded student-athlete, Lake has maintained honour roll status throughout all four years of high school, showing the same level of discipline and commitment in the classroom that he brings to the ice.
In addition to hockey, Lake has competed in multiple sports at a high level, including badminton, volleyball, and soccer, further demonstrating his athletic versatility and strong work ethic.
Inspired by his mom to hold the long-term goal of becoming a doctor, Lake will be continuing his education by studying Health, Biomedical, and Integrated Sciences after high school.
The scholarship is named in honour of George F. Dufton, founder of the Don Mills Flyers in 1968. An outstanding student and athlete himself, Dufton earned a university scholarship in his youth but was unable to attend due to financial hardship. Instead, he worked in a tannery during the Great Depression. This scholarship was established in 1993, four years after his passing, to ensure that deserving students like Lake can pursue the academic opportunities that Dufton never had.
Presenting the award was GTHL Board of Director Brian Webster. Each award winner at the Gala also received a $250 gift card courtesy of Esso to help fuel their journey beyond minor hockey.
Congratulations to Kayo Lake, the 2025 George F. Dufton U18 ‘AAA’ Scholarship Award recipient.
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