Alberta's Jeff Zorn named March Canada West Hockey

The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and the Western Hockey League are pleased to announce that defenceman JEFF ZORN of the University of Alberta Golden Bears has been named the Canada West Hockey - WHL Graduate of the Month for March, 2003.

ZORN, a 23-year-old Science student from Tisdale, Saskatchewan, is the fifth and final winner of the award in 2002-03, joining University of Saskatchewan Huskies Dan Hulak (October), David Cameron of the University of Manitoba Bisons (November), University of Alberta Golden Bears forward Steve Shrum (January) and forward Dean Beuker of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (February).

Celebrating its 14th season, the Canada West Hockey - WHL Graduate of the Month Award is presented monthly to a graduate of the Western Hockey League who is now playing on one of the seven teams in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. Each monthly winner between October and March receives a cheque for $500.00 from the WHL to go towards the cost of his education.

Canadian intercollegiate hockey is a quality option for players who wish to combine both hockey and education. Over 50 WHL grads were members of Canada West Hockey's eight teams in 2001-02. CIS hockey in general, and Canada West Hockey in particular, has allowed these players to further their hockey careers as well as their education at some of Canada's finest academic institutions. During the 2001-02 season a total of 77 former Canada West Hockey players were playing professional hockey in North America and Europe, including former University of Alberta Golden Bears defenceman Cory Cross with the New York Rangers and Nashville Predators forward Stu Grimson, who played collegiate hockey with the University of Manitoba Bisons.

In his third season with Alberta, ZORN scored points in each of the seven games the Golden Bears played during the month of March. The 5'11", 200 pound defenceman scored four goals and four assists to help the Golden Bears win their 42nd Canada West Hockey conference championship and advance to the CIS University Cup tournament for a record 28th time, where they went 2-1-0 and won the bronze medal. With the eight points in March, ZORN finished the 2002-03 season with 29 points in 41 games, scoring six goals and 23 assists.

ZORN began March scoring an assist in Alberta's 5-2 win over the University of Calgary Dinos on March 1st to win the Canada West Hockey Mountain Division Final in two straight games. Following the victory over Calgary, ZORN and the Golden Bears advanced to the conference final against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Game 1 of the series saw the Golden Bears defenceman score a powerplay goal in a 4-2 loss on March 7th. Facing elimination in the post-season for the first time since the 1999-00 season, the Golden Bears rallied to win the next two games with 4-2 and 5-2 victories to win the conference championship for the third consecutive season. ZORN contributed an assist in Game 2 and a second goal in the third and deciding game on March 9th. With the three points in the championship final, ZORN ended the post-season with 3-3-6, finishing first in scoring among Canada West Hockey defencemen and sixth in the conference scoring race.

Alberta then traveled east to Fredericton, New Brunswick for the 2003 CIS University Cup national championship tournament. ZORN scored one of the Golden Bears two goals and was named the player-of-the-game in Alberta's 3-2 double overtime loss to the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in the opening game of the tournament on March 20th. He then scored two powerplay assists in a 4-0 win over the York Yeomen on March 21st and scored his second goal of the tournament in the Golden Bears 8-2 victory over the host University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in the bronze medal game on March 22nd.

With four points, ZORN finished second in scoring on the Golden Bears and fourth in the tournament as he led all defencemen with 2-2-4 and was named to the CIS University Cup all-tournament team.

The all-tournament selection was not the only honor won by ZORN as he was also named to the CIS All-Canadian Team for the second consecutive season and was a member of the Canada West Hockey first all-star team for the third consecutive season.

ZORN played five seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Saskatoon Blades, Prince George Cougars, Edmonton Ice and Moose Jaw Warriors from 1995-96 to 1999-00.