TORONTO, July 12, 2011 /CNW/ - There's nothing unusual about elite hockey players attending university on scholarships - unless the university happens to be in Jerusalem. The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University (CFHU) has established a scholarship program to allow promising Israeli hockey players to study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Hockey can't compare in popularity with basketball and soccer in Israel, but the country features an enthusiastic if small hockey community.  The hub of Israeli hockey is Metulla, the northernmost city in Israel.  The Canada Centre sports complex includes the country's only Olympic-size ice rink, along with the Canada-Israel Hockey School.

The school was spearheaded by Canadian businessman Sidney Greenberg of Astral Media, and has sponsors including the National Hockey League and Air Canada.  Now, the CFHU is joining these supporters, by offering a high school athlete from the school a scholarship for an academic year at the Hebrew University.

"Hockey has grown in popularity in Israel, and with the strong Canadian connection supporting the sport, it's fitting that we help young Israeli hockey players to further their studies at home," says Rami Kleinmann, National Director, CFHU.  "Like the NHL and Air Canada, we're proud to promote hockey in Israel, in this case by offering a scholarship program to the teenagers who play it."

While Canadians see playing hockey as an essential part of the national culture, the sport's benefits can apply equally to building the character of youth in Israel, notes Kleinmann.

"Hockey gives young people discipline and the ability to make decisions quickly, something that will serve them well in school and in life," he says.  "We're proud to reward Israeli teens who've embraced and excelled in hockey, and who we hope will excel off the ice in pursuing their academic goals."

Israel has about 500 registered hockey players, and there is an eight-team Israeli Hockey League along with an Israel Recreational Hockey Association. This year marks 20 years since Israel joined the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1991.

About the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University:

Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University (CFHU) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the awareness, leadership, and financial support of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  CFHU also facilitates medical research collaborations through the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC).  IMRIC, at the Hebrew University brings together the world's greatest scientists from across disciplines and across countries to create innovative approaches to meet the challenges of medicine in the 21st century.  Founded in 1944, CFHU has chapters in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, and has been an integral force in Hebrew University's rise to international prominence.  For information, see www.cfhu.org and www.imric.org

About the Hebrew University of Jerusalem:

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is a multidisciplinary institution of higher learning and research where intellectual pioneering, cutting-edge scientific discovery, and a passion for learning flourish. Ranked among the world's leading universities, the Hebrew University is a teaching and research center of international renown, with ties extending to and from the worldwide scientific and academic community.  Faculty and alumni of The Hebrew University have won seven Nobel Prizes in the last seven years. At the Hebrew University, Israelis of all backgrounds receive a university education where excellence is emphasized, and where special programs and conferences attract students and academics from around the world.  The Hebrew University opened in 1925, 23 years before the State of Israel was established. The first Board of Governors included Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Martin Buber and Chaim Weizmann.

http://www.cfhu.org/node/1146