Kimberley Dynamiters alum Braiden Koran (2017-19) continues to shine off the ice.
He’s now a two-time USPORTS All-Academic Canadian, OUA Academic Achievement Award and Ontario Tech Varsity Athletics Academic Award winner, while playing for the Ridgebacks.
Koran also received the prestigious Bob and Sallie Baun Varsity Scholarship, which goes to eight varsity athletes with the highest grade point average, is on the President’s List for maintaining a GPA above 3.8 for two consecutive semesters with an 80 per cent course load or more and the Social Science and Humanities Faculty Academic Athletic for the highest GPA out of any athlete in Social Sciences.
KIJHL communications director Emanuel Sequeira spoke with him to talk about his achievements in a Q&A story. The story has been edited for clarity and length. Â
KIJHL: What does it mean to you to receive those awards?
BK: It’s really just a reflection of my hard work. I wasn’t necessarily the smartest guy in high school, but once I got to university, I realized that if I put my head down and worked hard, I could achieve great results. I’ve been able to learn, grow, and expand my knowledge, and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far.
KIJHL: What are you studying at Ontario Tech University and how do you want to use your education towards a career?
BK: ​​I’m studying criminology and justice. If things keep going well and I continue enjoying school, I’d like to go to law school to become a lawyer. That said, if I decide to pursue professional hockey after university, I’d likely fall back into policing later and work my way up to detective.
Koran, who is on track to graduate next year, still has two years of eligibility remaining. He has been in touch with North American pro teams, but also hopes to explore playing hockey in Europe.
KIJHL: Are there things from your time playing for Kimberley that helps you now and contributed to you earning these awards?
BK: That’s where I learned how to balance school and hockey because I was still in high school when I played in Kimberly. It was hard to learn that balance, so it’s helping me in university as I only did two university courses during my 18- and 19-year-old season in Humboldt. I didn’t take any during my 20-year-old season. It was a big adjustment to get back into school.
KIJHL: What was it like to balance school and hockey in your first year at Ontario Tech?
BK: I really surprised myself. I knew I was going to have to really up my focus in both aspects because there’s not many guys who make the jump from the SJHL to USPORTS. I knew that was going to be big jump hockey wise for me, and then getting back into school was going to be quite difficult.
I surprised myself on my first exams doing really well and I just took off from there. I have come to adapt and learn how to do it successfully. We have a really cool program called the Student-Athlete Mentor Program where they pair you up with an older player on the team. I was connected with a fourth-year guy who’d already been through my program and helped me find my way. I’ve done that for the past two years now, helping the younger guys find their way.
KIJHL: Coming into the season, did you have goals you wanted to achieve?
BK: I wanted to make sure I maintain my schooling because it’s student-athlete first, but I’m a hockey player at heart. I wanted to become an impact player. I’ve always been a guy that coaches have been able to trust and play on the penalty-kill and late in games in the defensive zone. I wanted to be able to contribute offensively this year and so far I’ve been doing pretty good at that and I’m pretty happy with my year so far.Â
KIJHL: What do you like about the way you are playing this season?
BK: I’m getting a little more opportunity now that I’m older and I worked really hard this summer. It was my first summer staying here year-round in Oshawa and I worked with our athletic coaches. Then I came home for a month and reset right before the year. It was really good. I focused a lot physically and mentally this offseason and it’s translating into this year. I’m having a pretty good year compared to my first two years.
KIJHL: What else from your time in the KIJHL are things that still help you now?Â
BK: Honestly one of the biggest things is forming relationships and developing them. Dynamiters head coach Derek Stuart was great for me in my year that I was there and he helped develop me as a player and a person. The success we had as a team taught me what it takes to win. We’re translating that to our team this year in Ontario Tech. We’re third place in the division and we were nationally ranked for the first time in program history a couple weeks ago.
They are currently ranked 14th among 35 teams with an 11-6 record.
