Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) student-athlete Stein Dostal has been named as the recipient of the Nick Crosby Top Scholastic Athlete Award for the 2023/24 season.
“Penticton Secondary has been blessed with having Stein as a student, athlete, and leader in our school. In over 20 years of working with OHA I have not worked with a more well-rounded student. Stein is respected by students and staff in how he works with his others and strives to do his very best,” said Dave Nackoney, OHA’s Academic Councillor & Pen-High’s Vice Principal. “Stein also volunteers within the school for multiple events. He is part of the fabric of our school. I could not say it better when I have heard three different students say, ‘they want to be like Stein’. Just awesome news.”
The Juneau, Alaska forward has spent the past five seasons in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). He joined OHA in 2019/20 with their U15 team, before playing for their U15 Prep, U16 Prep, and U18 Prep teams.
“OHA has had the pleasure of having Stein in our academy for the last five years. Stein has played for me on the U18 Prep team the last two seasons. Every once in a while, as a coach, you get an amazing individual, who happens to play hockey, be a member on your team. Stein was an assistant captain as a 16-year-old & this season he was our team’s captain,” added OHA U18 Prep Head Coach Robert Dirk. “Stein leads by example; he absolutely NEVER gets out worked on or off the ice by any other player or teammate; he always puts the teams needs before his own; he cares about his teammates & their successes as much if not more than his own. It has been a complete pleasure & honour for me to coach & mentor this outstanding young man for the past two years and OHA is a better place because of his attendance & the legacy he leaves behind.”
The Nick Crosby Top Scholastic Athlete Award is awarded in Nick Crosby’s memory by the CSSHL to the U18 Prep player who is deemed the Top Academic student-athlete by a three-person independent committee.
“I am extremely grateful and honoured to have been selected for the Nick Crosby Top Scholastic Athlete Award. I will do my best to live up to his legacy and reputation as a player, scholar and as a person,” said Dostal.
The award was re-named in Crosby’s honour in July 2021, ten years after he passed away in a motor vehicle accident on July 5, 2011. Delta Hockey Academy’s Logan Joslin was the first ever recipient of the award during the 2021/22 season.
Originally from Ketchum, Idaho, Nick Crosby spent the inaugural 2009/10 season in the CSSHL as the captain of Banff Hockey Academy. He recorded 4 points in the 11 CSSHL games that were part of his 70 plus game grade 12 season.
That season Crosby was the very first winner of the CSSHL’s Student Athlete of the Year award while receiving the Banff Hockey Academy Most Valuable Player and Student Athlete of the Year awards.
Years later, Crosby still exemplifies what the CSSHL envisions student-athletes to strive for today. As an academic based hockey league, it is the CSSHL’s goal to have all of our student-athletes reach their academic potential and character growth as Crosby did.
“Wendy and I are truly grateful that Nick’s memory is being recognized in this way and we wish to thank the CSSHL for renaming this award in his honour. The tremendous evolution of Nick’s confidence and abilities both in the classroom and on the ice while participating in the CSSHL is a testament to the league’s ambitions for its players and the discipline required of its athletes to perform at a high level in all aspects of life,” said Nick’s father, Bob Crosby.
On top of his hockey related honours in 2009/10, Crosby was admitted into the Banff Community High School Lifetime Honors Society and was awarded the Banff Academy Prize for Physical Education.
Following his death Banff Hockey Academy renamed their Student Athlete of the Year Award to the Nick Crosby Student Athlete of the Year Award in 2012 and The Sun Valley Community School (Sun Valley, Idaho) awards the Nick Crosby Athlete of the Year award each year.
After his successful season with Banff Hockey Academy Crosby joined the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). Crosby has had his number retired by the Bandits, who have since created a Nick Crosby Memorial Award, which is presented to a Bandits player exemplifying Nick’s assets of determination, teamwork, loyalty and passion.
