FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10th, 2015
RYAN BLANKEMEIER EARNS USHL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
Chicago Steel forward excelled on the ice and in the classroom
Four other USHL players earn All-Academic honors
Chicago, IL – The United States Hockey League today announced that Ryan Blankemeier of the
Chicago Steel has been named the 2014-15 recipient of the USHL Scholar-Athlete Award.
It was the first USHL season for Blankemeier after the Steel selected him in the first round (17th
overall) in Phase Two of the 2014 USHL Draft. The Oak Park, Illinois native is a product of the
Chicago Young Americans youth program where he spent the three previous seasons.
Blankemeier recently graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF), finishing his
four years with a cumulative weighted grade-point-average of 4.84 on a 4.00 scale and being named
one of the school’s valedictorians in a graduating class of nearly 1,000 students. In addition to
earning recognition as an Illinois State Scholar, he was named a Finalist for the National Merit
Scholarship which is annually awarded to less than one-percent of all high school students in the
United States.
His coursework included multiple Advanced Placement classes throughout his high school career,
including Chemistry and Government during his senior year. Blankemeier completed four years of
Chinese classes in just three years and spent his senior year as a teacher assistant, helping to teach
second-year Chinese classes. Additionally, he tutored underclassmen at Oak Park and River Forest
High School in both Chemistry and Math.
Blankemeier took coursework from his junior year and applied it to a senior year independent study
program in which he studied the racial achievement gap at OPRF. He spent time observing and
interviewing people both in and outside of the school and then presented his findings at the University
of Illinois’ Ethnography of the University Initiative Conference.
He also volunteered his time between schoolwork and hockey to participate in the Best Buddies Club,
a program which unites students with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Volunteers build friendships and offer members of the program opportunities for leadership
development and gain necessary tools to become more independent and included in their community.
The forward produced 31 points (16g, 15a) while appearing in all but one of the 60 regular season
games this season for the Chicago Steel. He helped lead the team to a 30-27-3 record, the most
victories for the Steel since the 2008-09 season. Blankemeier scored his first USHL goal on October
31st vs. Cedar Rapids and then went on to score five more goals over the next seven games. He
recorded his first USHL hat trick on December 5th vs. Des Moines, scoring the three goals in three
different ways – power play, shorthanded, and even strength.
Blankemeier is set to return to the Chicago Steel for the 2015-16 season. The 18-year-old is
committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Dartmouth College following his USHL career. The Ivy
League school is located in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Established in 2007, the USHL Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes players for both their success in the
classroom and on the ice. Candidates are nominated by their coaches, teachers, and academic
counselors based on their grade-point-average, coursework, and overall school participation.
Blankemeier is the first-ever recipient of the award from the Chicago Steel.
“Ryan personifies the ultimate USHL student-athlete, as focused and accomplished on the ice as he
is in the classroom,” said Bob Fallen, USHL President and Commissioner. “Our league prides itself
on being a part of the junior to college hockey developmental path. Ryan and the other honorees are
all special individuals who struck a balance between a demanding hockey schedule and the rigors of
a challenging academic schedule. Their skill sets will serve them well in their future hockey and life
endeavors and we wish them the best.”
In addition to earning the USHL Scholar-Athlete Award, Blankemeier joins four other players who
earned USHL All-Academic honors;
Ryan Blankemeier (F), Chicago Steel
Trey Dodd (F), Dubuque Fighting Saints
Ryan Walker (F), Sioux City Musketeers
Luke Opilka (G), Team USA
Kyle Connor (F), Youngstown Phantoms
2014-15 USHL All-Academic Honorees
Trey Dodd
The Brown University commit maintained straight A’s despite shifting schools during the year after
being acquired by the Saints from the Austin Bruins in the NAHL. His coursework at Dubuque Senior
High School included Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry, Economics, and Psychology. Dodd recorded 14
points (6g, 8a) a plus-six rating over 33 games for the Saints. Three of his six goals were gamewinners.
Ryan Walker
The Union College commit earned 4.20 weighted GPA on a 4.00 scale this year while taking honors
courses at Sioux City East High School. He was recognized as a National Honor Society student.
Walker appeared in all 60 regular season games for the Musketeers and put up 34 points (10g, 24a).
Additionally, he competed for the team at the Junior Club World Cup in Russia last August.
Luke Opilka
The University of Wisconsin commit compiled a 3.82 GPA over the last two years at Pioneer High
School in Ann Arbor, Michigan with coursework that included Advanced Placement Biology, World
Economics, and Literature during his senior year. He posted an 11-1-2 record with a 2.48 GAA and
.901 SV% during USHL action while also competing for Team USA on the international stage and
against NCAA competition.
Kyle Connor
The University of Michigan commit earned nearly all A’s while attending Austintown Fitch High School
with coursework this year that included American Government, Economics, Consumer Math, and
College Prep Writing. He maintained high grades while also excelling on the ice as he was named
the USHL Player of the Year and dealt with the attention of being a top prospect for the upcoming
2015 NHL Draft.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrated its 13th season as the nation's only Tier I junior
hockey league in 2014-15. A record 35 players were chosen in the 2014 NHL Draft and more than 350
players on team rosters this past season are committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing
the USHL as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent.
USHL.com