Collège Boréal president Daniel Giroux is a hockey-man; quite proudly so, as a matter of fact.

Both of his sons enjoyed very successful careers in the Ontario Hockey League, with Damien still playing pro in Kansas City while Zacharie pursues his post-secondary studies at Ottawa University, all while suiting up with the varsity Gee Gees.

Giroux is also an esteemed educator, as his post would suggest.

He is also more than comfortable defending the notion that school and sport can co-exist.

"Hockey can be part of the education process," said Giroux as Collège Boréal and the Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon announced an agreement that sees the post-secondary institution providing key support in several areas for a handful of CSC Nouvelon schools that currently offer the Hockey Canada Skills Academy as part of their curriculum.

"There are a lot of life skills that can be learned through hockey - and other sports," continued Giroux. "Both are directly related."

Part of the appeal, from his standpoint, is the fact that part of the Boréal offerings at this time include programs such as Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant, as well as Massage Therapy and Fitness and Health Promotion.

All of the above open the door to opportunities where a love of sport can be part of the appeal in pursuing a given career choice.

"It's about giving the students a chance to learn that there are programs directly related to hockey," said Giroux, also highlighting the focus that is placed on allowing francophone students to continue their studies in their primary language.

"If we can continue to encourage students to stay in the north and continue "en francais", then it's a win-win for both the school board and the college."

A talented young forward with the Sudbury U18 AA Lady Wolves, Gabby Cholette has taken full advantage of the Hockey Program that exists at Collège Notre-Dame, the local high-school joined by Ecole secondaire catholique l'Horizon, Ecole catholique Félix-Ricard, Ecole St-Augustin (Garson), Ecole St-Denis and Ecole élémentaire Saiunt-Joseph in Wawa in jumping aboard this relatively new initiative.

"It helps me a lot because we are out with AAA boys who play at a higher level, which helps me improve my speed and power," said Cholete.

And for as much as the dream of playing professional hockey is now availed more than ever for young women such as Cholette, the truth is that the majority who might want to combine work and hockey would be best advised to seek professions that interact with the hugely popular Canadian winter sport.

"This gives us more of a perspective about the types of jobs and opportunities that might exist for the future," she said. "We got taught a lot about those jobs."