One Atlanta native is taking a smart pathway to elite level hockey. Wellington Dukes captain Jan Kaminsky has confirmed his commitment to join the McGill University Redmen beginning with the 2013-14 OUA season, where he will be entering the school's engineering program.
McGill University as of the 2012-2013 school year, was ranked 1st in Canada among all its major/research universities. It is ranked 18th in the world and 1st in Canada in both the 2012 QS World University Rankings, and the 2012-2013 U.S. News & World Report's Top 400 Universities, maintaining its ranking among the top 20 universities globally, and as Canada's top university, for the ninth consecutive year.
NHL Hall of Famer Ken Dryden and Coaches Mike Babcock ( Detroit) and Guy Boucher (Tampa) also attended McGill.
The Kennesaw, Georgia native arrived partway through that year, after spending the previous year and a half as a member of the OHL's Belleville Bulls where he was used primarily as a checking and penalty killing forward, he managed to score the championship-winning goal against the Oakville Blades in the deciding game to secure the Buckland Cup and continued his solid play to help the team win the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, then representing Central Canada at the 2011 RBC Cup, National Junior 'A' Championship held in Camrose, Alberta.
In his second season with the Dukes, Kaminsky adopted a more offensive role, scoring 17 goals to finish third on the team. As a youth hockey player in Atlanta Jan displayed considerable offensive prowess and was considered a gifted goal scorer.
This season, with one of the youngest rosters in the league, Jan was named Dukes' captain and has helped guide them to a playoff position for the 24th consecutive year in franchise history. Despite missing some games with an injury, he is currently third in team scoring while exceeding his point total for all of last year with 39 points in 47 games played.
Wellington Dukes General Manager and Head Coach Marty Abrams said, "From the day Jan stepped on the ice for the Dukes he was a natural leader. His dedication to both academics and hockey are second to none. A commitment to attend McGill and play for their hockey team is a natural step for this outstanding young man. He will always be remembered for his excellent contributions, both on and off the ice, to our program here in Wellington"
Jan is the son of Yan Kaminsky a prestigious hockey director and nationally recognized personal coach.
Yan Kaminsky (born July 28, 1971 in Penza, Soviet Union) and is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League and National Hockey League.
He played for HC Dynamo Moscow, Winnipeg Jets, and New York Islanders. He was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.
He currently resides in Kennesaw, Georgia where he instructs and mentors many high potential youth players. Many of his students travel from other states for his on-ice instruction.
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