from Frank Seravalli of the PHWA,

The Professional Hockey Writers Association is proud to announce Paula Duhatschek as inaugural recipient of the Jim Kelley Memorial Scholarship.

Duhatschek is the daughter of PHWA member and Globe and Mail columnist Eric Duhatschek. This particular award means a great deal to the Duhatschek family since Kelley was chosen to introduce Eric Duhatschek as the 2001 winner of the Elmer Ferguson Award at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Paula Duhatschek met Kelley that day when she attended the luncheon in Toronto as an 8-year-old - but she was awarded this scholarship on blind merit. Duhatschek’s scholarship essay was voted the winner by a panel of six PHWA members; all names and identifiable references were redacted from submissions.

The field was extremely competitive: nine of the 13 entries received at least one vote. Duhatschek garnered the most first place votes.

“I am so excited, it is such an honor,” Duhatschek said. “It’s been an awesome shot of confidence to have won this scholarship, especially since the selection committee are all sportswriters themselves.”

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