from Alex Ballingall of the Toronto Star,

“I’ve had a lot of other players come in with some bravado,” said McQuaid, a 45-year-old teacher at McDowell Senior High School in Erie, Pa., home of the OHL’s Erie Otters.

“More often than not their academic quality is embarrassing, and I’m pretty tough on them,” McQuaid said. “Within a week’s time, I knew that was not going to be the case with Connor.
“It was almost like he was a student first.”

Almost. Because, even though he won the CHL’s Student of the Year twice in a row, we’re still talking about Connor McDavid. You know, hockey’s next Chosen One?

But his academic prowess is undeniable. He got straight As in Grade 12 this year, according to McDowell principal Tim Rankin, acing courses:

academic algebra
creative writing
social studies class on contemporary issues
English 12
personal finance
digital design

Hardly basket weaving or underwater bubble blowing.

“He’s just been awesome around here,” Rankin told the Star this week. “His focus is so much on hockey, in terms of making himself the best he can be, and then academically, he clearly wanted to be very devoted to academic integrity and quality work.”

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