Celebrating Our Student-Athletes

The sharp scrape of steel blades on fresh ice. The rush of freezing air against your face as you race 30 kilometres per hour down a steep slope. The quiet, pre-dawn focus of studying for a test before the city even wakes up. These moments happen beyond our school hallways, yet they shape the daily lives of many St. George’s student-athletes.

This week, we are launching a two-part series to highlight high-level athletes in our community. We are celebrating both those who lead by sharing their expertise with others and those who show us what is possible through individual discipline.

Mentorship on the Ice: Hugo G. (Grade 11)

For Hugo G., leadership meant stepping into a role as a mentor for younger students on the ice this winter. While Hugo competes at a high level outside of school for the WLLB double-A team, he found a way to bring his expertise back to our community. From January until the recent closing of the rink, he led an Intermediate Hockey Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) for students in Grades 5 and 6 at the Elementary School campus.

Hugo wanted to use the skills he first learned as a three-year-old to help younger students grow. Those afternoons on the ice built more than skills; they strengthened connections between younger and older students. Now, Hugo is known by students who see him not just as a coach, but as someone who took the time to help them grow.

“Seeing them do the drills properly showed how much they care. It felt good to see them improving. I can tell that the work we did together made a difference.”

— Hugo G.

Talent on the Slopes

This winter, St. George’s students were a strong presence on the downhill circuit. Noah G. (Grade 5), Emmanuelle G. (Grade 5), and Huasheng (Tim) W. (Grade 6) each earned a place at the provincial level, a reflection of years of early mornings, steady progress, and love for the sport.

For Emmanuelle, skiing has been part of life since before she was two. A multi-sport athlete, she brings the same intensity from hockey to the slalom course. Her control, focus, and confidence on the gates earned her a place among the province’s top young skiers.

Huasheng (Tim) W. has developed a disciplined training routine, spending over 13 hours a week on the slopes. As his mother shared, “He has begun to connect outcomes with effort and mindset,” learning how persistence shapes progress.

Noah G. continues a proud family tradition of excellence at Mont Sutton. Competing alongside his older brother, Hugo (Grade 9), Noah excels in the Giant Slalom, using his years of experience to tackle the mountain’s most demanding courses.

“These competitions are a wonderful reward for the hundreds of hours they spend training and the incredible commitment they show to their sport.”

— Owen Gibbons, Parent

30 Hours on the Ice: Riccardo D. (Grade 8)

For Ricardo D., the school day doesn’t end at 3:15 p.m. As a student in the Sports-Études program at St. George’s, Ricardo benefits from a specialized schedule that facilitates his elite athletic development alongside his academic studies. Five days per week, he heads to his arena at noon to begin five hours of intensive training in Men’s Freestyle figure skating.

Ricardo started on hockey skates at age four. By age seven, a coach recognized his potential for figure skating. Though he wasn’t sure about the switch at first, he was quickly hooked by the technical precision and the grit required for independent training. This schedule requires massive discipline; despite a long commute, he wakes up at 5:40 a.m. to study before school.

His journey hasn’t always been easy. After missing most of 2025 due to a serious injury and battling pneumonia just before a major championship, he managed to finish 4th in the province at Les Jeux du Québec. Even with these achievements, Riccardo remains humble, focusing on his dream of the 2030 and 2034 Olympics.

“Skating is all about focus, hard work, and overcoming challenges to reach your dream. My dream is the Olympics.”

— Riccardo D.

Share Your Story

Whether leading a hockey CCA, racing down a ski hill, or training in the rink, these students remind us that learning by doing shapes who they become. Through their efforts, they build confidence, empathy, and a strong sense of purpose.

Do you know a St. George’s student with a story to share? We’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to our communications team.