![]() Tweet from For the second consecutive season, Darnell Nurse has been selected as a finalist for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which recognizes a player who exemplifies leadership on & off the ice & has made charitable contributions in their community □ they see someone that looks like them and it allows them to be kids and dream those impossible dreams that if you just stick to it, it doesn't matter your personal circumstances. Having someone like Darnell be there for our kids as a player of his caliber. "So having that support, it can't be measured. "The Oilers are an institution that everybody knows, whether you've been here for a day or your entire life," he said. ![]() Sonny Sekhon, an organizer with Free Play, spoke to the importance of Darnell using his platform and contributions to raise the belief of the kids for what's possible in life despite their own adversities. I think it's something that you do to try and make an impact in other people's lives, not so much for the awards or whatnot that you can achieve."įree Play for Kids helps break down the barriers of accessibility to sports for marginalized groups like refugees, new Canadian residents and Indigenous youth by combining sport, play and care into an after-school program at Edmonton's most socially-vulnerable schools. "When you give back to the community, I don't think you don't want to talk about it much or put it out there. "I think growing up, I've had some great examples from my parents and people in my communities that I grew up in that gave a lot back," Nurse said. ![]() product, his selection as a finalist for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for the second straight year alongside Calgary Flames centre Mikael Backlund and New York Islanders winger Anders Lee is just a by-product of doing the right thing and keeping true to his commitment to stand up for those who need him. Edmonton has been a place that I've called home for eight years now, and to find an organization that brings sport and play and community to people that really deserve it and need it, I can't be happier to be a part of it."įor the Hamilton, Ont. "It's an organization I think that does so much for the community, not only for the people within the community but newcomers as well. "It's a partnership that's just over a year old," he said. Nurse's connection with Free Play For Kids is only two years in the making, but the defenceman's unwavering commitment to the organization's mission of breaking down the "pay to play" model of sports and the high costs of childcare has already led to thousands of Edmonton's marginalized children getting involved in sports free of charge in a safe, accessible, and inclusive environment. Off the ice, Nurse has become a champion for diversity and inclusion in his community as an ambassador for organizations like Free Play for Kids and Right To Play - two initiatives focused on empowering marginalized youth through the power of sport. The 28-year-old has been a full-time resident of Edmonton for eight years, where he's grown into a top-tier NHL defenceman a vital piece of the Oilers leadership group. "Like standing up for my teammates on the ice, I am here for the kids who need me - that's what is important to me and that will never change." ![]() ![]() "As a professional athlete, a Canadian, a father and the son of an immigrant, I truly believe that it is up to me to use my position and platform to help others like me," Nurse said on his selection as a finalist for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for the second year in a row. EDMONTON, AB - Having the platform to empower marginalized communities through sport comes with it the responsibility of using it, leaving behind a legacy that will last long after your hockey career is over.ĭarnell Nurse has a keen and personal understanding of this concept. ![]()
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