Many winners in Paul Nelson Memorial Game

Nipissing’s students will reap the ultimate rewards from the third annual Paul Nelson Memorial Game, in the form of dollars raised for the Paul Nelson Memorial Scholarship, however, it was the cagey, veteran-laden faculty/staff team that was victorious on the ice.

In total, the game helped raise $445 and more than 160lbs of food for the Nipissing Student Food Bank.  Significantly aiding that total was the students in Dr. Mark Bruner’s third-year coaching class, who ran a Jersey-for-food day last week, dressing in their favourite team jersey and collecting food donations.

The faculty/staff team eked out a narrow, 4-3 victory in the closely contested match to wrestle the trophy away from the Bachelor of Physical and Health Education (BPHE) student team.  This marked the first time the faculty/staff team won the trophy in the three-year history of the event.

“The Paul Nelson Memorial Game is a definite highlight for the university and the upper-year students in the BPHE program,” said Dr. Mark Bruner, associate professor in the BPHE program and lead organizer of the game.  “A very special thanks to Paul’s family for attending the game, and to Matthew McRae, a former student and close friend of Paul’s, who travelled by bus from St. Catharines to be there.”

McRae spoke to both teams following the game, thanking them for participating and reminding everyone to cherish their friendships. 

“I really miss Paul and know how much he would appreciate this game and everyone supporting the food bank and the scholarship,” said McRae.  “He always put the needs of others before his own.  It was a long way for me to travel, but I know Paul would have done the same for me.”