Ted Nolan is no stranger to the thrill of the game, from life-changing victories to heart-wrenching defeats.
It has taught the celebrated former National Hockey League (NHL) player and Buffalo Sabres head coach to tackle life challenges just as he would on the ice — head on.
From advocating for Indigenous rights and facing off against systemic racism to waging a personal war with cancer, Nolan’s “no-quit” attitude has served him well through the years and will influence the advice he shares next month with Brock University’s graduating class.
The proud member of northern Ontario’s Garden River First Nation will deliver the Convocation address on Tuesday, June 10, at Brock’s 2:30 p.m. ceremony, where he will also be presented with an honorary doctorate from the University recognizing his accomplishments and contributions.
Throughout his career, Nolan has had an impact at each level of professional hockey, leading teams to championships and even coaching the Latvian national team in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
In the 1980s, he played three seasons in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins before beginning his coaching career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds. His OHL success led to coaching opportunities with the Sabres and the New York Islanders, with Nolan becoming only the second First Nations head coach in the NHL.
During his time coaching the Sabres, Nolan was honoured with the Jack Adams Award (1996-97), naming him the NHL’s Coach of the Year.
Beyond hockey, Nolan is co-founder and President of 3Nolans, an organization providing hockey skills development training for Indigenous youth in First Nation communities across Canada. He also founded the Ted Nolan Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars for scholarships benefiting Indigenous women across Canada.
An accomplished author, Nolan now dedicates his time to sharing his story with audiences nationwide through speaking engagements and his book, Life in Two Worlds: A Coach’s Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back.
Nolan has been open about the racism he faced growing up and throughout his career and has worked to drive ongoing efforts towards truth and reconciliation in Canada.
In 2022, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, and has detailed how his life in sports has helped him on his road to remission.
Brock’s 117th Convocation will include seven ceremonies held from Tuesday, June 10 to Friday, June 13 in the Ian D. Beddis Gymnasium of Brock’s Walker Sports Complex. Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day, except for Friday, June 13, when only a morning ceremony is scheduled.
All ceremonies will be livestreamed online at brocku.ca/livestream
For more information and a full schedule of Brock’s Spring Convocation, visit brocku.ca/convocation