The York Lions and Princeton Tigers.
Two schools, in different countries, playing in different school sport governing bodies.
What could they possibly have in common?
Aside from the obvious; both are named after cats and both are situated on the east coast, there is something rather large both have in common.
Now I’ll be honest, over the years I have been quite critical of the way student-athletes are treated by post secondary schools, particularly in the United States, but today they deserve credit.
Recently, Broncos forward Kaleb Dahlgren announced a commitment to York University, a commitment that is set to begin this fall.
Now, with Dahlgren still recovering from injuries suffered in the Broncos tragedy, the Lions made sure the scholarship would roll over, meaning it will begin when Dahlgren is healthy enough to do so.
This is extraordinary news.
But it is also not the first time.
Now, getting back to Princeton.
The town I grew up in has a junior hockey team of their own, called the Smiths Falls Bears.
A member of that squad in 2014-2015 was Smiths Falls’ own Neil Doef.
Doef, who was 17 at the time was a rising star in hockey circles, he had recently committed Princeton, and was in the conversation to be selected at the National Hockey League draft.
During that 2014-2015 season Doef was selected to represent Team Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge, which was in Kindersley that season.
During that tournament, Doef fell and hit the boards, resulting in devastating results.
As he would be later told in hospital, he was paralyzed and not able to walk again.
After intense rehab, Doef would manage to get back on his feet, but could not get back on the ice.
Knowing a potential star was lost did not seem to phase Princeton, who despite the injury upheld the scholarship.
Doef just completed his first year at the New Jersey based university.
Seeing Princeton in 2014 and York this year uphold scholarships despite injuries is encouraging.
They do not need to uphold those, but they do it anyway.
In fact the official offer did not come until after the injuries were sustained in Dahlgren’s case.
These schools pay for these players to play there, in most cases with some kind of a financial kickback expected, thanks to their escapades in their sport.
But in both of these cases, and especially in Doef’s there is no kick back.
Throughout my life I have often been told “there is more to life than sports.”
These schools are making that message loud and clear.
Regardless of how good these players are on the ice, and regardless of whether they will ever play again they still have futures to think about.
And seeing these schools honour those futures is great news.
So good on both Princeton and York, two schools you would not expect to have much in common.
