This article is part of a series of stories highlighting the recipients of Brock’s Alumni Brilliance Award, which was launched in celebration of the University’s 60th anniversary. To read other stories in the series, visit The Brock News.

Brock University graduates have a track record for making a major impact in the world of professional sports.

Their work to shape the field has been recognized across the country and around the world — and is also being lauded by their alma mater.

Several alumni working in the sport world were selected this year to be honoured with Brock’s Alumni Brilliance Award. Launched in honour of the University’s diamond anniversary, the award recognizes grads who have made significant contributions to their fields and communities over the past 60 years.

For Sport Management grad Kyle Dubas (BSM ’06, LLD ’23), the journey to the top has been as much about drawing inspiration from adversity as it is about celebrating his professional wins in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Dubas started his career by betting on himself, taking a role as a scout for an Ontario Hockey League team that seemed like a risk at the time.

He went on to spend nine years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he became the second-youngest General Manager in NHL history. In 2023, he received an honorary doctorate from Brock shortly after joining the Pittsburgh Penguins as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.

Fellow NHL veteran Krystle Krasnaj (BSM ’06) has been breaking barriers as a woman working in pro sports for nearly two decades.

In that time, the Sport Management graduate worked her way up in the NHL from Public Relations Intern to Senior Director of Partnership Marketing, where she managed a $20-million portfolio and led strategic sponsorship efforts that contributed to the league’s growth.

Krasnaj joined the Vegas Golden Knights as Vice-President, Global Partnership Activations in 2024, expanding her leadership role in professional sports.

On the ice, Dennis Hull (BA ’81) is best known for his 14 seasons playing with the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings. He scored more than 300 regular-season goals and played a pivotal role in Canada’s 1972 Summit Series victory.

Hull came to Brock as a mature student to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History after retiring from the NHL. As an engaged alumnus, he shares lessons from his inspiring career with students and fellow graduates alike.

Andrew Tinnish’s (BRLS ’99, BSM ’01) experience playing on Brock’s inaugural baseball team helped turn his passion for the game into a successful scouting career.

During his time donning a Brock Badgers uniform, he led the team to back-to-back national championships in 1998 and 1999 and was named the Badgers’ most valuable player three times. Tinnish was inducted into the Brock Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

That same year, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays as a Brock Sport Management intern and, like Krasnaj, grew into increasingly impactful leadership roles. Now Vice-President of International Scouting for the Blue Jays, he oversees international scouting and plays a key role in building the team’s future.

Chris Shewfelt (BSM ’02) followed a similar path, securing one of Brock’s first internships with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE).

Currently serving as Vice-President of Business Operations for Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts, Shewfelt, who has worked with MLSE for more than 20 years, credits that Sport Management internship for his success.

He continues to give back to the University community through Sport Management Alumni Speaker panels and has also helped to shape the next generation of sport industry leaders as a sessional instructor at Brock. He was honoured by the University with the Applied Health Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award in 2024.

Jason Ribeiro (MEd ’15) helped bring the Calgary Surge, a Canadian Elite Basketball League team, to the city in 2023.

The graduate of Brock’s Master of Education program is a passionate advocate for local sports, volunteering extensively with groups focused on community sports and recreation. He has also helped to raise more than $300,000 for charitable causes through Surge ASSIST, a program designed to provide vulnerable children and families with access to sports, arts and cultural activities.

For his efforts, Ribeiro was awarded Brock’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2023. He also recently received a King Charles III Coronation Medal for his achievements and contributions to his community and Canada.

For more information on Brock’s Alumni Brilliance Award winners, visit the Alumni Relations website.