When Ted Nolan wanted to learn how to play hockey as a young child, he made his own ice rink — one pail of water at a time.

It was a trying task, taking what seemed like 1,000 trips across the backyard, with his eight-year-old gait causing spills along the way.

Each step counted. Each drop mattered. And driven by determination, Nolan’s fresh ice came to be.

The rink was born from perseverance. It is where Nolan, who would go on to play for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins and coach the Buffalo Sabres, would learn to play the sport that would change his life.

Ted Nolan (centre) receives his honorary doctorate from Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Dean Peter Tiidus (left) and Chancellor Hilary Pearson (right).

The celebrated former National Hockey League (NHL) player and coach encouraged Brock’s graduating class to embrace that same “no-quit” attitude while delivering the Convocation address on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 10. As part of Brock’s 117th Convocation, Nolan was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University in recognition of his work inspiring youth in sport and giving back to Indigenous communities across Canada.

Born and raised on Garden River First Nation to a family of 12, Nolan spoke candidly about his family’s struggles.

Living in a house with no electricity or indoor plumbing, he learned to make the most of what he had.

This included his first pair of skates — three sizes too big — which were the perfect fit when rubber boots were added as their liner.

Each challenge was an opportunity to keep his father’s sage advice close to heart — and he hoped Brock’s graduates would do the same: “You don’t have to have the best to be the best. The only thing you have to do is give your best.”

Nolan would use that drive and his refusal to quit to propel his success in the world of hockey.

When he faced systemic racism in the sport he loved so dearly, he pushed forward, refusing to let the hurtful actions of others change his course.

Nolan would go on to lead teams to championships, coach the Latvian national team at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, and earn the Jack Adams Award (1996-97), which named him the league’s Coach of the Year during his time with the Sabres.

But those accomplishments did not come without their challenges.

“Life throws you curveballs,” Nolan said while reflecting on the dark days that followed both the career-ending injury that took him off the ice at 26 and his departure as an NHL coach many years later.

But hard work — and the support of family — helped him to find a new path.

He has since founded the Ted Nolan Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars for scholarships benefiting Indigenous women across Canada. Alongside his two sons, he is also co-founder and President of 3Nolans, an organization providing hockey skills development training for Indigenous youth in First Nation communities across Canada.

While you may not know how life is going to work out, you can have faith that giving your all will take you wherever you strive to go, Nolan said to Brock’s graduates.

From June 10 to 13, about 3,800 graduands from seven Faculties will receive their degrees as part of Brock’s 117th Convocation. All ceremonies take place in the Ian Beddis Gymnasium of Brock’s Walker Sports Complex and will be livestreamed online at brocku.ca/livestream and a full collection of Convocation photos by ceremony will be available on Brock University’s official Facebook page.

For more information and the full schedule of Brock’s Spring Convocation, visit brocku.ca/convocation

A gallery of images and videos of the morning and afternoon Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Convocation ceremonies are available below.