It’s been a memorable week for well-known professional athletes Ted Nolan and Darren Zack.
The two men - cousins born and raised in Garden River First Nation - each received the Order of Sport from Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in Ottawa Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Hockey hero Nolan was honoured in the Builder category for his coaching success and advocacy for Indigenous youth.
Zack was honoured for his skill as a professional softball player who has played on many championship teams in tournaments held across the world.
“We were there for three days. It was a wonderful, wonderful time,” Nolan told SooToday.
“I was thrilled when I got the call about the Order of Sport and then they told me Darren was going to be joining me. That made it even more special.”
Nolan, 67, is best known to Saultites for coaching the Soo Greyhounds to the Memorial Cup in 1993.
Playing left-wing, Nolan left home at 16 to play junior hockey in Kenora. A year later, he came to the Sault to play for the Greyhounds from 1976 to 1978.
He played for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League from the early to mid-1980s.
A serious back injury cut his career short, but he returned to the Sault to coach the Greyhounds to their Memorial Cup win in 1993.
He later coached the NHL’s Hartford Whalers, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.
He was awarded the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year after the 1996-97 season in Buffalo. He later led the Latvian Men’s National Ice Hockey Team to the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
With sons Brandon and Jordan, Nolan has run the 3Nolans hockey school since 2013.
“I have the best job in the world right now. I get to work with my two sons,” Nolan said.
Nolan’s success in hockey and the respect he now receives didn’t come before experiencing racism - even from teammates.
“When I was 16 years old, someone recognized me and wanted me to go try out with the Soo Greyhounds and then they sent me to their farm team which was the Kenora Thistles. I was like a kid going to Disney World. I was so excited but when I got there it was the total opposite from what I envisioned. I never fought in hockey until I went there. I had a fight in my first practice and the next practice and the next practice and that was before we even played an opposing team. I didn't get off to a good start.”
Nolan, however, was determined to forge a career in hockey.
“Something I've been trying to really emphasize over the course of my life is when I was 16 my two brothers came to Kenora to bring me home because they knew how difficult a time I was having. I said ‘no, I'm going to stay.’ I was a 16-year-old kid and I wanted to prove that we can play and that we belong in this game.”
Nolan’s strength paid off.
“Thankfully I made that decision because I ended up playing pro hockey, ended up coaching, and it was all based on that one decision, by not giving up.”
Nolan’s cousin and fellow honouree Darren Zack, 65, started his softball career with the Garden River Braves at the age of 14.
After playing for teams across Canada and the U.S., Zack was called to the Canadian National Team in 1991.
Playing for Canada, he won a gold medal at the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships in 1992, followed by two silver medals in 1996 and 2004. He also won three consecutive Pan American Games gold medals with Canada in 1991 in Havana, 1995 in Argentina, and 1999 in Winnipeg. He also pitched for multiple International Softball Congress (ISC) World Championship winning teams.
Over 10 straight games, Zack kept opponents from getting a single run - resulting in a record 150 strikeouts - at the ISC World Championships in 1995.
“It was a blast (to receive the Order of Sport). I got to play ball with Ted when we were growing up. To be at the same event together was amazing," Zack said.
Zack said he enjoyed being a part of talented teams.
“The ball players I played with were just fantastic. I had a chance to see the guys show their talent for the game. It was amazing for me to get to watch the best talent around. It was pretty special for me to be a part of that.”
Zack said he considers winning the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships in 1992 in Manila as a key event in his career.
“I just got involved with Team Canada in '91, so to represent Canada in The Philippines, then and there, was pretty special for me. It was great to play in other countries. It was awesome.”
In retirement, Zack continues to be an advocate for Indigenous involvement in sports.
Joining Nolan and Zack in receiving the Order of Sport from Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame were:
- Erik Guay (alpine skiing)
- Kevin Martin (curling)
- Christine Sinclair (soccer)
- Michelle Stilwell (para-athletics)
- Martha Billes (sport administration)
“There were seven award recipients and two are from Garden River. It was an incredible honour and even more so to be standing with Darren,” Nolan said.