Darnell Nurse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Darnell Nurse |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Nurse with the Edmonton Oilers in 2022
|
|||
| Born | February 4, 1995 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team | Edmonton Oilers | ||
| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
||
| NHL Draft | 7th overall, 2013 Edmonton Oilers |
||
| Playing career | 2014–present | ||
Darnell Nurse, born on February 4, 1995, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a defence player and is an alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Oilers picked him seventh overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft.
Contents
Early Life and Sports
Darnell Nurse was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on February 4, 1995. His parents were both great athletes when they were younger. His dad, Richard Nurse, played football as a wide receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. His mom, Cathy, played university basketball for the McMaster Marauders.
When Darnell was a kid, he played many sports, including football, basketball, lacrosse, and ice hockey. By the time he was in high school, he focused only on hockey. His dad was worried about him getting hurt in football. Darnell himself said he "just no good" at basketball.
By age 15, Darnell was already very tall, almost 6 feet 4 inches, and weighed 176 pounds. He quickly became known as a strong and tough defence player for his minor hockey team, the Don Mills Flyers.
Darnell Nurse's Hockey Journey
Playing in Junior Leagues
.jpg)
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds picked Darnell third overall in the 2011 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft. After playing two seasons with the Greyhounds, the Edmonton Oilers chose him seventh overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft.
On July 25, the Oilers signed Darnell to a three-year contract. He went back to play for the Greyhounds for the 2013–14 season. Before that season started, he was named the team captain. He had his best season yet, scoring 50 points in 64 games.
After the Greyhounds' season ended, Darnell joined the Oilers' minor league team, the Oklahoma City Barons. This team plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). He played in four regular season games and three playoff games for them.
Joining the Edmonton Oilers
Darnell Nurse made the Oilers' main roster at the start of the 2014–15 season. He played his first NHL game on October 14, 2014, against the Los Angeles Kings. After playing two games, the Oilers sent him back to the Greyhounds on October 17.
Darnell started the 2015–16 season with the Oilers' new AHL team, the Bakersfield Condors. After playing six games there, the Oilers called him back up to the NHL on October 26. On October 27, Darnell scored his very first NHL goal in a game against the Minnesota Wild.
In March 2016, Darnell was suspended for three games because of a fight with another player. He finished his first full NHL season playing in 69 games for the Oilers and nine for the Condors.
On December 12, 2016, Darnell had surgery on his ankle, which kept him from playing for about 12 weeks. He returned to the ice on February 26, 2017.
On September 17, 2018, the Oilers signed Darnell to a new two-year contract. On October 1, 2019, Darnell was named an alternate captain for the Oilers, along with Leon Draisaitl. In February 2020, he signed another two-year contract extension.
On August 6, 2021, Darnell Nurse signed a big eight-year contract extension with the Oilers. He has continued to be a key player for the team.
Playing for Team Canada
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| Representing Canada |
||
| World Championships | ||
| Silver | 2019 Slovakia | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Gold | 2015 Canada | |
| World U18 Championships | ||
| Bronze | 2012 Brno | |
Darnell has proudly represented Canada in many international hockey tournaments.
In the 2011–12 season, he won a bronze medal with Team Ontario at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He was also chosen as one of the best players in that tournament. In the same season, he was one of only four younger players to play for Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships, where they won a bronze medal.
In the 2012–13 season, Darnell played with Team Canada and won a gold medal at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
He won a gold medal with Canada at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. He was named one of Canada's top three players and the best player in the gold medal game against Russia.
In 2018, Darnell was named to Team Canada's roster for the 2018 IIHF World Championship. He also played for Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. He helped Canada reach the final game, where they won a silver medal after losing to Finland. He scored 2 goals and 4 points in 10 games during that tournament.
Darnell Nurse's Family and Awards
Personal Life and Education
Darnell Nurse went to St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School and St. Mary's College. He won the Bobby Smith Trophy in 2013 for being the "OHL Scholastic Player of the Year." This award is given to the player who best combines high academic standards with hockey skills.
Darnell and his wife, Mikayla, have two sons.
Family Sports Connections
Darnell comes from a very athletic family!
- His dad, Richard Nurse, was a professional football player.
- His sister, Kia Nurse, plays professional basketball for the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She also won two college championships with the Connecticut Huskies and plays for the Canadian national team.
- His cousin, Sarah Nurse, is also a professional ice hockey player. She won a gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics and a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics with the Canadian national team. She plays for the PWHL Vancouver professional women's hockey team.
- His uncle, Donovan McNabb, was a famous NFL quarterback who played in six Pro Bowls.
- Darnell's cousin, Isaac, is also a professional ice hockey player for the Florida Everblades.
Awards and Honours
| Awards | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| World U-17 Hockey Challenge All-Star Team | 2012 | |
| CHL Top Prospects Game | 2013 |
Images for kids
-
Nurse with the Edmonton Oilers in 2022
-
Nurse with the Oklahoma City Barons in 2014
-
Nurse with the Oilers in 2015
