Smart jocks

Daniel Bartek is one of three Tigers hockey players with a GPA over 4. (Nick Pearce Photo)

The image of the mindless hockey goon has lasted more than 30 years, in part due to parodies like Slap Shot. But today’s varsity hockey players deflect that caricature with ease.

“I love to counter that,” laughs Ben Gervais, who racked up an impressive 4.15 GPA in kinesiology while playing defense for the hockey Tigers.

Those marks were competitive enough to land him in the pharmacy program this year, achieving a goal he set for himself at the time he chose to attend Dalhousie. They also earned him the distinction of being named an Academic All Canadian. But when he first introduced himself to fellow classmates as a hockey player, he got a laugh. He’s taking it all in stride.

“Even my mom, I was able to satisfy her.” He pauses, for a moment, smiling: “Finally.”

Bobby Nadeau has been a goalie since he was seven years old and now the science student volunteers as a minor hockey coach, working one-on-one with the next generation of goalies.

“I love it,” he says. “I like to give back.”

He was a PEI Rocket, playing under pressure in front of crowds of 15,000 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League when he got a phone call from coach Pete Belliveau, hoping to recruit him.

“I really respected his personal approach. Plus, Dalhousie is known around the world as a prestigious university,” says Mr. Nadeau.

The first-time Academic All Canadian puts a lot of effort into his school work and thinks he’s a lot like his teammates.

“I really think this experience we have, needing to face up to pressure, makes good students out of you. I’m really happy how this has all turned out,” says Mr. Nadeau.

Jordan Berk admits that learning to prioritize the work load between studies and sports “... can be tough, at first, until you get the feel for it and learn to prioritize.”

Originally from London, Ontario, he is  thriving in the Faculty of Management. He invited his faculty mentor Jim Power to attend the Academic All Canadian luncheon with him. 

“A lot of the hockey players enjoyed his online class and I thought it would be good to get to know him better, face to face,” says Mr. Berk.

One of the Tiger’s top point scorers, Daniel Bartek played in the junior world championships for the Czech Republic and for a number of teams in the Western Hockey League before his thoughts turned to university.

“Dal was one of my top two choices. Then I spoke to coach Pete Belliveau and decided to come here,” he says. “It’s a really happy choice.”

Although he speaks English well (along with two other languages), the commerce co-op student initially found it challenging to write strong essays. He persevered and earned a
4.08 GPA on his way to being named an Academic All Canadian.

“The coaches, the staff, the players, we’re one big family,” he says. “They’re there for us when we need them.”