Tag: lions

Four student-athletes to receive 2021 Lions Legacy awards

Four York University Lions student-athletes have been selected as the recipients of the 2021 Lions Legacy Awards. They will be recognized for their achievements at the online varsity banquet on Thursday, April 8.

These awards are presented to the graduating student-athletes who have, throughout the undergraduate years, made outstanding contributions to varsity sport at York University. Leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and participation in all aspects of varsity sport are considered qualifications for this award.

This year’s recipients of a Lions Legacy Award are men’s hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren, women’s hockey standout Lauren Dubie, women’s soccer player Teni Odetoyinbo and track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker.

This year's recipients of a Lions Legacy Award are men's hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren, women's hockey standout Lauren Dubie, women's soccer player Teni Odetoyinbo and track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker
This year’s recipients of a Lions Legacy Award are men’s hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren, women’s hockey standout Lauren Dubie, women’s soccer player Teni Odetoyinbo and track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker

The top male and female student-athletes from this group, as selected by the awards committee, will be presented with Athletics & Recreation’s top graduating awards. The male winner will receive the Outstanding Male Graduate Award and the female winner will receive the Bryce M. Taylor Award.

Kaleb Dahlgren – Hockey

  • Has not played due to lack of medical clearance but there is precedence from U SPORTS to waving this component, with regards to being eligible for the academic all-Canadian awards
  • Three-time academic all-Canadian
  • Member of York Sport Council and BIVSAA
  • Regular volunteer at the Hockey HEROS skates
  • Took part in the Shoreham school clinics
  • Created his own foundation, Dahlgren’s Diabeauties, to connect with children who have Type 1 diabetes and has helped other schools host diabetes awareness events as well (specifically Ontario Tech)
  • A JDRF ambassador for many years and has made many appearances as a motivational speaker
  • Recently completed a memoir Crossroads that was released internationally in March

Lauren Dubie – Hockey

  • Starting goaltender in all five years with the Lions
  • Backstopped the program to the OUA finals and national championships in 2019-20
  • Two-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian
  • Member of the team’s leadership group even though she cannot officially wear a letter
  • PAWS mentor – mentor for the mentors
  • Member of York Sport Council and this year serves on the executive; she has helped with Bell Let’s Talk, Pride Month and Lions 4 Lions
  • Major driver of the team’s involvement in Lions 4 Lions, helping the team win the Roar Cup three times in four seasons

Teni Odetoyinbo – Soccer

  • OUA champion
  • York female athlete of the year
  • U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian
  • Two-time OUA West first-team all-star
  • Team captain
  • Studying in the Schulich School of Business
  • PAWS mentor
  • Co-founder and co-president of BIVSAA
  • Part of the OUA’s Black, Biracial and Indigenous (BBI) Task Force
  • Panel speaker at upcoming Women and Girls Leadership in Sport Conference

Monique Simon-Tucker – Track & Field

  • OUA silver medallist (60) and OUA bronze medallist (4 x 200m)
  • OUA second-team all-star
  • Team captain
  • York University Renewable Athletic Scholarship recipient
  • Co-founder and co-president of BIVSAA
  • PAWS mentor
  • Member of York Sport Council and serves on the executive
  • Student intern at City of Toronto community development unit
  • Executive member, community navigator coordinator at York University’s Social Work Student Association
  • Attended every OUA BBI Task Force town hall to provide input
  • Program developer for One Kenton Place (home for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients)
  • School fitness instructor at MT Fitness
  • Level 1 track and field official; she helps out at meets when she isn’t competing
  • Work/study student with Events
  • Travelled to the Dominican Republic to build houses and teach English to primary school students

Stay tuned to yorkulions.ca on Thursday night for the announcement of all major award winners.

Three student-athletes nominated for York’s Heart of a Lion award

An image of the Heart of a Lion award nominees: Kaleb Dahlgren, Simone Da Silva and Kelsey McHolm
An image of the Heart of a Lion award nominees: Kaleb Dahlgren, Simone Da Silva and Kelsey McHolm

Three York University Lions student-athletes have been nominated for York’s Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy. The winner will be announced at the online varsity banquet on Thursday, April 8.

Also known as the Heart of a Lion Award, this trophy will be given to a student-athlete within the varsity sport program who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, enthusiasm for life and the consideration of others. Both male and female student-athletes are eligible for the award.

This year’s nominees for the Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy are men’s hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren, women’s track and field athlete Simone Da Silva and women’s hockey player Kelsey McHolm.

An image of the Heart of a Lion award nominees: Kaleb Dahlgren, Simone Da Silva and Kelsey McHolm
Heart of a Lion award nominees: Kaleb Dahlgren, Simone Da Silva and Kelsey McHolm

Kaleb Dahlgren – Men’s Hockey

  • Type 1 diabetic since the age of four
  • Humboldt bus crash survivor
  • Spent three years with the Lions while recovering from a significant brain injury that he still lives with today; he has yet to receive medical clearance to play but is an active member of all other aspects of the team
  • Overcame the physical, emotional and mental challenges that have come with being a survivor of the accident and will successfully complete his degree in commerce this year
  • Three-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian
  • A JDRF ambassador for many years and has made many appearances as a motivational speaker
  • Recently completed a memoir Crossroads that was released internationally in March

Simone Da Silva – Women’s Track & Field

  • OUA silver medallist (4 x 400m), sixth at U SPORTS championships
  • Two-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian
  • Had three back surgeries to eliminate a tumor that caused consistent pain, stiffness and limited movement
  • Never lost faith in the training and rehabilitation throughout the process
  • Gave her full effort regardless of her circumstances, even when limited by medical modifications
  • Never missed a home meet even when she was recovering from surgery and couldn’t compete herself
  • Works at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Clinic, where she helps children with brain injuries transition back into their “regular” life, and continued to do so throughout the pandemic

Kelsey McHolm – Women’s Hockey

  • Key player of the team’s first OUA finals appearance in 20 years and first trip to nationals in program history
  • Suffered a major knee injury in the 2018-19 season and chose extensive rehab instead of surgery so she could be ready for the 2019-20 season
  • Dealt with constant rehab but still posted career-best numbers in 2019-20 season
  • Suffered serious health issues this past summer that resulted in hearing loss but did not let any of it impact her leadership, dedication or enthusiasm
  • Two-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian

Stay tuned to yorkulions.ca over the coming days as more of the major award nominees are announced ahead of the April 8 banquet.

Register for April 12 event with York Lion Kaleb Dahlgren, author of ‘Crossroads’

Lions hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren in his hockey uniform on the ice
Lions hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren

On the heels of his nationally recognized Crossroads book launch, the York University Athletics & Recreation Department has scheduled a York community celebration for Kaleb Dahlgren‘s fantastic accomplishment.

The Zoom event taking place on April 12 will feature Dahlgren talking about his book, a Q-and-A period and appearances by prominent members of the York athletic community.

An image of the book cover for Kaleb Dahlgren’s new book Crossroads, alongside an image of Dahlgren in his Lions hockey uniform
Kaleb Dahlgren’s book “Crossroads” was released March 16

The event begins at 12:30 p.m. with a welcome and address from Jennifer Myers, executive director of Athletics & Recreation for York University. BIVSAA (Black & Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance) will also be on hand for support of Dahlgren, who is a member of the alliance and an advocate for Black and Indigenous rights on the York campus. BIVSAA co-presidents Monique Simon-Tucker and Teni Odetoyinbo will handle the event’s land acknowledgement, while York Sport Council president Tara Leithead will do the introduction.

Crossroads chronicles an unorthodox journey through life both before and after his involvement in a deadly bus accident that killed 16 of his junior hockey teammates, coaches and team administrators with the Humboldt Broncos on their way to a playoff game in Nipawin, Sask., in April 2018. At the intersection of Highway 335 and 35, a semi-truck missed a stop sign and ran into their bus, creating a scene that sent the sports world into an emotional rollercoaster for an extended period of time.

Life hasn’t been easy for the third-year commerce student – his experiences have been altered by multiple significant events throughout his childhood and young adult life. It began with his diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at the age of four. Along with diabetes, Dahlgren still lives with severe brain trauma suffered from the bus crash.

The book also covers his childhood and early life, providing important context which proves essential in understanding his approach and resiliency which contributed to his recovery following the bus accident.

You must pre-register for this event here. Once registered, you will receive the Zoom link to access the virtual community celebration.

York Athletics & Recreation has partnered with the Alumni Engagement Team to bring Dahlgren and his story to the York University alumni family.

Join Nav Bhatia, the Raptors’ Superfan and Schulich startup ZERV for a free fitness event, April 7

Nav and the York Lions mascot
Nav and the York Lions mascot

In partnership with York Lions and ZERV (a Schulich startup focused on personal care services), the entire York University community is invited to take part in a special fitness activity with Nav Bhatia Superfan on April 7 at 7 p.m.

Join Nav the Superfan and Yeo for a fun fitness event, April 7

Bhatia, best known as the Toronto Raptor’s Superfan, has always looked for opportunities to engage with the community and bring people together. With the Raptors now in Tampa Bay due to the pandemic, Bhatia is using his free time to begin a journey to a healthier lifestyle and is hoping to bring everyone along with him.

The event is free to sign up, but virtual space is limited. This will be a fun, low impact fitness event, that can be done from the privacy of your own space. There will be prizes, special guests, and more.

Organizers hope to see you there! To learn more, watch the special video below which is direct from the Superfan himself. Register now at https://bit.ly/3cCT7B8.

York Lion Kaleb Dahlgren releases book chronicling Humboldt Broncos tragedy

Lions hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren in his hockey uniform on the ice
Lions hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren

An inspiring story of resilience and positivity penned by a prominent member of the York University community is now available. York Lions men’s hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren’s new book Crossroads was released on March 16.

Crossroads chronicles an unorthodox journey through life following his involvement in a deadly bus accident that killed 16 of his junior hockey teammates, coaches and team administrators with the Humboldt Broncos while on their way to a playoff game in Nipawin, Sask., in April 2018. At the intersection of Highway 335 and 35, a semi-truck missed a stop sign and ran into their bus, creating a scene that sent the sports world into an emotional rollercoaster.

An image of the book cover for Kaleb Dahlgren’s new book Crossroads, alongside an image of Dahlgren in his Lions hockey uniform
Kaleb Dahlgren’s book Crossroads was released March 16

Life hasn’t been easy for the third-year commerce student; his experiences have been altered by multiple significant events throughout his childhood and young adult life. It began with his diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at the age of four. Along with diabetes, Dahlgren still lives with severe brain trauma suffered during the bus accident.

Despite all he has been through, Dahlgren is an extremely involved member of the York University Lions varsity community. He is an important and engaged member of the men’s hockey team – even though he has been unable to play – by taking up a recruiting role with the team. He has also earned U SPORTS academic all-Canadian honours and a spot on the Dean’s List in each of his first two years while serving on the York Sport Council, Lions Leadership, and the Black and Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance (BIVSAA), all while being a tremendous supporter of his fellow student-athletes. Dahlgren will graduate with his degree at the end of this season and intends to go to chiropractor college next.

“The goal of Crossroads is to truly help others. I was not going to write a book unless I knew it had the ability to make an impact in someone’s life,” Dahlgren said about his memoir. “I am donating a portion of proceeds to a non-profit organization called STARS (Air Ambulance) who helped save lives on April 6, 2018, but also save lives every day. I also thought this would be a great way to generate some discussions around various topics that are tough to talk about. Lastly, I hope readers can take something from this book as they face various crossroads throughout their lives. If I am able to save a life, create an uncomfortable but needed conversation, or help a person through their challenges in life by sharing my story, then I would have accomplished what I set out to do.”

The book also covers his childhood and early life, providing important context which proves essential in understanding his approach and resiliency which contributed to his recovery following the bus accident.

Prior to the crash, Dahlgren joined the Broncos after requesting a trade away from the Notre Dame Hounds, another Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) team based in the small community of Wilcox, Sask. He made the request so he could start his program titled Dahlgren’s Diabeauties in a larger centre. The initiative aims to help children with Type 1 diabetes.

The program continues today in Toronto while Dahlgren completes his studies at York University. The Lions men’s hockey team has hosted the annual Dahlgren’s Diabeauties game at Canlan Ice Sports, which invited players with Type 1 to listen and learn from Dahlgren’s experience playing hockey and take in the Lions hockey festivities.

To celebrate his tremendous achievement, York Athletics & Recreation will host a virtual event with Dahlgren so he can talk more about the book and community members can ask questions on Monday, April 12 at 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. Click here to access the meeting link. The meeting ID is 960 3020 6511 and the passcode is LIONS.

HarperCollins is the book’s publisher. To date, the book has received positive reviews from influential figures such as Wayne Gretzky, Hayley Wickenheiser, Mitch Marner, Marilyn Denis, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Bobby Clarke, Kate Beirness, Ron MacLean and James Duthie.

Crossroads can be purchased at a variety of different online and in-person book retailers across Canada and North America.

Event to support female leaders in sport returns for second edition

Members of the women's Lions field hockey team
Members of the women’s Lions field hockey team

In honour of International Women’s Day, York University Athletics & Recreation has announced the return of the Women and Girls Leadership and Sport Conference (WGLSC) this year, slated for April 30, in a virtual setting.

Poster f or Women and Girls Leadership in Sport ConferenceThe inaugural event was a resounding success in 2019 and organizers were looking forward to a second edition last year; however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation. This year, the event will be held virtually so female sport leaders can continue to be educated, empowered and supported, especially during this challenging time.

The theme of WGLSC 2021 is resilience and the free event will take place via Zoom beginning at 11 a.m. and concluding at 2:30 p.m. Coaches, athletes, sport administrators and allies are all welcome to attend.

“It was very important to us to host the Women and Girls Leadership and Sport Conference this year even if we had to do so virtually, and I am thrilled that we are making it happen,” said Jennifer Myers, executive director of York Athletics & Recreation. “Resilience has never before been as crucial as it is right now and we are proud to be giving women in sport an opportunity to hear from some of the leading voices within the sport industry about the topic. I look forward to hearing from all the speakers about their own experiences at the end of next month.”

Speakers for the event come from a diverse background, and many incredible female leaders are poised to share their stories and experiences with the audience. Kayla Alexander, a WNBA star, national team athlete and author/illustrator, will be headlining this year’s conference. There will also be a powerhouse panel featuring some tremendous female leaders in sport who have paved the way. The panel hosts perspectives of sport administrators, coaches, elite athletes and current student-athletes. Finally, the conference will close with two York Lions head coaches, Jennifer Neilson and Daniel Church. Neilson is the York Lions women’s volleyball head coach, and youth/junior national team assistant coach; Church is a master coach, chartered professional coach, mentor coach (OWHA) and York Lions Women’s Hockey Head Coach. 

Panel speakers for the event include:

  • Joely Christian-Macfarlane – RMC Paladins women’s volleyball head coach, National Military Volleyball Program head coach
  • Erica Gavel – paralympian, PhD candidate
  • Nadine Crowley – social worker/mediator, FIBA and U SPORTS referee
  • Theresa Hanson – Simon Fraser University senior director of Athletics & Recreation
  • Teni Odetoyinbo – York Lions women’s soccer student-athlete, co-president of the Black and Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance

For more information and to register for the event, visit the official WGLSC webpage.

York Lions celebrate Black History Month with speaker series and virtual celebration

Featured image for Black Excellence and Grit Speaker Series York Lions for YFile
Featured image for Black Excellence and Grit Speaker Series York Lions for YFile

The York University Athletics & Recreation Department has identified the need for the promotion of Black culture and will use Black History Month as a launching pad to celebrate Black Excellence.

February is recognized as Black History Month. It’s a time to celebrate Black culture and to applaud the achievements and significant contributions Black Canadians have made to build Canada. Those contributions have made the country stronger and more diverse. Canadians are invited to participate in learning opportunities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.

York Athletics & Recreation is offering a number of opportunities to celebrate Black Excellence and to learn more about the tremendous Black student-athletes at York University.

Earlier this week, the department announced the creation of the Black and Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance (BIVSAA) to gain an understanding of Black and Indigenous student-athlete experiences in order to progress solutions to identified issues and foster meaningful growth within the Lions family.

Black Excellence & Grit Speaker Series

Black Excellence and Grit Speaker Series York Lions for YFileBeginning in February and continuing over the next several months, BIVSAA will present the Black Excellence & Grit Speaker Series. This series has been created to intentionally place a Black lens on conversations related to identity, social justice and professionalism.

The following is a list of scheduled Speaker Series events, including the Black professionals welcomed to the conversation. For more information on the Black Excellence & Grit Speaker Series, including call-in details for each presentation, click here.

Kayla Alexander
Canadian Professional Basketball Player (Castor Braine, Belgium) will present “Finding Your Voice and Using Your Platform.”
Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 1 to 2 p.m.

Keenan Lewis Jeppesen
Director of Outreach, Onyx Initiative, will present “Onyx Initiative.”
Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Tonee Jones
Paralegal Specialist, US Department of Justice, will present “Black Professionalism.”
Friday, Feb. 19, from 7 to 8:15 p.m.

Jamal Campbell
Professional Football Player (Toronto Argonauts, CFL) will present “Being Black on Campus.”
Feb. TBD

2021 Black History Month Virtual Celebration
York University Athletics & Recreation has partnered with a group of community leaders to host the 2021 Virtual Black History Month Celebration on Friday, Feb. 26 from 12 to 3 p.m. on YouTube LIVE. The event will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the House of Commons officially recognizing February as Black History Month in Canada and the United Nations proclamation that 2015 to 2024 be the decade for people of African descent. This virtual show will showcase riveting speeches and historical videos from Black leaders and talented performances from our local Black community. The theme of the event is “Rooted & Resilient; like the Sankofa Bird, we are rooted in the past and resilient moving forward.”

Follow @yorkulions for program, schedule and performer announcements!

Student-Athlete Spotlights
Over the course of the month, visitors of yorkulions.ca will read Student-Athlete Spotlights, which will profile prominent Lions student-athletes of colour. They will discuss the success they’ve achieved both on and off the field of play.

Varsity Lions launch Black and Indigenous Varsity Student-Athletes Alliances

BIVSAA student athlete

York University’s varsity student-athletes have launched a new committee called the Black and Indigenous Varsity Student-Athletes Alliance (BIVSAA) to serve the issues facing Black and Indigenous varsity student-athletes.

Black & Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance
Black & Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance

BIVSAA, which will be led by fifth-year track and field standout Monique Simon-Tucker and fourth-year women’s soccer player Teni Odetoyinbo, was created to gain an understanding of Black and Indigenous student-athletes’ experiences in order to progress solutions to identified issues and foster meaningful growth within the Lions family. Through these accomplishments, the committee hopes to educate, fund, collaborate and support Black and Indigenous varsity student-athletes, coaches and administration.

“I am incredibly proud of both Monique and Teni for having the courage to start this invaluable group,” said Jennifer Myers, executive director of York Athletics & Recreation. “As one of the most diverse athletic programs in Canada, it is important that we have a safe space that allows student-athletes who identify as Black and Indigenous to share their experiences, not just as a varsity athlete, but as a whole person in a society that is systemically racist. We feel very strongly that this is critical to their well-being and I am committed to working closely with this group to actively listen to their challenges and solutions and ensure their voices are front and center as we begin the work necessary to unwrap and break down the racist systems we function within.”

“Athletics should be a space that is accessible to everyone regardless of their race and background,” said Odetoyinbo. “We want York to be a place that genuinely fosters a community atmosphere to make this a reality and it’s up to us, the athletes, to advocate for the necessary changes we want to see.”

The name of the committee was chosen to reflect the need to listen, identify and name the many ways that systemic racism impacts individuals who identify within this group, and to provide a safe space for student-athletes to talk about incidents of unfair treatment, racist acts and personal struggles within the colonial context of university sport and in society.

These two communities are extremely vulnerable and, as such, targeted solutions, ideas, education and sharing designed to support both these identified communities and the department as a whole to grow, learn, and begin to fix systemic as well as clear issues related to race, is necessary to ensuring that all of the programs and services available to student-athletes are open, safe, inclusive and framed within an anti-racist lens.

“We want to create a space that is catered to the experiences and lives of Black and Indigenous varsity student-athletes, and to maintain a space for students to raise their concerns and questions so that meaningful change can happen,” said Simon-Tucker. “We also want to educate and enhance the varsity community so that they are better equipped to challenge themselves and people around them in thinking critically about the world around them. Our hope is for York to be at the forefront of change so that we continue to set the bar high for future generations that come after us.”

The committee began by hosting town hall sessions for BIPOC varsity student-athletes, as well as the larger varsity community for all student-athletes of colour as well as allies. In the coming months, BIVSAA will be hosting a diversity book drive for local youth, organizing fundraisers to support Black-owned businesses and Black Lives Matter Toronto, and will be running a series of workshops and open conversations to celebrate Black History Month in February. For more information on BIVSAA and full details on all upcoming events, visit the BIVSAA webpage here.

York Lions’ digital holiday drive smashes donation record

Lions logo
York U Lions

In a year where families needed it the most, the York University Lions banded together to create a new, 2020-friendly system to give back to local families this past holiday season through the Adopt-a-Family program.

The initiative returned for its sixth year of operation with modified goals in order to safely carry out the program in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time since the program’s inception, both physical and online monetary donations were taken this year.

The new program resulted in a record-breaking donation total, with $6,500 raised for nine different families in the community.

“This year, we wanted to ensure we could still facilitate the Adopt-a-Family program and brighten the holiday season of less fortunate members of our community even with the onset of the pandemic,” said Tara Leithead, president of the York Sport Council. “We actually ended up fundraising even more than last year. We hope that we helped families in need have an amazing holiday season after this unprecedented year.”

Adopt-a-Family recipient family (photo courtesy Jane/Finch Community Cntre)
Adopt-a-Family recipient family (photo courtesy Jane/Finch Community Centre)

As with any new initiative, the Adopt-a-Family program required multiple different departments across campus to come together as a group and execute the modified program.

Leithead thanks all the contributing members of the York family – Athletics & Recreation, Community Support Services, Student Engagement, Student Accessibility Services and Student Counselling and Development – for their support and guidance in pulling off the holiday drive during an extraordinary year.

“Our partner departments were instrumental for the program’s execution in a time where champions were needed in order to carry out the program effectively,” Leithead said.

York Sport Council also sends out a special thanks to Sport Council member Frankie St. Louis for her valuable contributions to the project, and to community outreach coordinator Lauren Walter for her diligence in keeping social media followers updated and informed.

Of the many generous contributions to the drive, York men’s volleyball was the most notable, raising a total of $150.

Run through the Jane/Finch Centre, the Adopt-a-Family program focuses on helping families in need enjoy a special holiday season. The focus of the program is to provide warm clothing, bedding, boots, cooking items and toys for children.

The York Sport Council has worked tirelessly to connect with community members in the neighbourhoods immediately surrounding the University. The Adopt-a-Family program is another example of the great community leadership on display across the GTA by so many Lions student-athletes.

Those interested in learning more about the Jane/Finch Centre’s community support initiatives can visit their website at www.janefinchcentre.org.

York honours legacy of former Lion Mark Cross, Jan. 18

Mark Cross Memorial Day
Mark Cross Memorial Day

York University Athletics & Recreation will honour the legacy of former Lions men’s hockey player Mark Cross on Monday, Jan. 18, which has been declared Mark Cross Memorial Day.

Mark Cross Memorial Day

Cross was one of the victims of the tragic 2018 bus accident in Saskatchewan that claimed the lives of 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team. Since Cross’ death, the York Athletics & Recreation Department has taken numerous steps to remember its former player, including recognizing the 18th game of the men’s hockey team’s regular season as the Mark Cross Memorial Game. In the absence of a season this year, Jan. 18 has been selected as the date.

The Lions are looking for support in one of the following ways:

  1. Donate $18 (or a multiple of $18) to the Mark Cross Memorial Fund.
  2. Record a video of 18 reps of an exercise of choice and post on social media, tagging @yorkulions and including the #MC18 hashtag.
  3. Take a selfie wearing MC18 gear and post on social media, tagging @yorkulions and including the #MC18 hashtag.
  4. Talk about how you live out the CROSS pillars of character, respect, optimism, sacrifice and selflessness and post on social media, tagging @yorkulions and including the #MC18 hashtag.

“The Humboldt tragedy is something Canadians and our Lions family will never forget,” said Jennifer Myers, executive director of York Athletics & Recreation. “Too many young, promising lives were taken too early, and their loss is felt every day. Mark was a very special individual who exemplified everything we strive to be as Lions.

“Mark Cross Memorial Day is very special to us. It provides an opportunity to publicly remember Mark and ensure who he was is a core part of who we are. The spirit of Mark lives in each one of us, and we encourage all our student-athletes to live his values every day: character, respect, optimism, sacrifice and selflessness. Please join us on Jan. 18 to honour and remember an individual who has had a tremendous impact on our Lions family and beyond.”

Cross played for the Lions from 2011-16 and was an assistant captain and the team’s most valuable player in his senior year. He was serving as an assistant coach for the Broncos during the 2017-18 season.

York continues to honour his life and legacy with the Mark Cross Memorial Fund. As part of the scholarship fund, the Mark Cross (MC18) Award is given out annually to a member of the Lions men’s hockey team who best embodies Mark’s spirit by exhibiting elite levels of character, respect, optimism, sacrifice and selflessness.