Sudbury Wolves defenceman nominated for blood donation award

Sudbury Wolves defenceman has a new honour these days after finding out he’s one of three nominees to be put forth for the 2024 Hockey Gives Blood Dayna Brons Award.

Donovan McCoy of Sudbury Wolves nominated for the Hockey Gives Blood Dayna Brons Honorary Award. (Ontario Hockey League)

The award recognizes young hockey players for their support of the Canadian Blood Services and it comes only one year after his fellow teammate Alex Pharand received the same honour.

McCoy said he received the call one day after working out.

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"It’s pretty cool," he told CTV News in an interview from Belleville.

"Just from what I’ve learned, Dayna Brons was with the Humboldt Broncos and it’s obviously tragic what happened to that team, but the award exemplifies what she stood for and did for the community."

The young man who's about to enter his last year in the OHL as an overage player said it’s an honour to be nominated for the work he’s done in the community.

He played a pivotal role in organizing the largest player-led team blood drive and stem cell recruitment ever seen in the Canadian Hockey League.

A post about the award went up from his team Wednesday afternoon in which the Wolves write:

"Through his exceptional leadership, actions and unwavering commitment to serving others, he has made a meaningful impact for patients who rely on blood and blood products."

After being traded to the Sudbury Wolves, McCoy continued his advocacy by again promoting the need for plasma donation alongside his teammates.

He said part of the game is being a good example both on and off the ice.

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"Obviously, everyone knows what we do on the ice and I think it’s what we do off the ice that’s a big contributor and what people notice," McCoy said.

"And I think just as easy as getting my teammates together to donate blood and just kind of being there for people and bringing awareness to something that wasn’t as big before like the Hockey Gives Blood campaign that’s kind of taken off in the last few years. I’m definitely glad to be apart of it and something I’ll keep definitely doing in the future."

The Sudbury hockey player is nominated alongside two other players from the QMJHL.

As far as his plans for next year, he said his plans are to return to Sudbury for the following season.

"Definitely, yeah that’s the plan. I’m looking forward to it, obviously," McCoy said.

"Time flies going into my overage season, so it’s definitely a unique experience going into my last year of the OHL, but I’m definitely excited to get back and see where the season takes us, hopefully it’s some good things. So yeah, I’m looking forward to it."

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The award is given out every year in conjunction with the Canadian Blood Services.

Dayna Brons was the athletic therapist with the Broncos and was one of the 16 who died when the team bus was struck by a semi-truck in 2018.