STFX Scoring Sensation David Purcell HK352 Fall 2010 Mary Beth Chisholm & Maggie MacDonald

1. Still a team player Road to X-cellence References First taste of X STFX Scoring Sensation David Purcell HK352 Fall 2010 Mary Beth Chisholm & Maggie MacDonald It was especially different for Purcell because he had lived away from home for a number of years. While the social aspect of X was enjoyable, playing hockey on the ice was even better. There were many locals on the X-men hockey team, so playing for the town of Antigonish was a big attraction for people. Purcell did not attend St. Francis Xavier University right after high school, as his intentions were to pursue a university hockey career away from home. Playing at the junior hockey level in Prince Edward Island and Quebec, he decided that it was important to continue the student athlete experience away his hometown. A number of other universities were on his mind, but this had changed after having a meeting with Phonse Gillis. Gillis had flew to Ottawa where Purcell and his roommate John LeBlanc lived, and spoke passionately about bringing the hockey program back from the ashes. A promise to make necessary recruitment's and work diligently on the building a team made Purcell want to be involved in bringing that strong sense of pride back to the hockey program. This had lead David to a four consecutive year being the leading scorer for his team, and three time AUS all-star (86-88). In his final season at ST.F.X he lead the conference in scoring with 66 points and got CIS all-Canadian recognition, and 3 time Male Athlete of the Year. The most gratifying moment in David’s hockey career at X was against the Blue Eagles in the semi-finals, overtime and the team effort put into the semi-finals, that lead them a successful win. The hard and determined work of their team exemplified what their team was about and the feelings experienced reaching the goal together was a pinnacle moment specifically in David’s life. ST.F.X for Purcell was not only a place of home for him, it was a part of who he was and who he is today. David’s passion for hockey continued to grow throughout his adolescence and his skills continuously improved, he became a team leader and an exceptional goal scorer. In 1980 while Purcell was playing for the Antigonish Major Midgets, his team won the right to represent Nova Scotia at the Air Canada Cup in Halifax. David as team captain lead team Nova Scotia to a gold medal in the tournament. High school and university scouts from all over North America attended his prestigious event and participating and winning the tournament open many doors for Davids future hockey career. Purcell started receiving letters of recruitment from high schools and letters of interest from university who wanted him to attend their schools after he graduated high school. David eventually headed to Montreal to play with ..... and finish up high school. But unfortunately this didn’t work out and David returned home to Antigonish and played for the Jr. Bulldogs until he graduated high school. After graduation David was off to Prince Edward Island where he played Majors for the ...... He played with ..... until he was traded in.... to the Quebec Hull. David finished up his last year of Major with the Hull where he played against guys who went on to be NHL greats like Mario Lemeux, Born January 26 1966, David was one of seven children born to Bernadine and Frank Purcell. The Purcell’s always encouraged their children to be involved in their community with athletics and sports. At this time in Antigonish hockey was a way of life and all the young boys in town dreamed of being hockey players. David was no different he started playing hockey because it was what all his neighborhood friends were doing and he immediately fell in love with it. He started out by playing street hockey with his neighbor whenever he got the chance and at the age of 6 David laced up his skates for the first time and hit the ice with the local bulldogs. David was also passionate about watching hockey, when he was young he always looked up to the players on the Antigonish Jr. Bulldogs but as he got older he began to see that the STFX X-men were a step about the Jr. Bulldogs. As a teenager David went to see the X-men play at every home game and really admired the players. He really looked up to a player named Kevin Cameron, a local player who played the same position and wore the same number David would eventually wear as an X-men. David really liked the way he played and studied his style of play every time he was on the ice. Growing up in Antigonish and being such an exceptional hockey player it was always assumed David would represent his hometown and wear the blue and white. Local hockey fans would ask him the question with and answer already in it, “you’re going to be playing for STFX after high school, right?” But David was not so sure of this. Purcell now has a very successful career after graduating from St. Francis Xavier University as the principle of a public school. Some of the methods he used in hockey to achieve his personal goals he still uses today as a principle. The person Purcell is today has a parallel with who he was during his hockey career and the similarities between hockey and life has taught him about how extremely important building relationships are within your life and within your career. It was where he learned to build on these relationships through his coaches, teammates, and friends he carried with him after hockey. David currently sits fifth overall in the AUS record book in career regular season, scoring with 224 total points ( 116 goals and 108 assists) only one point off the current leader and he is second overall in career goals. David’s noticeable success at St.F.X has him currently inducted into the 2010 Sports Hall of Fame where he was also reunited with his fellow teammates and friends in October. : A number of other universities were on his mind, but this had changed after having a meeting with Phonse Gillis. Gillis had flew to Ottawa where Purcell and his roommate John LeBlanc lived, and spoke passionately about bringing the hockey program back from the ashes. A promise to make necessary recruitment's and work diligently on the building a team made Purcell want to be involved in bringing that strong sense of pride back to the hockey program. Saltman, Ken. (1998) “Men with Breasts.” Journal of Philosophy of sport. XXV, pp. 48-60. World Anti-Doping Agency. (2003) World Anti-Doping Code. Montreal: World Anti-Doping Agency. Young, Iris Marion. (1988) “The Exclusion of Women from Sport: Conceptual and Existential Dimensions.” In Philosophic Inquiry in Sport. Edited by William J. Morgan and Klaus V. Meier. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Publishers, pp.335-341. . Life at X for Purcell was anything but boring. Playing hockey while attending classes was more than a full time job for David but his attitude towards being a part of the “X” experience has made many memorable moments for him. Purcell especially remembers the social aspect of St.F.X and made plenty of friends. It was especially different for Purcell because he had lived away from home for a number of years.