It was a record-setting virtual success.
Faced with the challenge of a pandemic that would not allow them to invite several hundred guests for a usually sold-out breakfast, the UNBC Timberwolves had to come up with an alternate plan for their biggest fundraising event of the season.
So they lined up a ringer for guest – Jon Cooper, head coach of the defending Stanley Cup-champion Tampa Bay Lightning – and proceeded to raise more money for UNBC varsity athletics than ever before.
The seventh annual UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Breakfast and its virtual format raised a record $82,514 to fund scholarships and bursaries for T-wolves student-athletes.
“Every year, it blows me away how much support we have from this community,” said Loralyn Murdoch, UNBC’s athletic director. “We made a decision to push forward with this event, and I am so thrilled with how it turned out. To set a new record for fundraising is really amazing, and will benefit our program so much.
“Without scholarships and bursaries, we would not be able to attract the best student athletes to UNBC,” she said. “It is so important for our coaches to go out into the community, or the province, nationally or internationally, and provide students with some funding. This community is so supportive, and we are so proud to represent northern BC.”
Cooper, born-and-bred in Prince George, invited viewers into his Lightning office at Amelie Arena for an up-close-and-personal tour of the Lightning dressing room/player lounge and the hallways to the rink decorated with larger-than-life photos of key builders of the franchise and pivotal playoff moments in the team’s history.
Cooper spoke about his time growing up in the Spruceland neighbourhood in the city and about his coaching career which culminated in the Bolts’ run to their second NHL championship in team history, winning the Cup in September 2020, after two months in the playoff bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton.
“When we announced Jon Cooper as our keynote speaker, the reaction was immediate. He is so incredibly proud of his roots here, and this community is so incredibly proud of him and all his accomplishments,” said Murdoch. “We cannot thank Jon enough for taking time out of his busy schedule. He was relatable and humble, and had so many interesting things to say about his journey and what it takes to find success.”
Prior to Cooper’s keynote address, virtual viewers were treated to a video showing the T-wolves athletes and coaches tuning in Zoom calls from the UNBC athletics department and their reactions upon receiving the news they had been selected for the T-wolves newly-created Wall of Honour at the Northern Sport Centre gym.
Owen Stewart of the UNBC men’s soccer team was the virtual master of ceremonies and UNBC varsity team players Kiana Swift, Rebecca Landry, Alex Nielson, Sonja Neitsch, and Tyrell Laing also contributed to the 48-minute presentation.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our student-athletes this year,” said Murdoch. “They really were dealt a tough hand, but they adapted and were so resilient. To feature them in the Legacy Breakfast made a ton of sense, and I have heard so many good things about that decision. Our Timberwolves truly are amazing ambassadors for this university and this community.”
In case you missed it, the 2021 Legacy Breakfast webcast video is available on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=HKSgf7NyKXw.
