Edmonton Oilers defenceman says cousin "earned everything she's gotten" after Canada's women beat USA to regain Olympic ice hockey title.
(Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Watching Sarah Nurse win hockey gold with Team Canada at Beijing 2022 was "a very proud moment" for her NHL-playing cousin Darnell Nurse.
Nurse scored the first goal as Canada beat USA 3-2 in the gold medal game on Thursday (17 February).
It was a second Olympic medal for the 27-year-old who won silver at PyeongChang 2018.
Nurse had a total of 18 points in the tournament, one more than the previous Olympic record held by Canada great Hayley Wickenheiser.
Darnell Nurse is a defenceman for the Edmonton Oilers and he reacted to Sarah's gold at a press conference broadcast by sportsnet.ca.
He said: "That's awesome. It's also a very proud moment when you have a family member playing [at] the Olympics for one... and win a gold medal and the tournament that Sarah's had, it was fun to watch. Start to finish - the whole tournament."
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Ice hockey is a way of life for the Nurse family.
As well as cousin Darnell, Sarah's brother Isaac played for the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League as well as for the University of New Brunswick.
Her other brother Elijah was a member of the Glanbrook Rangers team in the Provincial Junior Hockey League in Canada.
Carrying on the sporting tradition, her father Roger Nurse played and refereed in the National Lacrosse League and with the Ontario Lacrosse Association.
Cousin Kia Nurse represented Canada in basketball and her uncle Donovan McNabb was one of the NFL's top quarterbacks in his time at the Philadelphia Eagles.
Darnell said: "I know my Uncle Roger and Aunt Michelle and my cousins Isaac and Elijah were on cloud nine too.
"They're family so it was awesome to see, fun to follow along the whole way.
"She earned everything - I hope they get to celebrate.
(2022 Getty Images)
Darnell is in his seventh season for the Oilers and has also represented Team Canada at junior and senior level, winning silver at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
He says their family's work ethic is central to their drive and subsequent success.
"There are a lot of similarities, he said. "Both our fathers are very hardworking, very driven so that's where it all starts.
"From there taking every opportunity and making the most of it and that's what she did. She's very driven, works as hard as anyone I know and earns everything she's gotten to this point.
"It's great to see her just get everything she deserves."