Stingers goaltender wins scholarship
Concordia Stingers goaltender Maxime Joyal received one of the highest honours accorded by the Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence du Québec (FAEQ) at a gala dinner in Montreal on December 1.
The fourth-year member of the Stingers men’s hockey team received a $2,000 bursary as a winner of the Gildan Leadership Scholarship. The bursary is presented annually to three Quebec university student athletes who have distinguished themselves through community service and have displayed a leadership role within their team.
Joyal graciously accepted his award in front of 650 members of the university and amateur sports communities. He thanked Concordia University, his family and head coach Kevin Figsby during his acceptance speech.
The Châteauguay, Que., native maintains a GPA over 3.5 while studying in the Department of Economics.
He also puts countless hours into community initiatives, including organizing and hosting the Omnium Maxime Joyal pour la Fondation Rêves d'Enfants – a golf tournament in St. Rémi, Que., that raised funds for the Children’s Wish Foundation.
In addition, he has been a peer tutor, volunteers with youth hockey and participated in Concordia’s Centraide March of the Umbrellas to kick off the annual fundraising campaign.
Three other varsity athletes were also honoured at the 25th annual FAEQ gala. Veteran quarterback Rob Mackay (Port Dover, Ont.) received a Montreal Alouettes sport excellence bursary valued at $1,250. Wrestler Riley Otto (Halifax) and quarterback Tyler Pritty (Markham, Ont.) were granted $3,000 entry bursaries as non-Quebec athletes who chose to pursue academics and athletics in the province.
An incomparable athlete
Joyal spent a great deal of time in the summer months organizing the inaugural Omnium Maxime Joyal pour la Fondation Rêves d'Enfants, which took place July 31. Part of his motivation came from his girlfriend’s cousin, who is fighting lung cancer.
“It’s so sad to see a five-year-old child with cancer,” Joyal says. “The impact on his family is immense. His parents have had to stop working to take care of him.
“If there’s anything I can do to make things even a little bit better, I want to do it. I’m grateful for my health, for good people who have supported me in my life – like my parents – and for the role models I’ve looked up to. Now it’s my turn to give back.”
A dedicated scholar This same dedication also lends itself to academics. Studying at an English university took some adjustment for the francophone athlete, but Joyal has adapted admirably, with a 3.70 GPA.
After his junior career, Joyal took a break from academics to try his hand at professional hockey with the Elmira Jackals in the East Coast Hockey League. He quickly learned it wasn’t for him. After all, he grew up with parents impressing on him the importance of education and constantly reminding him that school comes before hockey.
“In the East Coast, I saw guys who were 30, 31, 32 years old with no education,” Joyal says. “I kept asking myself, ‘What are they going to do after hockey?’ I decided to get a university degree. I understand pursuing your dream, but logically education has to come first.”
Future options for bright student
Joyal has a couple of career interests. He’s considering applying to the RCMP as a civilian to work as an economic crime investigator.
He’s also considering an MBA or graduate studies in sports management.
In the meantime, Joyal has at least one more year as an integral member of the Concordia Stingers men’s hockey program – two seasons if he enrolls in graduate school at Concordia.
“There’s not another goalie in university hockey that I would rank in front of Max,” says Concordia head coach Figsby. “He brings so much to this program both as an outstanding athlete and as an exceptional human being.”
Hockey has afforded Joyal a lot of opportunities. “I’ve achieved some dreams and I can say I played pro hockey,” says Joyal. “But I’m most proud of my decision to get a university education and play university hockey.”
Related links:
• Fondation de l’athlete d’excellence du Québec
• Concordia Stingers
• Concordia Department of Economics