Kavanaghs give $1 million to Rams hockey program
(left to right) Head Coach Rams Women’s Hockey, Lisa Haley; Head Coach Rams Men’s Hockey, Johnny Duco; Brigitte and Al Kavanagh (with jersey), and Ryerson Athletics Director, Ivan Joseph, at the Kavanagh Family Welcome Centre at the MAC
It is the single largest donation to athletics in Ryerson history.
Al and Brigitte Kavanagh’s gift of $1 million will transform the men’s and women’s hockey program at Ryerson by creating new opportunities for player and team development, and a series of financial awards for student-athletes.
Al Kavanagh is the retired founder and former president and director of GolfNorth Properties. And a big fan of the game of hockey. He wants this gift to help send a message that Ryerson is serious about competing. “There’s terrific opportunity,” says Al, “to build new connections for the hockey program, and attract new talent and fans. This can help take hockey at Ryerson to the next level of achievement.”
Ivan Joseph, director of Ryerson’s athletics program, says, “The Kavanagh family is helping Ryerson write a new chapter for hockey in this storied building. Al’s love for the game, and his insight and expertise, will be of exceptional value to students and coaches alike.”
Allocated equally between men’s and women’s hockey, the support will create an Excellence Fund for each team, which will be used to seize opportunities for the kinds of travel and training that can shape performance. The Kavanagh’s gift will also create a series of student awards to provide financial support to select hockey players.
Joseph adds, “This commitment to player performance will raise the profile of the program, attract new athletes to Ryerson, and make both the men’s and women’s teams stronger competitors. We are grateful to the Kavanaghs for their generosity and vision.”
“We’ve been watching Ryerson,” says Brigitte Kavanagh, “and this is a moment of great momentum for the university. We are excited to see the promise here in both the students and the teams.”
The gift comes at a moment when the Ryerson Rams teams are enjoying some of their strongest successes in the school’s history. It follows the announcement of the appointment of Johnny Duco as the new head coach of the men’s hockey team. With Duco in the interim position last year, the Rams finished number one in the regular season of the OUA conference.