Spartans' Nickel named TWU's Scholar Athlete of the Year

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At the recent Trinity Western University athletics awards banquet, Spartans defenceman Benton Nickel (Abbotsford, B.C.) earned the hockey team’s first two Spartans awards as he was named both the Scholar Athlete of the Year and was given the School of Business Spartan Athlete Award.

With the men’s hockey team coming under the Spartans umbrella this year for the first time in 20 years, Nickel was an instrumental part in helping the former Titans make the transition. Having played for the Titans within the BCIHL for three years prior to the team adopting the Spartans moniker, Nickel was the captain of this year’s team and proved to be an impressive athlete both on and off the ice.

This fall, Nickel, who had one goal, four assists and 56 penalty minutes in 21 games this year, will attend the Laurentian Leadership Centre in Ottawa where he will study “leadership, public policy, ethics and contemporary culture in interdisciplinary classes under excellent professors in a unique and academic environment.”

The Spartans athletics awards banquet was held at the Langley Events Centre, where approximately 300 people, including fellow athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, sponsors, family, and friends, were in attendance to support the Spartans athletes who were recognized and honoured for their achievements over the 2010-11 season.