Darnell is a Canadian professional hockey player and a defenceman for the Edmonton Oilers. Born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1995 to a father who played in the Canadian Football League and a mother who played basketball in college, Darnell seemed destined for athletic greatness. Sure enough, he rose through the ranks of junior hockey and was chosen with the third pick of the 2011 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Two years later, he was chosen by the Oilers with the seventh pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. By 2016, Nurse was a regular for the Oilers. He posted 11 points in 2016-17 and 26 in 2017-18 before breaking out for 41 in 2018-19. In 2021, he signed an eight-year, $74 million contract extension with the Oilers. Darnell is passionate about topics such as diversity, team building, and creating a winning culture. He has also played for the Canadian National Team in the IHF World Championships. His sister Kia plays in the WNBA and his uncle is former NFL Quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Darnell loves learning. He completed his securities course during the lockdown and is currently at the Sauder School of Business at UBC. He also utilized a business course made possible through a collaborative effort between the NHLPA and Harvard University. His objective is not only to secure lasting financial prosperity for himself and his family, but also to inspire upcoming athletes who aspire to emulate his path by encouraging financial literacy to youth.
Along with loving to learn, Darnell is invested into health and wellness. His journey is further rooted within his family's legacy of athletes, making him an inspiring figure in the world of sports and a great public speaker.
