THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. — The Thief River Falls Norskies of the Superior International Junior Hockey League have announced that forward Alec Daman has been named the recipient of the NorsKids Foundation/Tommy Stang Community Service Scholarship of $1,500 for the 2018-19 season.
The scholarship is funded by Tim and Michelle Benton, who contributed $1,000, and the Tommy Stang family, who contributed $500.
The scholarship is named after former Norskies forward, Tommy Stang, who played for the team in their inaugural 2016-17 season.
He was instrumental in organizing and getting the Norskies players involved in NorsKids Foundation events, including weekly Tuesday afternoon bowling with the adult Special Olympic Athletes.
Stang is currently a sophomore at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn., where he plays hockey for the Cardinals, and was their leading scorer this past season.
He was named to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) 1st All-Conference Team and their All Academic 1st Team.
The Benton’s provided travel accommodations to Tommy Stang so he could be on hand on Saturday night to present his former TRF Norskie team mate, Alec Daman of Chelsea, Mich., with the scholarship.
Alec is the son of Nathan Benjamin of Columbia, S.C. and Erika Daman of Chelsea, Mich.
He has played for the TRF Norskies for three seasons and has volunteered with NorsKids Foundation and participated in their events for all three years.
Alec was one of the original players that Tommy organized to participate in the weekly adult Special Olympic bowling practices.
He has bowled, assisted ramp bowlers, driven go-karts, played mini-golf, danced, ice skated, played the TRF Norskies cornhole game, signed autographs and taken photos with the NorsKids Foundation participants.
He is a favorite player on the ice because he gives 110%, and is the all-time leading points record holder for the Norskies with 66 goals and 91 assists during his three regular seasons.
Daman is currently looking at several universities, and has not made a final decision yet on where he will continue his education and hockey career.
NorsKids Foundation was proud to have Alec Daman as its 1st recipient of the NorsKids Foundation/Tommy Stang Community Service Scholarship.
Photo credit: Tim Benton