The players on the Nipissing University Lakers hockey team will get the opportunity to ride in a police cruiser, though the university is pleased to say they’ll be riding up front and learning about policing with an active police officer serving as a mentor.

Today, Nipissing University, the Lakers hockey team and the North Bay Police Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that details an innovative new mentorship program.  The program will allow Lakers hockey players interested in a policing career to be mentored by active North Bay police officers.

This is the only program of its kind in Ontario. 

The student athletes will get the opportunity to learn from their mentor about the policing profession, with particular emphasis on the application and entry process, and requirements of the job.  Officers will also provide players with orientation to other agencies in the criminal justice spectrum.  Interested players will also get the opportunity to do ride-alongs with their mentor in a police cruiser.

To enter the program, players and mentors must pass a selection and screening process.

“This is a terrific program that doesn’t exist in any other schools in Ontario, so it’s a big benefit in recruiting players,” said Mike McParland, Lakers Head Coach.  “The program should also help players achieve academically. A number of the constables who are signed on as mentors played university hockey themselves, so they can offer players personal perspective on how to help reach goals both athletic and academic.”

“This mentorship program is a very good initiative for policing.  It will help raise our profile in the community while also helping us recruit excellent candidates interested in a career in policing, here in North Bay and all over the province,” said Paul Cook, North Bay Police Service Chief of Police.  Policing requires an ability to work as part of team, relying on and trusting others, so individuals who excel at team sports often excel in policing.”

 “This unique and innovative program is a win-win-win initiative for our hockey team and our local police force as well as our community, who will benefit from a great hockey team as well as an excellent police force!” said Lesley Lovett-Doust, Nipissing University President.  “Nipissing has an outstanding Criminal Justice program that is of interest to many students, including athletes, and this mentorship program provides an excellent opportunity to learn about a career from someone with a great deal of expertise.”

While the mentorship program is presently available only to the Lakers hockey team, North Bay Police Service and Nipissing University hope to extend a similar opportunity to other student athletes.