A Family Tradition, A Personal Journey: Isaac Nurse

“Off the ice, he's a chill, laid-back guy, but I think what he takes pride in and probably the best quality for Nursey is his work ethic,” said Kade Landry, Isaac’s teammate in Juniors, University of New Brunswick, and the Blades. 

Nine months of putting his head down and committing to the grind gave him the opportunity to reflect on what truly defined his game, allowing him to make the impact he intended for the first time.

Carving His Own Path

With hockey and success going hand in hand in the Nurse family, Isaac could paint a picture of what steps to take to reach his goals, however, after injury, he took his own approach to establish his own identity on the ice. 

"I think I just play my game, and I kind of approach it my own way," he explained. "I do it in a unique way that's maybe different from some of my family members." 

His ability to develop his own playing style has been a key factor in his success, allowing him to stand out in The Swamp and build a level of confidence that is seamlessly integrated with his role on the ice. 

“The fans get to see it on the ice, but it's no accident. He masters his craft. He puts a lot of time into his craft, whether it's on the ice in the summer, or in the gym, he's arguably the hardest worker that I've ever played with, and it's one of the reasons why he's such a special person and player,” Landry said. 

It took just three games for Nurse to register his first professional goal—free on a breakaway and slipping a shot through Orlando Solar Bears’ Alexis Gravel’s five-hole. A goal that perfectly embodies the way Nurse plays: confident, determined, and relentless.

But when I asked him what his favorite thing is about being a Blade, he didn't say scoring flashy goals, working his way up the scoresheet, or winning, he said: 

“My teammates are number one, for sure.”

Because while everyone else might focus on the puck hitting the back of the net, Nurse is just as focused on his teammate, Ben Brar, skating to retrieve the puck—a keepsake for Nurse to remember his first professional goal.

While his hockey journey has included both highs and lows, moments of celebration, and times of mental preparation, the one constant has been his unwavering commitment to sharing it with those he cares about most, whether it’s his brother, sister, or teammates.

“If you look at our seven, eight years together, we've been able to win three or four championships and have had, you know, hundreds of amazing memories together,” Landry added. 

“So he's one of my best friends, and I've been lucky enough to be his teammate for this long and hoping to get another championship with him this year.”