Former Flyer Keith Primeau honored at Neumann University

Neumann University presented the inaugural Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development Award to Keith Primeau on October 12 in a ceremony on campus.

Primeau, a former captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, skated with the club from 1999 to 2006. He appeared in the National Hockey League All-Star game in 1999 and 2004. A fan favorite, he is best remembered for his goal that ended the longest playoff game in NHL history, a 5-overtime contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins in May of 2000.

The award is presented to individuals who exemplify the development of strong character through athletics and the embodiment of the good that exists in sports. Primeau has become a very public spokesperson about the dangers of concussions in ice hockey. He was diagnosed with the injury four times during his career, the last incident forcing his premature retirement.

He appears on behalf of “Play It Cool,” a concussion prevention program that hosts education days for minor league hockey players across North America. His message is that players can be courageous and competitive without risking brain damage. A Neumann alumnus, Primeau has also agreed to donate his brain to science when he dies.

After receiving the award, Primeau spoke on “The Ethical Value of Sports: Building Character through Competition.” Independence Blue Cross (IBC) was the presenting sponsor of the inaugural award.

The Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development at Neumann University is committed to the concept that sport possesses an inescapable spiritual and ethical dimension that merits academic exploration and practical application. The Institute supervises Neumann’s team chaplains, trains team captains in leadership, and produces practical resources for area coaches.

In the photo above, Keith Primeau (center) receives the inaugural Neumann University Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development Award from Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, Neumann’s president, and Dr. Ed Hastings, director of the Institute.