Syracuse, N.Y. — Exactly 60 years after earning them, the Syracuse Nationals got their true reward on Friday night in the War Memorial.

Three players from the squad finally received championship rings in a ceremony put on by the Syracuse Crunch prior to its game against Bridgeport.

Dolph Schayes, Bill Kenville and Jim Tucker, as well as family members of Paul Seymour, Earl Lloyd and Bill Gabor, were honored at center ice. The guests thought the ceremony had ended when Crunch owner Howard Dolgon took the microphone to announce he had one more gift. Crunch captain Mike Angelidis handed out the baubles.

When the Nats won the title in 1955, their mementos were ice buckets.

The Nats players and family members also received small pieces of the original War Memorial court on which they clinched the title, which had been stored in the building's basement.

The three former Nats were each escorted to center ice by Crunch players. Joey Mormina skated with Tucker, Jonathan Marchessault helped Kenville and J.P. Cote escorted Schayes.

"It was pretty awesome to see them still in Syracuse, where it all started for them,'' Marchessault said. "I'm sure it was pretty amazing for them at that time. It's just fun to see that they come back and give it back to Syracuse too.''

Both teams and coaching staffs enjoyed the festivities from their respective benches, tapping their sticks in appreciation.

Brian McIntyre, the NBA's senior communications advisor to the commissioner, was also on hand to congratulate the players. McIntyre noted how special it was for players in a different sport and a different generation to appreciate the accomplishments of the Nats.

And they weren't the only ones who wanted a piece of the moment. Fans stood in a long, winding line during the first intermission to get autographs from the former Nats.



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