Canadian Hockey League Graduates Win Major CIS Awards
Published on March 25, 2010 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) News Release
TORONTO, Thursday, March 25, 2010 - The Canadian Hockey league today announced that five CHL graduates have been recognized by Canadian Interuniversity Sport as major award winners and 16 graduates are represented throughout the CIS All-Canadian Teams that were announced on Wednesday night in Thunder Bay, ON.
Among the award winners, third-year University of New Brunswick forward and Barrie Colts (2002-07) graduate Hunter Tremblay was named CIS player of the year in men's hockey, Wednesday night.
The native of Timmins, Ont., became the second Varsity Red in three years and the third consecutive skater from the Atlantic conference to claim the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy. Former UNB great and Windsor Spitfires graduate Rob Hennigar (Windsor Spitfires 2000-04) was honoured in 2007-08, while Saint Mary's Marc Rancourt (Belleville Bulls 2001-05) was last season's CIS MVP.
The 2010 Cavendish University Cup tournament, presented by TBay Tel and hosted by Lakehead University, gets underway Thursday at the Fort William Gardens and culminates Sunday with the national final at 7 p.m., live on Rogers Sportsnet.
Earlier this season the CHL announced that 1,040 academic scholarships had been awarded for the 2009-10 season. 692 of those scholarships were awarded to graduate players with over 300 of them to players currently competing in the CIS.
SENATOR JOSEPH A. SULLIVAN TROPHY (player of the year): Hunter Tremblay, UNB (Barrie Colts 2002-07)
Tremblay is the third UNB player in history to claim the Sullivan trophy following Hennigar and forward John LeBlanc, honoured in 1985-86.
The Varsity Reds assistant captain was named to the first all-Canadian team for the first time in his career this season after he captured the CIS scoring crown with 57 points, tied for the nation's lead with 25 goals and ranked fourth in CIS with 32 assists in 27 conference games. The only player in the country to average more than two points per contest (2.11), the 5-foot-10, 195-pound forward also led CIS in winning goals (8) and short-handed markers (5). He recorded at least a point in 23 of 27 league games, including 20 multiple-point performances. Thanks to Tremblay's stellar play, UNB finished first in the AUS standings with a 27-1 mark, setting a CIS record for most wins in a regular season and tying the all-time mark for most points (54). Tremblay joined the Varsity Reds in the fall of 2007 after a five-year OHL career with the Barrie Colts where he had three consecutive 30-goal campaigns.
"Hunter had a career-best season and was an AUS and CIS leader in the majority of key offensive categories," said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "He is a top two-way player for our team and a key asset on both special team units. Hunter is a leader in the dressing room and on the ice. He is able to balance hockey and academics and through our community programs he has the opportunity to inspire a lot of young hockey players to grow their dreams."
McGill right winger Francis Verreault-Paul (Chicoutimi Sagueneens 2003-08) of Mashteviatsh, Que., and Alberta right winger Chad Klassen (Spokane Chiefs/Saskatoon Blades 2001-06) of Saskatoon were the other finalists for the Sullivan trophy.
Other CIS major award winners announced during the All-Canadian Banquet at the Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay include:
DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR: Marc-André Dorion, McGill (Acadie-Bathurst Titan/Baie-Comeau Drakkar 2003-08)
Dorion, a 22-year-old physical education major, was named to the first all-Canadian team after he led all OUA defencemen in scoring and finished third among CIS blueliners with 36 points, including seven goals, in 25 league games. The 5-foot-11, 188-pound sophomore, who was invited to the Dallas Stars rookie camp in 2008, led McGill to second place overall in Ontario with a 22-6-0 mark as the Redmen set team records for most conference wins and overall victories (34) in a single campaign. McGill was the highest-scoring team in the nation this season with 156 goals in 28 contests and maintained the third best defensive record in the country with only 71 goals against.
"Marc-André is a very poised defenceman who has great vision and a positive attitude," said McGill head coach Jim Webster. "He is an extremely fit, strong skater with good mobility and logs lots of ice time."
Saint Mary's Andrew Hotham (Barrie Colts/Erie Otters/Saginaw Spirit 2004-07) of Barrie, Ont., and Alberta's Kyle Fecho (Regina Pats/Seattle Thunderbirds/Moose Jaw Warriors 2002-06) of Hanna, Alta., were also in the running for top-defenceman honours.
CLARE DRAKE AWARD (rookie of the year): Jared Gomes, UPEI (Sarnia Sting/Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 2005-09)
Gomes became the first UPEI winner of the Clare Drake award since its inception in 1985-86.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward was impressive in his university debut finishing ninth in AUS scoring with 33 points (17-16-33) in 28 games, second in the conference with four game-winning goals, and sixth with seven power-play markers. The 21-year-old freshman, who led his team in goals, power-play goals and game winners, guided the Panthers to a 15-11-2 record good for fourth place in the Atlantic. Gomes joined UPEI after a four-year OHL career with Sarnia and Mississauga, including a 31-goal season in his final year.
"To say that Jared has adjusted well from the OHL to CIS would be a dramatic understatement. The best evidence of his value is the fact he led our team in ice time. He accepted responsibility on the power play, penalty kill, and all key situations," said UPEI head coach Forbes MacPherson. "Jared displays a tremendous level of work ethic, character, and discipline. In his initial semester at university, he achieved an 87.2 academic average while taking a full workload of five courses."
Guelph forward Thomas Kiriakou (Ottawa 67's 2005-09) of Richmond Hill, Ont., was also nominated for the Clare Drake award.
R.W. PUGH AWARD (most sportsmanlike player): Francis Guérette-Charland, UQTR (Victoriaville Tigres 2003-07)
Guérette-Charland is the first UQTR skater to receive the R.W. Pugh award since it was first presented back in 1985-86.
In his second season with the Patriotes, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound right winger gave its true meaning to "man advantage" as he tallied a team-high 19 power-play points while spending only 10 minutes in the box. The 22-year-old business administration student finished second in the Ontario conference and third in the country in both goals (24) and points (53) and was a model of consistency, setting a school record with 27 straight games with at least a point, including 16 consecutive contests with at least one assist. Named an OUA East first-team all-star, he led UQTR (23-3-2) to first place overall in Ontario in league play with 48 points, the second highest total in CIS.
"Francis was our most improved player this year. He has become a very important part of our offence," said UQTR head coach Jacques Laporte. "He is also a model of discipline off the ice with a grade point average of 3.68 out of a possible 4.3."
Saint Mary's forward Cam Fergus (Kitchener Rangers/Gatineau Olympiques/Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2003-07) of Brantford, Ont., and Calgary forward Reid Jorgensen (Kamloops Blazers 2002-07) of Vancouver were also up for the Pugh award.
DR. RANDY GREGG AWARD (outstanding student-athlete): Tyler Metcalfe, Alberta (Seattle Thunderbirds 2000-05)
Metcalfe is the fifth U of A winner of the Dr. Randy Gregg award since its inception in 1990-91. He follows in the footsteps of Gavin McLeod (2004-05), Jeff Zorn (2003-04), Blair St. Martin (2002-03) and Cam Danyluk (1997-98).
The team captain for the past two campaigns, the 6-foot, 190-pound forward had 14 points in 27 outings in his final university season as he helped Alberta take first place in the Canada West standings with a stellar 23-4-1 mark. The recipient of the Golden Bears Captain trophy in 2007-08 as the player who contributes the most to the team's success while receiving the least recognition, he was part of the Bears national championship squads in 2005-06 and 2007-08. An Academic All-Canadian each of the last two years, Metcalfe will graduate with two degrees in June - Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education. Last season, he was the only University of Alberta athlete to receive the prestigious "Block A Ring", which is presented to athletes who have demonstrated an exceptional contribution to interuniversity sport in the areas of athletics, academics, community support and leadership.
"Two seasons ago, Tyler was voted by his teammates and coaches to wear the "C" for the Golden Bears. In those two seasons his hard work and determination in the classroom and on the ice has been inspirational. He is a natural leader who leads by example," said Alberta head coach Eric Thurston. "With his charitable work with the Edmonton community and his work overseas with the PAW program he has been an ambassador for not only the Golden Bears and CIS Hockey, but also for the University of Alberta and Canada."
UNB forward Kyle Bailey (Portland Winterhawks/Lethbridge Hurricanes 2003-07) of Ponoka, Alta. was also nominated for the Dr. Gregg award.
The all-Canadian teams were also announced on Wednesday.
First Team
Position - Athlete - University - Year - Hometown - Faculty
Goaltender Steve Christie Manitoba 4 Winnipeg, Man. Kinesiology & Recreation Management
Defence Marc-André Dorion McGill 2 St-Hubert, Que. Physical & Health Education (Acadie-Bathurst Titan/Baie-Comeau Drakkar 2003-08)
Defence Andrew Hotham Saint Mary's 3 Barrie, Ont. Commerce (Barrie Colts/Erie Otters/Saginaw Spirit 2004-07)
Forward Chad Klassen Alberta 4 Saskatoon, Sask. Physical Education & Recreation (Spokane Chiefs/Saskatoon Blades 2001-06)
Forward Francis Verreault-Paul McGill 2 Mashteviatsh, Que. Science, General Kinesiology (Chicoutimi Sagueneens 2003-08)
Forward Hunter Tremblay UNB 3 Timmins, Ont. BBA (Barrie Colts 2002-07)
Second Team
Goaltender Keaton Hartigan Waterloo 2 Kitchener, Ont. Sociology
Defence Kyle Fecho Alberta 4 Hanna, Alta. Business (Regina Pats/Seattle Thunderbirds/Moose Jaw Warriors 2002-06)
Defence Luke Gallant UNB 3 Bedford, N.S. BBA (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles/St. John's Fog Devils 2004-07)
Forward John Scott Dickson UNB 5 Barrie, Ont. BSc Kinesiology (Windsor Spitfires 2000-05)
Forward Chris Ray Waterloo 3 Kelowna, B.C. Environment & Business (Kelowna Rockets 2003-07)
Forward Derek Ryan Alberta 3 Spokane, Wash. Physical Education & Recreation (Spokane Chiefs 2004-07)
All-Rookie Team
Goaltender Neil Conway Saint Mary's 1 Concord, Ohio Commerce (Owen Sound Attack/Oshawa Generals 2004-09)
Defence Ben Shutron UNB 1 Orleans, Ont. BND (Kingston Frontenacs/Kitchener Rangers/Windsor Spitfires 2004-09)
Defence Scott Aarssen Western 1 London, Ont. King's College (London Knights 2005-09)
Forward Sean Ringrose Alberta 1 Edmonton, Alta. Physical Education & Recreation (Medicine Hat Tigers 2007-09)
Forward Thomas Kiriakou Guelph 1 Richmond Hill, Ont. B.A. - History (Ottawa 67's 2005-09)
Forward Jared Gomes UPEI 1 Brampton, Ont. BBA (Sarnia Sting/Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 2005-09)
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2010
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