(Sault Ste. Marie, ON April 14, 2022) – On Wednesday April 13, the ˽ÈËÓ°Ôº Athletics Department honoured student-athletes at the 2021-2022 Awards Banquet.
Men’s soccer player Brett Davie and women’s hockey player Olivia Barsanti were named the 2021-22 ˽ÈËÓ°Ôº Athletes of the Year.
Davie, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has been a leader both on and off the field for the men’s soccer team for three years. His defensive ability and dedication to the sport led the Cougars to their first ever provincial appearance for indoor soccer.
Barsanti, a third-year Nursing student from Bowmanville, Ont., led the Cougars in points with 17 goals and 8 assists in 16 games. The Captain of the Cougars was named to the Central Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association (CCWHA) Second-Team and led her team to the National Championships in St. Louis. Barsanti is a proud ˽ÈËÓ°Ôº student and continues to assist with the growth of the women’s hockey program.
Throughout the evening, many athletes were celebrated for their academic and athletic success throughout the season.
The male rookie of the year award was presented to men's hockey and golf player Zachary Tarantini, and women’s hockey forward Emma Lee. Both Tarantini and Lee were instrumental to their teams’ success in their first year of competition.
After placing second in the CCWHA and advancing to the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Championship for the first time in program history, the women’s hockey team was named Team of the Year.
In addition, Women’s hockey head coach Brianne Veale received the Coach of the Year honours.
Men’s hockey and esports player Lucas Duckstein and Women’s Hockey forward Marie-Pier Lecours earned the G.R. Hodgson Award, which is presented to a male and female student that displays athletic talent, academic proficiency, leadership and proudly contributes to the athletic program.
The Cougar Pride award acknowledges athletes that positively represent ˽ÈËÓ°Ôº and the Varsity Program, while showing pride and dedication to their team. Recipients of the Cougar Pride award were men’s and women’s soccer players Rushawn Bascoe and Giulianna Flores.
New to the awards list this year is the Top Performing International Athlete. This award was presented to Csognor Jakabfy from Gyor Hungary, who has shown outstanding athletic ability and sportsmanship in his first year with the men's hockey team.
Austin Gaudette received the Gerry McGuire Cougar Contributor Award, which is given to an athletic support staff for their extensive contribution of time and talent toward the operation of the ˽ÈËÓ°Ôº Athletics program.
2021-22 Team Awards
Men’s Curling
Most Valuable Player - Nicholas Lemieux
Women’s Curling
Most Valuable Player - Abbey Engel
Esports
Most Valuable Player - Lucas Duckstein
Men’s Golf
Most Valuable Player - Kaden Dundas
Men’s Hockey
Most Valuable Player - Caleb Wood
Women’s Hockey
Most Valuable Player - Olivia Barsanti
Men’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player - Olamipo Ogunnote
Women’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player - Hannah Webb
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