SMU’s Bloodoff, Stienburg and UPEI’s Knox claim CIS men’s hockey awards
(SASKATOON, Sask.) – Lucas Bloodoff, a third-year forward from Saint Mary’s University, was named the CIS player of the year in men’s hockey, Wednesday night.
(SASKATOON, Sask.) – Lucas Bloodoff, a third-year forward from Saint Mary's University, was named the CIS player of the year in men's hockey, Wednesday night.
The native of Castlegar, B.C., became the third player in school history to claim the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy. Forward Marc Rancourt and goaltender Mark Locken had been honoured in 2008-09 and 1982-83, respectively.
Other winners announced during the SaskTel Awards Presentation at TCU Place in Saskatoon were UQTR rearguard Pierre-Luc Lessard, who was named CIS defenceman of the year; Alberta netminder Kurtis Mucha, selected as the country's best goaltender; Carleton forward Mitch Porowski, who received the Clare Drake Award as rookie of the year; Alberta forward Jordan Hickmott, who claimed the R.W. Pugh Award as the nation's most sportsmanlike player; Saint Mary's head coach Trevor Stienburg, who captured the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award; and UPEI forward Jordan Knox, who merited the Dr. Randy Gregg Award recognizing his excellence in hockey, academics and community involvement.
The PotashCorp University Cup, presented by Co-op, gets underway Thursday at the Credit Union Centre and culminates Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Saskatchewan Time with the national final, live on Sportsnet ONE.
Sportsnet also has live coverage of the final day of pool play, on Saturday, with contests scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. local. All seven matches from the championship will also be webcast live on www.CIS-SIC.tv.
SENATOR JOSEPH A. SULLIVAN TROPHY (player of the year): Lucas Bloodoff, Saint Mary's
Bloodoff is the fifth AUS player in the past six years to win the Sullivan Trophy.
The talented forward led the Atlantic conference in scoring this season with 38 points in 28 games. Also named a first-team all-Canadian, he netted a league-high 20 goals and added 18 assists. His totals included three game-winning markers and a CIS-leading 12 power-play goals.
In three seasons of university hockey, Bloodoff, a former member of the WHL's Kelowna Rockets, has now accumulated 76 career points in 82 conference games.
"At 6-foot-2, 230-pound, Lucas is a pro-level conditioned athlete who has gained a reputation as a punishing fore-checker and extremely hard to play against," said head coach Trevor Stienburg. "Whether at practice, in the gym or during a game, the expectations on Lucas have been extremely high and he has delivered on those expectations. Lucas is a natural leader who brings the most out in his teammates and those around him. After 16 years of coaching at this level, his commitment to his team and teammates is second to none and he has made our team, department and school a better place with his personality, professionalism and passion. He epitomizes not only what anyone would want in a student athlete but more so what you would want in a son."
The other finalists for the Sullivan Trophy were forwards Félix Petit of UQTR and Blair Macaulay of Manitoba.
DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR: Pierre-Luc Lessard, UQTR
Lessard is the first UQTR player to be named the best defenceman in CIS since the inception of the award four years ago.
The business administration student was the top-scoring rearguard in the country in the regular season with five goals and 26 assists for 31 points in 28 games. He also spent only eight minutes in the penalty box, which earned him most sportsmanlike status in the OUA East. After three straight selections as an OUA all-star, this marks his first nomination as an all-Canadian.
Before joining the Patriotes four years ago, the native of Thetford Mines, Que., played in the QMJHL with Gatineau, Prince Edward Island and Baie-Comeau. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2006.
Saint Mary's Michael D'Orazio and Alberta's Jesse Craige were also in the running for the award.
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR: Kurtis Mucha, Alberta
Mucha, a third-year netminder, is the second consecutive Golden Bear to win the award after teammate Réal Cyr claimed it in 2012.
The former Portland Winterhawk had a stellar season as he led CIS in goals against average, with a sparkling 1.30, and in save percentage (.936), while earning a 13-2 record. The Sherwood Park, Alta., native also played a key role in setting three Canada West records over the course of the campaign. He and Cyr combined to give Alberta a record three consecutive shutouts to close out the regular season, two of which were earned by Mucha. The Bears also yielded a conference-record fewest goals against this season (45). On top of that, Mucha became the first goalie in Canada West history to be credited with scoring a goal.
After shutting out his final two opponents in the regular season, Mucha then carried that impenetrable play over to the playoffs when he posted two more whitewashes in a two-game sweep of the Calgary Dinos. His personal shutout streak ended at 335 minutes and six seconds after he allowed a goal to Saskatchewan in the second game of the best-of-three league final.
Mucha and Cyr repeated this season as winners of the Adam Kryczka Memorial Trophy for the lowest goals against average by a team in Canada West play.
The other nominees for top-goalie honours were Wayne Savage of UPEI and Ryan Daniels of Wilfrid Laurier.
CLARE DRAKE AWARD (rookie of the year): Mitch Porowski, Carleton
Porowski, who hails from Ottawa, becomes the first CIS major award winner from Carleton since the Ravens entered OUA hockey in 2007.
In his inaugural university campaign, Porowski collected 19 goals and 19 assists in 28 conference games, which was tops among OUA East division rookies, 14 points ahead of second place. His 38 points ranked the arts student sixth overall in Ontario and he led the Ravens in goals, points, power play markers (9) and game winning goals (4). For his efforts, he was named a first-team OUA all-star.
Forwards Mike Cazzola of Acadia and James Henry of Manitoba were also nominated for the Clare Drake Award.
R.W. PUGH AWARD (most sportsmanlike player): Jordan Hickmott, Alberta
Hickmott is just the second member of the Golden Bears' program to claim the honour, and first since Mike Jickling won in 1998.
A CIS all-rookie team member a year ago, Hickmott led the nation's number two offence in goals (15) and points (35) during a 28 game regular season in which the top-ranked Bears recorded a 23-4-1 mark. Nationally, he finished inside the top 15 for both points and goals. On top of that, the former Edmonton Oil King took just two minor penalties all season, and also recorded the fourth best plus/minus in Canada West at +19, which was also the highest mark recorded by a forward in the conference.
Forwards Chris Culligan of UNB and Steven Reese of Western were also up for the Pugh Award.
FATHER GEORGE KEHOE MEMORIAL AWARD (coach of the year): Trevor Stienburg, Saint Mary's
In his 16th season as Saint Mary's bench boss, Stienburg, a four-time AUS coach of the year, is honoured by his CIS peers for the fourth time in his career. He also merited the Father Kehoe Award in 1998-99 and 1999-00.
Bob Boucher is the only other Huskies coach to win the Kehoe Award, in 1972-73 and 1976-77.
Stienburg guided the fourth-ranked Huskies to an 18-7-3 regular season record this season and a second-place finish in the Atlantic conference standings with 39 points.
Since taking over the Saint Mary's University hockey program in 1997-98, he has led the Huskies to three AUS crowns (2001-02, 2008-09 and 2009-10) and the first University Cup title in program history in 2009-10. In 2007, he was the head coach of the AUS team that represented Canada and won gold at the Winter Universiade in Torino, Italy. He was also at the helm of the AUS squad that claimed silver at the World University Games in Poland in 2001.
"I feel very fortunate to be re-united with Coach Stienburg," said Dr. David Murphy, director of athletics at Saint Mary's. "Trevor brings intensity and integrity to work every day and it shows in the character of his players. He teaches discipline, respect in athletics and dedication to studies and academics. It is no wonder the Saint Mary's hockey team has had success in both the classroom and on the ice."
Wilfrid Laurier's Greg Puhalski and Alberta's Ian Herbers were also in the running for coach-of-the-year honours.
DR. RANDY GREGG AWARD (hockey, academics & community service): Jordan Knox, UPEI
Knox, a fourth-year forward from Skinner's Pond, P.E.I., has been an Academic all-Canadian in each of the four seasons he has played in the Atlantic conference. Having already graduated with Bachelors in Business (with a major in accounting), he is currently working towards his Honors in Business degree.
This season, Knox finished 16th in AUS scoring with nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 28 games. His totals included four power-play goals, one short-handed marker and a game-winner. In four seasons with the Panthers, he has collected 33 goals and 67 assists for 100 points in 108 career regular season contests.
In addition to his academic and athletic commitments, Knox volunteers with many hockey associations, fund raising events and community awareness activities.
In his second year at UPEI, he contributed significantly to a fundraising event that amassed close to $7,000 for a member of the UPEI alumni that had one of his children involved in a life altering accident. More recently, another member of the UPEI alumni had tragically passed away and Jordan again played a key role in organizing an event that contributed close to $5,000 towards helping the family. Another recent tragedy claimed a young member of his community (Kameron Cooke, six-years old) who suddenly passed away. Knox is currently serving on a committee that will have fundraising activities set up to benefit a Memorial in Kameron's name.
Each year, UPEI men's hockey has a 'Santa Clause Run' that raises money for gifts for those who are less fortunate in the community. This event was initiated during Knox's time at UPEI, and he has played a significant contributing role. He also participates in the 'Movember' fundraising event and this past season volunteered on a weekly basis at the East Wiltshire Hockey Academy, a school program designed to introduce kids to the game of hockey.
"Jordan exemplifies exactly what the spirit of this award represents," said UPEI head coach Forbes MacPherson. "Jordan is the epitome of outstanding AUS achievement in hockey, academics, and community involvement. Jordan 'gets it' and he is a model student-athlete. He is a leader in our program, is becoming a young strong leader of our community and is a tremendous nominee for the Dr. Randy Gregg Award."
Windsor's Brett Vandehogen and Alberta's Greg Gardner were also nominated for the Dr. Gregg Award.
ALL-CANADIAN TEAMS
The all-Canadian teams were also announced on Wednesday.
Joining Bloodoff, Lessard and Mucha on the first squad were Saint Mary's defenceman Michael D'Orazio and forwards Félix Petit of UQTR and Blair Macaulay of Manitoba.
Petit finished second in the country in scoring in league play with 11 goals and 32 assists for 43 points in 28 games; Macaulay, who was a second-team CIS all-star a year ago, was third in Canada West scoring (12th in CIS) with a 12-23-35 mark in 28 contests; D'Orazio was the second-highest scoring rearguard in the nation behind Lessard with 30 points (3-27-30) in 28 matches.
The second all-Canadian unit is comprised of Wilfrid Laurier goalie Ryan Daniels, Alberta's Jesse Craige and Acadia's Chris Owens on the blue line, as well as forwards Justin Larson of Waterloo, Andrew Clark of Acadia and Kyle Bortis of Saskatchewan.
Teammates Owens and Clark were both first-team all-Canadians last season, when Clark was named CIS player of the year; Larson won the CIS scoring crown this year with 45 points (17-28-45) in 28 league games; Bortis finished first in Canada West (8th in CIS) with 36 points (10-26-36), also in 28 contests.
Joining Porowski on the CIS all-rookie squad were UOIT netminder Bryce O'Hagan, UBC's Neil Manning and Toronto's Lane Werbowski on defence, as well as Acadia's Mike Cazzola and Manitoba's James Henry on offence.
2012-2013 CIS MEN'S HOCKEY AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS
Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy (player of the year): Lucas Bloodoff, Saint Mary's
Defenceman of the year: Pierre-Luc Lessard, UQTR
Goaltender of the year: Kurtis Mucha, Alberta
Clare Drake Award (rookie of the year): Mitch Porowski, Carleton
R.W. Pugh Award (most sportsmanlike player): Jordan Hickmott, Alberta
Father George Kehoe Memorial Award (coach of the year): Trevor Stienburg, Saint Mary's
Dr. Randy Gregg Award (hockey, academics & community service): Jordan Knox, UPEI
First Team
Pos. Athlete University Year Hometown Faculty
G-Kurtis Mucha Alberta 3 Sherwood Park, Alta. Science
D-Pierre-Luc Lessard UQTR 4 Thetford Mines, Que. Administration
D-Michael D'Orazio Saint Mary's 2 Richmond Hill, Ont. Commerce
F-Lucas Bloodoff Saint Mary's 3 Castlegar, B.C. Commerce
F-Félix Petit UQTR 3 Jonquière, Que. Administration
F-Blair Macaulay Manitoba 4 Winnipeg, Man. Business
Second Team
G-Ryan Daniels Laurier 4 Pickering, Ont. Business
D-Jesse Craige Alberta 3 Edmonton, Alta. PE & Recreation
D-Christopher Owens Acadia 3 St. John's, Nfld. Business Admin.
F-Justin Larson Waterloo 2 Buckhorn, Ont. Legal Studies
F-Andrew Clark Acadia 4 Brandon, Man. Kinesiology
F-Kyle Bortis Saskatchewan 4 Saskatoon, Sask. Agri. & Bioresources
All-Rookie Team
G-Bryce O'Hagan UOIT 1 Burlington, Ont. Criminology
D- Neil Manning UBC 1 Nanaimo, B.C. Commerce
D-Lane Werbowski Toronto 1 Winnipeg, Man. Arts and Science
F-Mitch Porowski Carleton 1 Ottawa, Ont. Arts
F-Mike Cazzola Acadia 1 Guelph, Ont. Kinesiology
F-James Henry Manitoba 1 Winnipeg, Man. University 1
Source: CIS Communications