THUNDER BAY, Ont. (CIS) – Third-year University of New Brunswick forward 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 Rob Hennigar was honoured in 2007-08, while Saint Mary's Marc Rancourt was last season's CIS MVP.
 
University Cup website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mice
 
Other CIS major award winners announced during the All-Canadian Banquet at the Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay were McGill's Marc-André Dorion of St-Hubert, Que., who was named defenceman of the year; Manitoba's Steve Christie of Winnipeg, selected as the country's best goaltender; UPEI forward Jared Gomes of Brampton, Ont., who received the Clare Drake award presented to the rookie of the year; UQTR right winger Francis Guérette-Charland of Victoriaville, Que., who claimed the R.W. Pugh award as the nation's most sportsmanlike player; UNB's Gardiner MacDougall of Bedeque, P.E.I., who captured the Father George Kehoe memorial award as coach of the year; and Alberta forward Tyler Metcalfe of Headingley, Man., who received the Dr. Randy Gregg award recognizing his excellence in hockey, academics and community involvement.
 
The defenceman and goaltender of the year awards were both introduced this season.
 
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 and SSN Canada.
 
SENATOR JOSEPH A. SULLIVAN TROPHY (player of the year): Hunter Tremblay, UNB
 
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. He tallied 50 points in each of his first two university seasons, earning AUS rookie-of-the-year honours and a spot on the CIS all-rookie team in 2007-08 and a second-team all-Canadian nod a year ago. After leading the V-Reds to the national final two years ago and to the University Cup title last winter, he became the first player in UNB history to amass 50 points in three consecutive campaigns thanks to his 2009-10 tally.
 
“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 of Mashteviatsh, Que., and Alberta right winger Chad Klassen of Saskatoon were the other finalists for the Sullivan trophy.
 
DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR: Marc-André Dorion, McGill
 
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 of Barrie, Ont., and Alberta's Kyle Fecho of Hanna, Alta., were also in the running for top-defenceman honours.
 
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR: Steve Christie, Manitoba
 
Christie started 27 of 28 league games in his fourth season with the Bisons and earned a spot on the first all-Canadian squad after he led the Canada West conference with 15 victories and placed second in save percentage (.917) and goals against average (2.51). His save percentage was good for third in the nation while his GAA ranked seventh.
 
The 25-year-old kinesiology student, who also led CIS in minutes played (1,603) during the regular season, backstopped a young squad that includes six freshmen to third place in the conference standings with a 16-10-2 mark. Manitoba finished second in Canada West and fifth in CIS with 77 goals allowed in 28 matches.
 
“Steve has been heavily relied upon during this whole season. He has consistently provided goaltending to win every game and more, and has played a very large role in our success,” said Manitoba head coach Mike Sirant. “Steve is very competitive, works hard at his game and thrives in high-pressure situations.”
 
Waterloo's Keaton Hartigan of Kitchener, Ont., and Acadia's Kris Westblom of Meadow Lake, Sask., were also up for the inaugural top goalie award.
 
CLARE DRAKE AWARD (rookie of the year): Jared Gomes, UPEI
 
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 of Richmond Hill, Ont., was also nominated for the Clare Drake award.
 
R.W. PUGH AWARD (most sportsmanlike player): Francis Guérette-Charland, UQTR
 
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 of Brantford, Ont., and Calgary forward Reid Jorgensen of Vancouver were also up for the Pugh award.
 
FATHER GEORGE KEHOE MEMORIAL AWARD (coach of the year): Gardiner MacDougall, UNB
 
MacDougall became the second UNB mentor to earn the Father Kehoe award. Mike Kelly was honoured in 1997-98.
 
In his 11th season behind the bench, MacDougall led the Varsity Reds (27-1-0) to a record campaign during which they set a CIS mark with 27 conference wins and established a new AUS standard with 54 points, which tied the all-time CIS record. His V-Reds, who were ranked No. 1 in the first 15 national media polls before falling to second place in the final voting, allowed a CIS-low 56 in 28 league duels while finishing first in the Atlantic and third in the country with 143 goals scored. UNB's 26 straight wins to open the regular schedule were also a new CIS record.
 
Over the past decade, MacDougall has guided the V-Reds to five University Cup tournament appearances, four trips to the national final and two CIS titles, in 2006-07 and 2008-09. A three-time AUS coach of the year, he was twice named coach of the year in his native province of Prince Edward Island and was an assistant with the Canadian team made up of AUS all-stars that claimed gold at the 2007 Winter Universiade in Italy.
 
Waterloo's Brian Bourque and Manitoba's Mike Sirant were also in the running for coach-of-the-year recognition.
 
DR. RANDY GREGG AWARD (outstanding student-athlete): Tyler Metcalfe, Alberta
 
Metcalfe his 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.
 
Metcalfe is very involved both on campus and in the Edmonton community. The hockey team's representative to the U of A's Athletic Board for the past four years, he has organized team fundraising events and on-campus charity events. A volunteer for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Edmonton, he has helped out at the Edmonton Blood Donor Clinic for three years. Over the last three seasons, he has participated in the Play Around the World (PAW) program run through the University's Faculty of Physical Education. In the summer of 2008, he helped take the PAW program to Thailand, making a meaningful difference in the lives of underserved and disadvantaged children and youth (orphans, street children and people with disabilities).
 
“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 of Ponoka, Alta., and Royal Military College forward Jeff Oke of Grand Bend, Ont., were also nominated for the Dr. Gregg award.
 
All-Canadian Teams
 
The all-Canadian teams were also announced on Wednesday.
 
Joining Tremblay, Dorion and Christie on the first CIS squad were conference most valuable players Verreault-Paul (OUA East) and Klassen (Canada West), as well as AUS top defenceman Hotham.
 
Verreault-Paul led OUA in scoring and was second in the nation during the regular season with 54 points, and tied for the CIS lead with 25 goals. Klassen won the Canada West scoring race with 46 points (18-28-46), while Hotham was the highest-scoring rearguard in the country with 39 points (6-33-39).
 
Klassen and Hotham were both second-team all-Canadians a year ago.
 
The second CIS unit for 2009-10 is comprised of Hartigan, Fecho, UNB defenceman Luke Gallant of Bedford, N.S., UNB forward John Scott Dickson of Barrie, Ont., Waterloo left winger Chris Ray of Kelowna, B.C., and Alberta forward Derek Ryan of Spokane, Wash., all first-time all-Canadians.
 
Joining Gomes on the all-rookie team were Kiriakou, Saint Mary's goaltender Neil Conway of Concord, Ohio, UNB rearguard Ben Shutron of Orleans, Ont., Western Ontario defenceman Scott Aarsen of London, Ont., and Alberta centre Sean Ringrose of Edmonton.