StFX's Bujold and UNB's Maillet named AUS nominees for BLG awards

StFX's Bujold and UNB's Maillet named AUS nominees for BLG awards

TORONTO (U SPORTS) – U SPORTS and national law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) announced Thursday the eight finalists for the milestone 25th annual BLG Awards.

The BLG Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with U SPORTS.

On Monday, May 1, the eight national nominees will be honoured at the Martha Cohen Theatre in Calgary. The female and male winners will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship, while all finalists will return home with a commemorative gold ring from Jostens.

This year’s event will mark the 22nd presentation of the awards gala in Calgary. Over the years, the event has also held been held in Toronto (2009, 2013) and Vancouver (2011). The 2017 ceremony will air nationally later in May on Sportsnet.

Although the 2017 recipients will be determined by the Canadian Athletic Foundation, a not-for-profit board which has selected the winners for the past 24 years, the general public is once again invited to vote online for the third straight season on usports.ca.

“We are extremely honoured to be hosting the 25th anniversary of the BLG Awards in Calgary,” said Doug Mitchell, National Co-Chair of BLG. “This year’s gala will mark a historic milestone in the celebration of the very best of these outstanding athletes, and we continue to be amazed by their talents and accomplishments. Each year, as we follow the past winners and hear about their accomplishments or what they are involved in, we realize how important their university sports background has been to them. We congratulate the universities who have provided the great education and athletic programs for these students to succeed in their careers.”

“Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the BLG Awards is a special way to conclude the U SPORTS season,” said Graham Brown, chief executive officer of U SPORTS. “The BLG Awards represent the highest honour for our student-athlete nominees, who are not only exceptional on the field of play, but also leaders in the classroom and in the community. They are tremendous ambassadors for the entire U SPORTS membership.”

The 2017 nominees for the Jim Thompson Trophy presented to the female BLG Award recipient are StFX X-Women hockey player Sarah Bujold, Laval Rouge et Or soccer player Arielle Roy-Petitclerc, Queen’s Gaels cross country runner Claire Sumner and UBC Thunderbirds volleyball player Danielle Brisebois.

Bujold, a human kinetics student from Riverview, N.B., became just the second Player of the Year in U SPORTS women’s hockey from both the AUS conference and StFX program. The third-year forward, who was also named a First Team All-Canadian, finished first in nation in points (43), goals (24), game-winners (6), while also ranking second in plus-minus (+29), helping the X-Women to within a triple-overtime goal of the conference title in the longest game in AUS history.  

On the men’s side, the finalists for the Doug Mitchell Trophy are UNB Varsity Reds hockey player Philippe Maillet, Laval Rouge et Or football player Mathieu Betts, York Lions men’s soccer athlete Jonathan Lao and Trinity Western Spartans volleyball player Ryan Sclater

Maillet, a business administration student from Terrebonne, Que., was selected as Player of Year, Championship MVP, a First-Team All-Canadian and tournament All-Star, leading UNB to a second straight national banner and third in five years on home ice. The four-year forward was the most prolific scorer in the country during the regular season, with 23 goals and 55 points in 30 games, before adding a tournament-best four goals and 10 points in three contests. Maillet, who signed an amateur tryout with the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign, also had the most assists (32), power play goals (14) and the best plus-minus ranking (+34) during the regular campaign, while ranking first in assists (6) and game-winners (2) at the University Cup in Fredericton. 

For the complete U SPORTS release, including bios of the nominees from the three other conferences, please click here

Source: U SPORTS Communications