(CALGARY, Alta.) - This weekend is no ordinary weekend for the AUS's BLG Award nominees Liam Heelis (Acadia) and Justine Colley (Saint Mary's). These two student-athletes are vying for individual recognition of athletic accomplishments amongst the best in Canada.
Both Colley and Heelis will be evaluated by the Canadian Athletic Foundation committee members who will determine this year's CIS BLG athletes of the year.
Colley, a fifth-year women’s basketball player from East Preston, N.S. with the Saint Mary's Huskies, was named CIS player of the year in women’s basketball for the second straight season after she led the Atlantic conference in scoring for the fourth year in a row. The commerce student guided the Huskies to a perfect 20-0 regular season, a second consecutive AUS title and a program-best silver medal at the CIS championship.
Acadia's Liam Heelis, a third-year hockey forward from Georgetown, Ont., earned CIS MVP honours in men’s hockey after he won the AUS scoring crown with 42 points, including a CIS-leading 24 goals in only 26 league games. The science student then guided the Axemen to their first Atlantic conference title since 2006 and their first University Cup championship appearance in eight years.
At the awards weekend luncheon, hosted by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Colley, who was a BLG Award nominee last year, was asked what her plans are following graduation from Saint Mary's.
“Right now, for me, I am taking a break from basketball,” she said. “I recently picked up a position with RBC as an account manager after a 12-week training program. I am really excited to step into, basically, a whole new world. I enjoy a change and a challenge."
The AUS male nominee, Acadia's Heelis, is the second nominee from Acadia in the last three years. “It's a tremendous opportunity and great route for all Junior hockey players who want to better themselves not only as hockey players but as people,” said Heelis of the opportunity to play hockey at the CIS level. “Turning down the offer to play professional hockey was probably the best choice I have made to date. Attaining a degree and playing the sport I love is tremendous”
Day two of the BLG Awards continued after a breakfast with trustees with a photo session and a luncheon with trustees and media. The nominees then enjoyed a pickup game of basketball versus the trustees.
Each of this year’s BLG Awards nominees suited up alongside CIS women's basketball player of the year Justine Colley, the heavy favourite to lead the nominees’ team to victory. Acadia's Liam Heelis admitted prior to the game that his shooting skills were subpar, but he boasted great passing skills and a plan to feed the ball into the hands of Colley when possible. Heelis was the first to score in the lopsided win over Team BLG.
The highlight of the game included an alley-oop from Colley to CIS men’s basketball MVP Phillip Scrubb from the Carleton Ravens.
The final day of the CIS BLG Awards weekend will include a full day of preparation for the nominees for the night’s awards ceremony set for 7 p.m. MST in Calgary at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.
Courtesy of Acadia Sports Information and Saint Mary's Sports Information