OTTAWA’S WENDEL NAMED OUA MVP, NOMINATED FOR U SPORTS HEC CRIGHTON TROPHY
BURLINGTON, Ont. β In his fifth and final season, uOttawa Gee-Gees quarterback Derek Wendel (Belleville, Ont.) has been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Most Valuable Player and the conference nominee for U Sports Hec Crighton Trophy.
Wendel, a fifth-year philosophy major, for a second consecutive season set new OUA single season attempts and completions records, completing 232 of 347 attempts for 2936 yards, which ranks seventh all-time on the U Sports single season passing yards list.
Starting all eight games for uOttawa, the Belleville, Ont. native also finished first in the conference in completion percentage (66.9), yards per game (367) and touchdowns (22).Β With Wendel under centre, the Gee-Gees led OUA with a red zone percentage of 91%, while passing for 135 1st downs during the regular season.
After throwing 8863 yards over his five seasons in the garnet and grey, Wendel ends his career as the Gee-Gees second leading passer of all-time, trailing only former uOttawa quarterback Josh Sacobie, while his 67 career touchdown passes ranks him fourth all-time in OUA history.
Wendel, who earlier this week was named an OUA first-team all-star for the first time in his career, is the first Gee-Gees player to be named Most Valuable Player since former quarterback turned Ottawa REDBLACKS receiver Brad Sinopoli earned the honours following the 2010 season.Β He also becomes only the fourth different Gee-Gees player to win the award, joining the aforementioned Sinopoli (2010) and Sacobie (2007), as well as running back Mike Murphy (1976) and three-time MVP Neil Lumdsen (1972-1973, 1975).
The Russ Jackson Nominee is a name put forward by OUA for the award presented annually by U Sports to the player who best exemplifies the attributes of academic achievement, football skill, and citizenship.
This year, Ontario University Athletics is proud to nominate McMaster Marauders defensive end Mark Mackie (London, Ont.) for this award.
Mackie, a fourth-year kinesiology major, doesn’t let his commitments on the field interfere with the time he has to give back on campus and in the local community.Β
This past summer, Mackie volunteered his time to coordinate a Marauders kids football camp for over 300 local children aged 7-13.Β Always more than generous with his time, the London, Ont. native also participates in the Marauders school visit program, where members of the team visit local Hamilton schools to speak about the positive benefits of sport.Β
Mackie, who is a three-time (2013-2015) Dean’s Honour List, Marauder Scholar and Academic All-Canadian recipient, was the facilitator of the team’s study hall in just his second-year in the program.Β This past year, he was awarded the Alma & Will Rice Memorial Scholarship which is presented to a kinesiology student who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement.
When his playing days are over, Mackie, who is eligible for the 2017 CFL Draft, has aspirations of becoming a medical doctor in the area of sports injuries.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
Laurier linebacker Nakas Onyeka (Brampton, Ont.) was a force to be reckoned with all-season for a Golden Hawks defensive unit that led the conference in defensive touchdowns (6) and sacks (36) and is this year’s recipient of the President’s Trophy for OUA Stand-up Defensive Player of the Year.
Onyeka, a fourth-year communications studies student-athlete, led OUA with 51 solo tackles, while he ranked fourth in several defensive categories, including: total tackles (59.5), tackles per game (7.4), sacks (5.5) and sack yards (40), all of which are career highs the dynamic 6’0″, 210 lbs linebacker.
Earlier this season, Onyeka was ranked 16th on the Canadian Football League Scouting Bureau’s list of prospects eligible for the 2017 CFL Draft.
A season after being selected to the OUA second-team, Onyeka was recently named a first-team all-star and is the first Golden Hawks player since former Laurier standout Giancarlo Rapanaro in 2010 to win the President’s Trophy.Β
Long known for their strong defence, Onyeka becomes the 10th Golden Hawks player to win the award since 1980, the most by any program in the conference over that time period.
Coming off a tremendous 2016 season, Western Mustangs offensive lineman Sean Jamieson (Winnipeg, Man.) takes home the J.P Metras Award for OUA Lineman of the Year.
In his final season with Western, Jamieson, a fifth-year kinesiology major was a stalwart on the line for the Mustangs as one of the best run blockers and pass protectors in OUA.Β Not only does the Winnipeg, Man. native have a dominant physical presence and tenacious work-ethic, but as team captain and a leader both on and off the field for Western, Jamieson is a major reason for the Mustangs success this season.
Jamieson, who was selected 20th overall by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2016 CFL Draft, was named an OUA first-team all-star for a third straight season on Wednesday and becomes the first Mustangs player to win the J.P Metras Award for OUA Lineman of the Year since Roger Dunbrack earned the honours back in 1997.
Should Jamieson be recognized with the J.P Metras Award at the national level, he would become just the second Mustangs player to win the award, joining former Mustang Pierre Verchavel who was recognized following the 1987 season.
In just his first season in the conference, McMaster Marauders kicker Adam Preocanin (Burlington, Ont.) is this year’s recipient of the Norm Marshall Trophy for OUA Rookie of the Year.
Appearing in all eight games for the Marauders in his rookie year, Preocanin, a first-year humanities major, finished first in the conference in both fields goals made (25) and attempts (33), while finishing second with 101 points, just two points back of first place.
On Oct. 7 at home against the visiting Queen’s Gaels, the 6’0, 175 lbs kicker was a perfect 7-for-7, tying the OUA record for most field goals in a game, originally set by University of Toronto Varity Blues kicker Lance Chomyc on Oct. 6, 1982 against the York Lions.Β
Preocanin, who played for Nelson High School in Burlington, Ont. before joining the Marauders, was a perfect 24-for-24 on PATs this season for McMaster.Β He also had 59 punts for 2263 yards to go along with 35 kickoffs for 2089 yards.
Preocanin becomes the third McMaster player in the past four seasons to be win the Norm Marshall Trophy for OUA Rookie of the Year, joining receivers Dan Petermann (2014) and Dan Vandervoort (2013).
Coming off a second place regular season finish for the first time since 2009, Laurier Golden Hawks head coach Michael Faulds has been honoured with the Dave ‘Tuffy’ Knight Award as OUA Coach of the Year, presented by Centaur Products.
Three years removed from a 1-7 finish, Faulds’ Golden Hawks went 7-1 in 2016 and were one of the top ranked teams on both sides of the ball this season, leading the league in rushing yards (2251) and defensive touchdowns (6).Β Under Faulds, the Golden Hawks also scored the most touchdowns (43) and the second most points (341) in program history.
Prior to making the jump to his first full-time career coaching job with the Golden Hawks, Faulds was two-time Yates Cup champion and MVP with Western, leading the Mustangs to back-to-back championships in 2007 and 2008.
Faulds is the first Golden Hawks coach to be win the Dave ‘Tuffy’ Knight Award as OUA Coach of the Year since longtime Laurier bench boss Gary Jeffries was recognized in 2009.Β Faulds becomes the fourth Golden Hawks head coach to win the award, joining Rich Newbrough (1985), Dave Knight (1972, 1979-80), along with the aforementioned Jeffries (2003-2005, 2009).
For his continued contributions on the sidelines, Queen’s Gaels Special Teams Coordinator / Linebacker Coach Phil Roberts is this year’s recipient of the Volunteer Coach of the Year Award.
Roberts is about as committed as you’ll find as a volunteer coach in Canadian football, as over the course of the past four seasons, the Ottawa, Ont. resident has commuted three times per week to Kingston to help coach the Gaels.Β Roberts, a retired teacher, worked for the PSBGM in Montreal for 12 years as well as 19 years in the Ottawa-Carleton Public School Board.
Prior to joining the Queen’s coaching staff, Roberts was the head coach at Vanier College from 1987-91 and was a part-time assistant coach with the Ottawa Renegades (2003) and Hamilton Tigercats (2004) before joining the Gaels in 2013.
The Volunteer Coach of the Year Award is a fitting send off for the longtime volunteer coach as the 2016 season marked the final season on the sidelines for the Gaels.
The 2016 Officials Award of Merit goes to Kevin Baird who has been involved in OUA football since 2010.
Baird has been officiating football as a member of the Burlington, Ont. based Lakeshore Football Officials’ Association since 2003.Β In 2010, Baird began officiating OUA football and has been the Line Umpire on five Yates Cups.Β Later this month, he is scheduled to be the Line Umpire in the Uteck Bowl.
Baird is continuously involved with refereeing both within his local officiating organization in Burlington and elsewhere throughout the province.Β Beginning with the start of football season in May, Baird can be found officiating somewhere in the province of Ontario.
He is also heavily involved off the field in an administrative role as he is currently the President and Assigner of the Lakeshore Football Officials’ Association and is the Referee-in-Chief and Assigner of the Ontario’s senior men’s league, the Northern Football Conference.
Outside of football officiating, Baird has been a member of the Halton Regional Police since 1989 and currently holds the rank of Detective and is assigned to the Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau.
2016 OUA FOOTBALL MAJOR AWARDS
Most Valuable Player β Derek Wendel β uOttawa Gee-Gees
President’s Trophy (Outstanding Stand-up Defensive Player) β Nakas Onyeka β Laurier Golden Hawks
J.P. Metras Trophy (Lineman of the Year) β Sean Jamieson β Western Mustangs
Norm Marshall Trophy (Rookie of the Year) β Adam Preocanin β McMaster Marauders
Dave ‘Tuffy’ Knight Award (Coach of the Year) β Michael Faulds β Laurier Golden Hawks
Russ Jackson Award Nominee β Mark Mackie β McMaster Marauders
Volunteer Coach of the Year β Phil Roberts β Queen’s Gaels
Officials Award of Merit β Kevin Baird
Reginaβs Noah Picton named Frank Gnup Memorial Award winner
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Highlights:
- Regina QB Noah Picton is the unanimous Frank Gnup Memorial Award winner as the outstanding player of the year after setting the national single-season passing yards mark (3,186)
- Nicholas Dheilly (Rookie of the Year), and Steve Bryce (Coach of the Year) also won awards from the Rams
- Manitobaβs DJ Lalama (Outstanding Defensive Player), Geoff Gray (Outstanding Down Lineman), and Cam Teschuk (Student-Athlete) took home individual honours
- Calgaryβs Marcello Rapini was named the conferenceβs Gino Fracas Award nominee for national assistant coach of the year
NEW WESTMINSTER β With the 80th Hardy Cup just days away, Canada West is proud to announce the 2016 conference football major award winners.
Taking home the conferenceβs biggest honour is third-year Regina Rams QB Noah Picton, who is the Frank Gnup Memorial Award winner as the outstanding player of the year after one of the greatest seasons in conference history.
Picton was the unanimous choice among the conferenceβs six head coaches, who selected all the major award winners.Β
βNoah is just an outstanding leader. He has a voracious appetite for studying offence and attacking opposing defences. He has a very high football IQ and extremely high expectations for himself and his teammates. I donβt think thereβs a player in the country who watches more game film,β said Regina head coach Steve Bryce.Β
The business administration student set a new Canada West and U Sports single-season passing yards record, racking up 3,186 yards through the air.
That total surpassed former Calgary Dino Andrew Buckleyβs total of 3,162 set just last season.
Picton led the conference in every major passing category, including completion percentage at just under 70 per cent, completions with 224, yards per game with 398.3, as well as passing touchdowns with 25.
The Regina native now moves forward as the Canada West nominee for the Hec Crighton Award, where heβll be looking to take over the title from Buckley, who won the award in 2015 before moving onto the CFLβs Calgary Stampeders.
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#CFC100 2016 NICHOLAS DHEILLY β Rookie of the Year
DL β Regina Rams
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Along with Picton, defensive lineman Nicholas Dheilly also takes home a conference major award for a Regina team that went from worst to first in 2016.
Dheilly, who earned the honour unanimously, racked up a total of four sacks on the season to finish tied for second in the conference, just a half sack behind leader Jack McEwen of the Calgary Dinos.
A product of Reginaβs Dr. Martin Leboldus High School, Dheilly broke onto the scene Week 4 of the season against the Calgary Dinos, registering a trio of sacks in the Rams pivotal 32-27 win.
Dheilly followed that performance with another sack the following week in a 37-29 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies in front of a Canada West record crowd of 16,500 in the first-ever game at New Mosaic Stadium.
The Arts student finished the season with a total of 23.5 tackles, and now moves forward as the Canada West nominee for the Peter Gorman Award as national rookie of the year.
βNicholas has an incredibly fast motor and is a very athletic lineman. He is tenacious on the field and his well-rounded athleticism makes him a great player on special teams as well. At only 18 years old, Nicholas has an incredible future ahead of him,β said Bryce.
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STEVE BRYCE β Coach of the Year
Head coach β Regina Rams
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Regina head coach Steve Bryce is the unanimous Canada West Coach of the Year following his mastery at the helm of a program that went 0-8 just a season ago.
The former Rams junior player guided Regina to a 6-2 record, as the Rams topped the Canada West regular season standings for the first time in program history.
To call Reginaβs 2016 season remarkable would be an understatement, as Bryce initiated a culture shift that rapidly lifted his program to national relevance.
Bryce now moves forward as the conferenceβs nominee for the Frank Tindall Award as national coach of the year.
βCoach Bryce has had a tremendous impact in his short time at the University of Regina and Iβm elated that heβs received this well-deserved honour,β said Regina interim athletic director Tanya Reynoldson.Β
βWhile this award recognizes the on-field accomplishments with the Rams this season, heβs also been a fine leader of the program off the field and constantly stresses the importance of academics and community involvement with the players. We are excited to see what the Rams can do in the coming years under the guidance of coach Bryce.β
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GEOFF GRAY β Outstanding Down Lineman
OL β Manitoba Bisons
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For a second consecutive season the conferenceβs outstanding down lineman hails from the University of Manitoba, as offensive lineman Geoff Gray take home the award.
Gray takes over the title from former Bison turned New Orleans Saint David Onyemata, who won the award on the defensive side of the ball last year before being drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
A fourth-year engineering student, Gray started all eight conference regular season games at the guard position and was ranked 11th on the CFL Scouting Bureauβs initial prospect list ahead of the 2017 CFL Draft this May.
Gray moves forward to the national stage as the Canada West nominee for the prestigious JP Metras Award.Β
βWe are very proud of Geoff for being the conference nominee for the JP Metras award and Canada West Lineman of the Year. He is the second consecutive Bison to be selected for this honour after David Onyemata last year, who is now with the NFLβs New Orleans Saints,β said Bisons head coach Brian Dobie.Β
βGeoff has absolutely earned this nomination and conference award through his continuum hard work ethic and his devotion to constantly learn the game of football.β
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DJ LALAMA β Outstanding Defensive Player
LB β Manitoba Bisons
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The second Manitoba Bison to take home a major conference award is one-man tackling machine DJ Lalama, who is the Canada West Outstanding Defensive Player.
The veteran linebacker led the conference and the country with 72.5 total tackles β 16 more than his next closest competitor in Canada West.Β
Lalama, a 2016 CFL Draft pick of the Edmonton Eskimos, started all eight games for Manitoba, and added seven break-ups, three forced fumbles and 2.5 tackles for loss to his impressive tackle total.Β
The graduate student will be looking to take home the Presidentβs Award as the nationβs top defensive player.
βI am very happy and this is a well-deserved honour for DJ. A leader on our defence, DJ is also a leader in the locker room and our community as he was a finalist for the Russ Jackson award last season. An outstanding player and person, DJ had a record breaking season in 2016 and is a great representative for the Presidentβs award and nominee from the conference,β said Dobie.
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CAM TESCHUK β Student-Athlete Community Service
DB β Manitoba Bisons
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Also winning some hardware from the Bisons is defensive back Cam Teschuk, who is the student-athlete award winner.
On the field, Teschuk recorded 23 total tackles and added a fumble recovery while playing in eight games for the Herd.
Off the field, Teschuk is a four-time All-Canadian business student, a Rhodes scholar applicant and active member of the Winnipeg volunteer community, working on several initiatives with the homeless, including the Five Days for the Homeless campaign, which raises awareness of youth homelessness.Β
Teschuk will now move forward as the conference nominee for the Russ Jackson Award, which recognizes one U Sports player for academics, football and citizenship.
“I am proud of Cam. I have coached 42 years and during that time Cam is unquestionably one of the best people I have known through the game of football. He is an absolute teammate, great friend, and an unselfish and tireless worker who always seems to be doing the right things for the common good and the well-being of those that surround him,β said Dobie.
βHe has represented the Bison Football program and our university with great integrity and pride. I am honoured to put forth this nomination of Cam Teschuk for the 2016 Russ Jackson award.”
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MARCELLO RAPINI β Assistant Coach of the Year
DB coach β Calgary DInos
In his 16th season as an assistant coach with the University of Calgary Dinos, Marcello Rapini is the Canada West nominee for the Gino Fracas Award.Β
A two-time Vanier Cup champion with the Dinos as a player in 1985 and 1988, Rapini has coached the defensive backs since 2006, with a previous stint from 1989-94. He coaches with the same passion and intensity that he played with, and holds his players to a high standard of accountability, and he has sent many players on to the CFL including Sam Hurl, Mike Edem, and Jamahl Knowles.
Rapini is heavily involved in game planning and implementing defensive cover schemes in practice, and his time commitment to the program is extraordinary, taking vacation time from his position as Vice President (Marketing) of Perpetual Energy for training camp, road trips, and film review. He is also heavily involved with the Dinos 5th Quarter alumni association, previously serving on the board of directors and helping in countless fundraising initiatives to support the on- and off-field activities of the football program.
βI have coached with him for 15 years, and the success I have had as a position coach, defensive coordinator, and head coach can be directly attributed to the support I have received from Marcello Rapini,β said Dinos head coach Wayne Harris.Β βHe is a very deserving representative for Canada West β he has done so much for the Dinos football program over the years as a player, with his coaching, and his association with the 5th Quarter. There are so many things behind the scenes that people donβt see β he has also helped develop some great coaches in the city of Calgary at the high school level. We thank him for his commitment to the success of our program, and to the sport.βΒ
The U Sports national awards will be handed out Thursday, November 24th ahead of the Vanier Cup on Saturday, November 26th at Hamiltonβs Tim Hortons Field.
The 80th Hardy Cup is slated for this Saturday at 1 p.m. MT when the Calgary Dinos host the UBC Thunderbirds in a rematch of last yearβs conference championship. The game can be seen live on Shaw TV, Access Communications, and CanadaWest.tv.
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