U SPORTS MHKY awards: Canada West claims trio of national honours
Canada West Communications
FREDERICTON, N.B. – Jordon Cooke, Elgin Pearce, and Dave Adolph were honoured Wednesday by U SPORTS, as the trio of Canada West representatives received national awards ahead of this week's University Cup, which opens Thursday in Fredericton, N.B.
Saskatchewan's Cooke and Adolph were named the Goaltender of the Year and Coach of the Year respectively, while Calgary's Pearce earned the R.W. Pugh Award as the nation's most sportsmanlike player.
Cooke's win is the second in as many seasons for the Leduc, Alta. native, who posted a 19-4-2 regular season records and 1.94 GAA for the Huskies, who finished first during the Canada West regular season.
Adolph takes home the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award as U SPORTS' top men's hockey coach after guiding the Huskies to another first-place finish. The national award win is the first in Adolph's long career, which has featured 24 seasons at the University of Saskatchewan after starting his Canada West coaching journey at the University of Lethbridge in 1989.
As for Pearce, he becomes the first player in history to be named the nation's most sportsmanlike player three consecutive seasons. The veteran forward was also one of just four players in U SPORTS this season to score 20 or more goals, and was also the Canada West nominee for the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as the nation's top player.
In addition to the major award wins, the U SPORTS all-stars and all-rookies were announced, with both Pearce and Cooke named first team all-stars, while Saskatchewan's Jesse Forsberg (defence) and Mount Royal's Connor Rankin (F) were named a second team all-stars.
Two Canada West player were named an all-rookie, as the conference's Rookie of the Year Tyson Baillie (F) from Alberta made the squad, as did Mount Royal's Jesse Lees (D).
The University Cup opens Thursday at the Aitken Centre in Fredericton, N.B. when the Canada West champion Alberta Golden Bears take on the Acadia Axemen (1 p.m. AT / 10 a.m. MT). The Saskatchewan Huskies open their title run Friday against the York Lions (1 p.m. AT / 11 a.m. CT).
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR: Jordon Cooke, Saskatchewan
For a second consecutive season Jordon Cooke has been named Canada West and the U SPORTS top goalie, after posting a 19-4-2 record, 1.94 goals-against average, and a .929 save during the 2016-17 season. The former Kelowna Rocket was the backbone of Saskatchewan's tremendous season, which saw the Huskies claim the conference regular season title for a second straight season.
The 2016-17 campaign has been a phenomenal one for Cooke, as the Leduc, Alta., product was also named to Canada's team at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland over the holiday break. Cooke's four shutouts this season tied the Canada West single-season record, and his seven career shutouts are the most among any active Canada West goalie.
"Last year, Jordon stood out in his first full year as our No. 1 goaltender. He helped calm a young team, leading us to the Canada West pennant," said Saskatchewan head coach Dave Adolph. "In 2016-17, he made things look routine as the Huskies skated to a first-place finish in the regular season. He and our young defence enabled us to lead the (conference) with a very stingy 2.11 goals-against average. He loves to play and loves the challenge. We are very fortunate to have him in a Huskie uniform."
The other nominees were Mackenzie Shields of York and Chase Marchand of StFX.
R.W. PUGH AWARD (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Elgin Pearce, Calgary
Veteran forward Elgin Pearce becomes the first player in U SPORTS Men's Hockey history to win the R.W. Pugh Award for Most Sportsmanlike Player three times. In his four seasons with the Dinos, Pearce has consecutively won the award since the 2014-15 season.
Named the Canada West Player of the Year in 2016-17, Pearce's 20 goals scored were the most in the conference. He was one of just four players to reach the milestone in the nation. Pearce added 11 assists for 31 points in the regular season, just four shy of Connor Rankin from the Mount Royal Cougars.
"Elgin is very deserving of this award for the third time in his career," said Dinos head coach Mark Howell. "He had a remarkable season, earning him the Canada West Player of the Year Award, and I'm very proud of Elgin. He is respected by his peers, fellow coaches and everybody within U SPORTS hockey and this award really recognizes the quality of player Elgin is, as well as the type of person he is."
The other nominees were forward Michael McNamee of Carleton and defenceman Geoff Schemitsch of Acadia.
FATHER GEORGE KEHOE MEMORIAL AWARD (Coach of the Year): Dave Adolph, Saskatchewan
In his 24th season at the helm of the Huskies, head coach Dave Adolph guided Saskatchewan to another first-place finish during the regular season, earning him the 2016-17 Canada West and U SPORTS Coach of the Year Award. The win marks the third time in Adolph's career he has claimed the conference Coach of the Year Award (1997-98 and 1999-00) and first on the national stage.
Adolph's 421 career conference wins are the most all-time. During his tenure at Saskatchewan, Adolph has guided his team to 20 consecutive postseason appearances, six Canada West championship titles and 12 appearances at the University Cup, most recently finishing fourth.
During his career as a Huskie hockey player and co-captain, Adolph and his teammates captured three Canada West championship titles, winning Saskatchewan's only University Cup in 1983.
"The storied success of our men's hockey program is due in no small part to the continued efforts of Coach Adolph," said Huskies athletic director Basil Hughton. "He continues to do an excellent job in bringing top notch student-athletes to our program. This year is another example of that. This recognition is extremely well-deserved and an acknowledgement of his ongoing efforts with Huskie Hockey."
The other nominees were Marc-Andre Element of Concordia and Gardiner MacDougall of UNB.
U SPORTS MEN'S HOCKEY AWARD WINNERS
Defenceman of the Year: Jordan Murray, UNB
Goaltender of the Year: Jordon Cooke, Saskatchewan
Clare Drake Award (Rookie of the Year): Anthony De Luca, Concordia
R.W. Pugh Award (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Elgin Pearce, Calgary
Father George Kehoe Memorial Award (Coach of the Year): Dave Adolph, Saskatchewan
Dr. Randy Gregg Award (Student-Athlete Community Service): Aaron Armstrong, Ryerson
U SPORTS All-Canadian and All-Rookie Teams
Pos. / Name / University / Year / Hometown / Academic Program
First Team
F / Philippe Maillet / UNB / 4 / Terrebonne, Que. / Business Admin.
F / Elgin Pearce / Calgary / 4 / Port Coquitlam, B.C. / Arts
F / Michael McNamee / Carleton / 4 / Perth, Ont. / Psychology
D / Jordan Murray / UNB / 4 / Riverview, N.B. / Rec. & Sport Studies
D / Martin Lefebvre / UQTR / 4 / Laval, Que. / Business Admin.
G / Jordon Cooke / Saskatchewan / 3 / Leduc, Alta. / Business Admin.
Second Team
F / Hunter Garlent / Saint Mary's / 1 / Thorold, Ont. / Communications
F / Connor Rankin / Mount Royal / 2 / North Vancouver, B.C. / Business Admin.
F / Aaron Armstrong / Ryerson / 3 / Teeswater, Ont. / Business Mgmt.
D / Jesse Forsberg / Saskatchewan / 3 / Waldheim, Sask. / Agriculture & Bio
D / Geoff Schemitsch / Acadia / 4 / Thornhill, Ont. / Kinesiology
G / Mackenzie Shields / York / 1 / Saskatoon, Sask. / Accounting
All-Rookies
F / Anthony De Luca / Concordia / 1 / Rosmere, Que. / Independent Studies
F / Hunter Garlent / Saint Mary's / 1 / Thorold Ont. / Communications
F / Tyson Baillie / Alberta / 1 / Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. / Native Studies
D / Matt Murphy / UNB / 1 / Fredericton, N.B. / UGND
D / Jesse Lees / Mount Royal / 1 / Calgary, Alta. / Open Studies
G / Mackenzie Shields / York / 1 / Saskatoon, Sask. / Accounting