(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce
the 2012-13 AUS men's hockey major award winners and all-stars as
selected by the conference's eight head coaches following regular season
play.
Third-year Saint Mary's forward Lucas Bloodoff was named the Atlantic University Sport most valuable player, Monday.
Other AUS major award winners announced today were Acadia's Mike
Cazzola of Guelph, Ont., who was named rookie of the year; UNB's Chris
Culligan of Howie Center, N.S., who was selected as the most
sportsmanlike player; UPEI's Jordan Knox of Skinner's Pond, P.E.I., who
received the student-athlete community service award; and Saint Mary's
head coach Trevor Stienburg, who was named the AUS coach of the year for
the fourth time in his career.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (Kelly Trophy): Lucas Bloodoff, Saint Mary's
The Atlantic University Sport men's hockey most valuable player is Lucas Bloodoff of the Saint Mary's Huskies.
Bloodoff, a third-year forward from Castlegar, B.C., led the Atlantic
conference in scoring this season with 38 points in 28 games played.
Lucas, also named a first team all-star today, netted a league-high 20
goals and added 18 assists this year. His totals included three
game-winning markers and a CIS-leading 12 power-play goals.
He becomes the seventh Saint Mary's player to claim the Kelly Trophy
since 1979-80 and the fourth league MVP from the Huskies program in the
past seven seasons.
In three seasons of university hockey, Bloodoff, a former player with
the WHL's Kelowna Rockets, has now accumulated 76 career points in 82
career regular season games played.
"At 6-foot-2, 230 lbs., Lucas is a pro-level conditioned athlete who
has gained a reputation as a punishing fore-checker and extremely hard
to play against," said Saint Mary's head coach Trevor Stienburg.
"Whether at practice, in the gym, or during a game, the expectations on
Lucas have been extremely high and he has delivered on those
expectations. Lucas is a natural leader who brings the most out in his
teammates and those around him. After 16 years of coaching at this level
his commitment to his team and teammates is second to none and he has
made our team, department and school a better place with his
personality, professionalism and passion."
Lucas will represent the conference at the CIS championship banquet
this month as the AUS nominee for the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy
as the nation's top player.
The Atlantic conference has claimed four of the past five CIS player
of the year awards, with Acadia's Andrew Clark as the most recent
recipient last season.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (A.J. MacAdam Trophy): Mike Cazzola, Acadia
The Atlantic conference rookie of the year and recipient of the A.J.
MacAdam Trophy for 2011-12 is Acadia Axemen forward Mike Cazzola.
In just his first year with the Acadia program, Cazzola, a native of
Guelph, Ont., played in all 28 games for the Axemen, finishing second in
the team in scoring behind last season's CIS player of the year Andrew
Clark.
Mike's 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points, tied him for sixth
overall in AUS scoring, and his six power-play goals ranked third in the
conference.
"Mike had an excellent rookie season for our team finishing sixth in
AUS scoring with 29 points, which would be considered excellent
production for any player in our league," said Acadia head coach Darren
Burns. "He is a very creative player who competes hard and sees the ice
well. His final statistics are very impressive given the level of
competition in our league which is usually dominated by veteran
players."
Mike, who played with the Erie Otters and the Ottawa 67's prior to
joining the Axemen, becomes the fourth Acadia player to be named the
conference's top rookie, joining Derek Kletzel (1992-93), Christian
Skoryna (1994-95) and Jonathan Laberge (2008-09) as previous recipients.
Cazzola will now look to become the first Acadia player to ever be
selected as the CIS rookie of the year later this month at the CIS
awards banquet in Saskatoon.
COACH OF THE YEAR (Bob Boucher Trophy): Trevor Stienburg, Saint Mary's
In his 16th season as head coach, Trevor Stienburg has been selected
by his peers as the 2012-13 AUS coach of the year for the fourth time in
his career.
Stienburg guided the CIS No. 4-ranked Huskies to an 18-7-3 regular
season record this season and a second place finish in the Atlantic
conference standings with 39 points.
Since taking over the Saint Mary's University hockey program in
1997-98, he has led the Huskies to three AUS crowns (2001-02, 2008-09
and 2009-10), claimed two CIS coach of the year awards (1998-99 and
1999-00) and in 2007 he was the head coach of the AUS team that
represented Canada and won gold at the 2007 World University Games in
Torino, Italy.
Trevor was also the head coach of the 2001 AUS squad that claimed silver at the World University Games in Poland.
This is Steinberg's fourth AUS coach of the year award and his
overall coaching record (regular season, AUS and CIS post-season play)
now stands at 289-210-22.
"I feel very fortunate to be re-united with Coach Stienburg," says
Dr. David Murphy, Director of Athletics at Saint Mary's. "Trevor brings
intensity and integrity to work every day and it shows in the character
of his players. He teaches discipline, respect in athletics and
dedication to studies and academics. It is no wonder the Saint Mary's
hockey team has had success in both the classroom and on the ice."
Stienburg and former Huskies' head coach Bob Boucher are the only
Saint Mary's head coaches to win the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award
as the CIS coach of the year. Boucher was named the nation's top coach
in 1972-73 as well as 1976-77.
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER (Don Wells Trophy): Chris Culligan, UNB
UNB forward Chris Culligan has been chosen as the Atlantic University
Sport most sportsmanlike player and recipient of the Don Wells Trophy.
Culligan, a fourth-year forward from Howie Center, N.S., finished
third in AUS scoring with four goals and a league-leading 27 assists for
31 points in 26 games played this season. In four seasons with the
Varsity Reds, Chris has racked up 131 career points in 105 career
regular season games.
Culligan, the team captain, often receives a significant amount of
attention from opposing teams as one of the league's top players, yet he
remains very disciplined, picking up just eight minor penalties this
season.
"Chris has had another outstanding season for our team, taking on the
responsibility of team captain and again leading our team in point
production," said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "He is dynamic
with his speed, skill and smarts and he is also very responsible away
from the puck. Chris is a very team oriented player who competes at a
high level and logs heavy minutes. He is highly respected around the
conference for his character and sportsmanship."'
Culligan is the third Varsity Reds player to receive this award. Dax
MacLean (1997-98) and Peter MacKellar (1999-00) are the previous UNB
players to have been recognized.
STUDENT-ATHLETE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD (The Godfrey Award): Jordan Knox, UPEI
UPEI's Jordan Knox is the 2012-13 Atlantic conference recipient of
the Godfrey Award and is nominated for the prestigious Dr. Randy Gregg
award. The Godfrey Award, named after Dr. Bill Godfrey, is given
annually to the player who best represents the spirit of intercollegiate
hockey by his leadership both on and off the ice and by his conduct
throughout the season.
Knox, a fourth-year forward from Skinner's Pond, P.E.I., has been an
Academic all-Canadian in each of the four seasons he has played in the
Atlantic conference. Having already graduated with Bachelors in Business
(with a major in accounting), he is currently working towards his
Honors in Business degree.
Jordan finished 16th in AUS scoring this season with nine goals and
16 assists for 25 points in 28 games played. His totals included four
power-play goals, one short-handed marker and a game-winner. In four
seasons of playing with the Panthers, he has collected 33 goals and 67
assists for 100 points in 108 career regular season games with UPEI.
In addition to his academic and athletic commitments, Jordan
volunteers with many hockey associations, fund raising events and
community awareness activities.
In his second year at UPEI he contributed significantly to a
fundraising event that raised close to $7,000 for a member of the UPEI
alumni that had one of his children involved in a life altering
accident. More recently, another member of the UPEI alumni had
tragically passed away and Jordan again played a key role in organizing
an event that contributed close to $5,000 towards helping the family.
Another recent tragedy claimed a young member of Jordan's community
(Kameron Cooke, six-years old) who suddenly passed away. Jordan is
currently serving on a committee that will have fundraising activities
set up to benefit a Memorial in Kameron's name.
Each year UPEI men's hockey has a 'Santa Clause Run' that raises
money for gifts for those who are less fortunate in the community. This
event was initiated during Jordan's time at UPEI, and he has played a
significant contributing role. Knox also participates in the 'Movember'
fundraising event and this past season volunteered on a weekly basis at
the East Wiltshire Hockey Academy, a school program designed to
introduce kids to the game of hockey.
"Jordan exemplifies exactly what the spirit of this award
represents," says UPEI head coach Forbes MacPherson. "Jordan is the
epitome of outstanding AUS achievement in hockey, academics, and
community involvement. Jordan 'gets it' and he is a model
student-athlete. He is a leader in our program, is becoming a young
strong leader of our community and is a tremendous nominee for the Dr.
Randy Gregg Award."
FIRST AND SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
The Atlantic University Sport first and second team all-stars were also announced today, along with this year's all-rookie team.
First team all-stars:
Goaltender: Wayne Savage, UPEI (3rd year - St. Thomas, Ont.)
Defence: Michael D'Orazio, Saint Mary's (2nd year – Richmond Hill, Ont.)
Defence: Chris Owens, Acadia (3rd year - St. John's, Nfld.)
Forward: Lucas Bloodoff, Saint Mary's (3rd year – Castlegar, B.C.)
Forward: Andrew Clark, Acadia (4th year - Brandon, Man.)
Forward: Colby Pridham, UNB (5th year - Alberton, P.E.I.)
Second team all-stars:
Goaltender: Anthony Peters, Saint Mary's (2nd year – Blyth, Ont.)
Defence: Marc-Antoine Desnoyers, UNB (3rd year - St. Hippolyte, Que.)
Defence: Josh Day, StFX (4th year - St. John's, Nfld.)
Forward: Chris Culligan, UNB (4th year – Howie Center, N.S.)
Forward: Eric Faille, Moncton (3rd year – Lachine, Que.)
Forward: Tyler Carroll, UNB (2nd year – Strathroy, Ont.)
All-rookie team:
Goaltender: Jonathan Groenheyde, St. Thomas (Surrey, B.C.)
Defence: Bronson Maschmeyer, StFX (Bruderheim, Alta.)
Defence: Kyle Pereira, Saint Mary's (Brampton, Ont.)
Forward: Mike Cazzola, Acadia (Guelph, Ont.)
Forward: Cam Braes, UNB (Shawinigan Lake, B.C.)
Forward: Brett Thompson, Acadia (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.)
