(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce
the 2013-14 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 Acadia forward Liam Heelis of Georgetown, Ont. was named the Atlantic University Sport most valuable player.
Other AUS major award winners announced today were UNB's Philippe
Maillet of Terrabone, Que., who was named rookie of the year; UNB's
Chris Culligan of Howie Centre, N.S., who was selected as the most
sportsmanlike player; StFX's Murdock MacLellan of Mabou, N.S. who earned
the Godfrey award for student-athlete community service; and Acadia
head coach Darren Burns, who was named the AUS coach of the year for the
third time in his career.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (Kelly Trophy): Liam Heelis, Acadia
The Atlantic University Sport men's hockey most valuable player is Liam Heelis of the Acadia Axemen.
Heelis, a third-year forward from Georgetown, Ont., led the CIS in
goals this season with 24. He led the AUS conference in scoring with 42
points in 26 games played. Also named a first team all-star today, he
had an AUS-leading four short-handed goals and was second in power-play
goals with seven. He also boasted the second most shots with 117.
He becomes the fifth Acadia player to claim the Kelly Trophy since
1979-80 and the second league MVP from the Axemen program in the past
three seasons.
In three seasons of university hockey, Heelis, a former player with
the OHL's Owen Sound Attack and Peterborough Petes, has now accumulated
86 career points in 81 regular season games played.
Heelis played an integral part in the Axemen's journey to the 2014
Subway AUS men's hockey championship finals. In Game 1 of the semifinal
series versus the Moncton Aigles Bleus, he posted four points (one goal
and three assists) and earned Subway First Star of the Game honours. In
Game 2, Heelis scored a hat trick to jump start and complete a 6-5
comeback by the Axemen from a 4-0 deficit. Acadia ultimately took the
series 3-1 to earn their place in this week's championship final series
versus the Saint Mary's Huskies.
"We are extremely proud of Liam's accomplishments, not only on the
ice this year, but as a leader in the community here at Acadia," said
Axemen head coach Darren Burns. "His determination, leadership and
commitment as a person showed every day in practice and in games,
enabling him to be a very dominant player for our team this year. I
would be hard pressed to say that I have witnessed a player improve as
much as Liam has in the AUS. His outstanding season was no doubt
instrumental in our team's success."
Heelis will now represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the
CIS's Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy as the nation's top player.
The Atlantic conference has claimed five of the past six CIS player
of the year awards, with Saint Mary's Lucas Bloodoff as the most recent
recipient last season.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (A.J. MacAdam Trophy): Philippe Maillet, UNB
The Atlantic conference rookie of the year and recipient of the A.J.
MacAdam Trophy for 2013-14 is UNB Varsity Reds forward Philippe Maillet.
In just his first year with the UNB program, Maillet, a native of
Terrabone, Que., played in 26 games for the Varsity Reds, finishing
first in team scoring and third overall in the AUS with 41 points.
He had the third most goals in the conference this season with 16 and the second most assists with 25.
"Phil was a welcome addition to our team and he made an immediate
impact on our top line in helping a youthful UNB squad with twelve new
members finish first in the AUS standings," said Varsity Reds head coach
Gardiner MacDougall. "He is a dynamic player with high-end offensive
talents but is also one of the top penalty killers in the AUS and was
one of our most improved players throughout the season."
Maillet, who played four seasons with the QMJHL's Victoriaville
Tigers before joining the Varsity Reds, becomes the ninth UNB player to
be named the conference's top rookie. However, it is the first win for
the Varsity Reds since 2007-08 when former UNB standout Hunter Tremblay
took home the honours.
He will now look to become the third UNB player to be selected as the
CIS rookie of the year later this month. Former Varsity Reds Kevin
Young and Ryan Lindsay took home the national honour in 2003-04 amd
1997-98 respectively. The most recent player from the Atlantic
conference to earn the award was StFX's Jason Bast in 2010-11.
COACH OF THE YEAR (Bob Boucher Trophy): Darren Burns, Acadia
In his 13th season as head coach, Darren Burns has been
selected by his peers as the 2013-14 AUS coach of the year for the third
time in his career.
Burns guided the CIS No. 2-ranked Axemen to a 21-4-3 regular season
record this year and a second-place finish in the Atlantic conference
standings with 45 points. His 21 regular season wins were the most in
his career and the highest total by an Acadia coach since 1996-97 when
Mark Hanneman led the Axemen to a 21-6-1 finish.
Burns, a captain in his senior year as a player with the Axemen, is
the third-longest serving coach in the AUS. Since taking over the Acadia
hockey program in 2001-02, he has led the Axemen to an AUS crown
(2005-06), claimed a CIS coach of the year award (2004-05) and served as
an assistant coach of the AUS team that represented Canada and won gold
at the 2007 Winter World University Games in Turin, Italy.
This is Burns' third AUS coach of the year award. His overall
coaching record (regular season, AUS and CIS post-season play) now
stands at 206-189-12. He picked up his 200th career victory this past January in a win over StFX.
"My life's been in hockey and the job Darren's done this year is as
good as it gets," said Acadia athletic director Kevin Dickie. "He has
always had a unique ability to blend and maximize the potential of
skilled and role players, to build a successful team. This season was
special in that regard. Burnsy loves Acadia and coaching the Axemen, and
in turn our campus and community are fortunate to have him."
Burns, Hanneman, Tom Coolen and Don Wells are the only Acadia head
coaches to be named AUS coach of the year. Burns and Coolen are the only
Acadia head coaches to win the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award as
the CIS coach of the year. Burns took home the CIS award in 2004-05
while Coolen was named the nation's top coach in 1992-93 and 1994-95.
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
for the second consecutive season.
Culligan, a fifth-year forward from Howie Centre, N.S., finished
second in the AUS in goals this season with 17 and fourth overall in
points with 40. His +21 plus/minus rating was the second best in the
Atlantic conference.
In five season with the Varsity Reds, he has racked up 171 career points in 133 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 disciplined, picking up just eight minor penalties this season.
"Chris has been the ultimate leader and sportsman during his five
years at UNB," said Varsity Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "He is
the ultimate competitor and plays the game the right way on a consistent
basis. He helped lead our team to a seventh straight first-place finish
and had a career best season in helping achieve this feat."
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. A UNB player has yet to take home the
R. W. Pugh Award as the CIS's most sportsmanlike player.
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD (The Godfrey Award): Murdock MacLellan, StFX
StFX's Murdock MacLellan is the 2013-14 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.
MacLellan, a fifth-year science student from Mabou, N.S., is a member
of the StFX Leadership Academy's Leadership 360 program and is the
X-Men hockey representative for the Student-Athlete Leadership Team
(SALT).
He is involved with the 'Best Buddies' program, volunteering with
individuals with special needs through the Canadian Association for
Community Living. He also participates in the CACL Classic, an annual
hockey game fundraiser for the organization.
MacLellan is a volunteer coach with the weekly Antigonish Minor
Hockey novice advanced program. He is active with the StFX athletics
X-Out Bullying program and he represented StFX student-athletes at the
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (known
informally as 'White Ribbon Day').
The 2012-13 X-Men hockey team captain was also the 2013 winner of the
StFX athletics Male Community X-Cellence award, given each year to a
male and female student-athlete in recognition of extensive community
involvement, volunteer experience and extra-curricular contributions.
"Murdock exemplifies everything this award is about," said X-Men head
coach Brad Peddle. "He is the leader of our team and is a tremendous
person. He has consistently defied odds and exceeded expectations to get
where he is today. His work ethic sets the bar for every one of his
teammates and consistently holds players to it."
MacLellan appeared in 26 games for the X-Men this season and contributed seven points, including a short-handed goal.
"He is our top defensive forward and can be counted on for important
on-ice minutes," said Peddle of his play. "He is our most valuable
penalty killer due to his understanding of the game, and is willing to
block shots, eat pucks or do whatever it takes to win."
MacLellan is the seventh StFX player to take home the honour and the first since Pat Grandmaitre earned the title in 2004-05.
He now becomes the AUS nominee for the Dr. Randy Gregg Award for the
most outstanding CIS student-athlete. X-Men head coach Brad Peddle is
the most recent StFX winner of the national award. He took home the
honours as a player in 1998-99.
UPEI's Jordan Knox was the recipient of the Dr. Randy Gregg Award last season.
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 - Evan Mosher, Acadia (3rd year - Conception Bay South, N.L.)
Defense - Reggie Traccitto, UPEI (4th year - Oakville, Ont.)
Defense - Chris Owens, Acadia (4th year - St. John's, N.L.)
Forward - Liam Heelis, Acadia (3rd year - Georgetown, Ont.)
Forward - Chris Culligan, UNB (5th year - Howie Centre, N.S.)
Forward - Mike Cazzola, Acadia (2nd year - Guelph, Ont.)
Second Team All-Stars:
Goaltender - Wayne Savage, UPEI (4th year - St. Thomas, Ont.)
Defense - Jordan Murray, UNB (1st year - Riverview, N.B.)
Defense - Jamie Doornbosch, Saint Mary's (3rd year - Richmond Hill, Ont.)
Forward - Eric Faille, Moncton (4th year - Lachine, Que.)
Forward - Phillippe Maillet, UNB (1st year - Terrabonne, Que.)
Forward - Chris Desousa, UPEI (3rd year - Mississauga, Ont.)
All-Rookie Team:
Goaltender - Brandon Glover, Acadia (Victoria, B.C.)
Defense - Jordan Murray, UNB (Riverview, N.B.)
Defense - Geoff Schemitsch, Acadia (Thornhill, B.C.)
Forward - Phillippe Maillet, UNB (Terrabonne, Que.)
Forward - Steven Beyers, Saint Mary's (Orangeville, Ont.)
Forward - Allain Saulnier, Moncton (Cap-Pelé, N.B.)
