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University of Guelph Athletics

2018-19 OUA Honour Award Recipients

Hockey - Women

Gryphons Represented with Four Major Award Winners at OUA's 2018-19 AGM

KINGSTON, Ont. – On Wednesday evening (May 15) in Kingston at the Ontario University Athletic's Annual General Meeting, there were a total of nine major awards handed out for the 2018-19 season. Three of those nine went to Gryphons, with a fourth awarded to a distinguished Guelph-based media member.

Jace Kotsopoulos (OUA Male Athlete of the Year), Rachel Flanagan (OUA Female Coach of the Year), Rob Massey (OUA Media Member of Distinction) and the Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team (OUA Female Team of the Year) all took home conference-wide awards as part of the OUA's 2018-19 "Honour Awards" banquet. .
 

2018-19 OUA Honour Award Winners:
 
Male Athlete of the Year Jace Kotsopoulos (Guelph Gryphons men's soccer)
Kadre Gray (Laurentian Voyageurs men's basketball)
Female Athlete of the Year Theanna Vernon (Ryerson Rams women's volleyball)
Male Team of the Year Carleton Ravens men's basketball
Female Team of the Year Guelph Gryphons women's hockey
McMaster Marauders women's basketball
Male Coach of the Year Dave Smart (Carleton Ravens men's basketball)
Female Coach of the Year Rachel Flanagan (Guelph Gryphons women's hockey)
Media Member of Distinction Rob Massey (Guelph Sports Journal)
John McManus Award Rick Osborne (Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey)
J.P. Loosemore Award Chuck Mathies (Western Mustangs)
 

Jace Kotsopoulos - 2018-19 OUA Male Athlete of the Year

For just the third time in the 27-year history of the award, a Guelph Gryphon has been named OUA Male Athlete of the Year. Jace Kotsopoulos joins Ross Proudfoot (cross country/track, 2014-15) and Tim Mau (basketball, 1992-93) as just the third Gryphon athlete to earn the title of OUA Male Athlete of the Year. Kotsopoulos, a fourth-year standout on the Gryphons men's soccer team, shared 2018-19 OUA Male Athlete of the Year honours with Laurentian men's basketball star Kadre Gray, who averaged a U SPORTS-best 31 points per game.

This season, Kotsopoulos also became just the second U of G athlete to earn national player of the year honours in men's soccer, joining Robbie Murphy (2011) as the only other Gryphon recipient of the Joe Johnson Memorial Trophy as U SPORTS Player of the Year. Jace KotsopoulosDuring the 2018 season, the Burlington native finished second in U SPORTS in goals with 15, while also eclipsing the University of Guelph's all-time goals record (56).
 
The Guelph hit man's 15 goals paced the OUA this season, with many coming at crucial moments to either tie or win a match. The majority of those 15 came in a memorable September when Kotsopoulos was named U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Month. He scored a brace in five of his seven matches that month and also became the University of Guelph men's all-time leading scorer when he bagged both goals in a 2-0 win over McMaster on Sept. 9. Kotsopoulos had 48 goals to that point, needing one to tie Guelph's all-time leader Robbie Murphy at 49. He got it in the 75th minute, heading a ball home from inside the area. But Kotsopoulos wasn't done. He established the new school record six minutes later when he took a through ball from teammate Jon Amoo, held off a defender on his shoulder, and coolly finished with his left foot into the bottom corner of the McMaster net. He went on to score six more goals the rest of the season and currently sits in the top spot with 56.
 
"Jace had an amazing season, breaking the all-time Gryphon goal scoring record, leading the OUA in scoring and coming second in Canada," said Gryphons' head coach Keith Mason. "But above all this, Jace is a tremendous individual, humble, talented, hardworking, and a leader. It is a pleasure to coach such a player with these qualities day in day out. He is fully deserving of this special award, but I am sure Jace would be the first to admit he could not have done it without the fantastic support, on and off the field, from his teammates."

OUA ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
 
YEAR FEMALE MALE   
2018-19 Theanna Vernon Ryerson Volleyball Jace Kotsopoulos
Kadre Gray
Guelph
Laurentian
Soccer
Basketball
2017-18 Kylie Massie Toronto Swimming Kadre Gray Laurentian Basketball
2016-17 Claire Sumner Queen's Cross Country Jonathan Lao York Soccer
2015-16 Kylie Massie Toronto Swimming Stephen Maar McMaster Volleyball
2014-15 Korissa Williams Windsor Basketball Ross Proudfoot Guelph Cross Country/T&F
2013-14 Khamica Bingham York Track & Field Philip Scrubb Carleton Basketball
2012-13 Britt Benn Guelph Rugby Kyle Quinlan* McMaster Football
2011-12 Jacey Murphy Guelph Rugby Kyle Quinlan McMaster Football
2010-11 Jessica Clemençon* Windsor Basketball Tyson Hinz* Carleton Basketball
2009-10 Liz Knox Laurier Hockey Michael Faulds Western Football
2008-09 Lindsay Carson Guelph Cross Country/T&F Francesco Bruno York Soccer
2007-08 Lindsay DeGroot McMaster Basketball Aaron Doornekamp Carleton Basketball
2006-07 Eilish McConville Queen's Soccer Daryl Stephenson Windsor Football
2005-06 Kate Allgood Brock Hockey Osvaldo Jeanty* Carleton Basketball
2004-05 Cindy Eadie Laurier Hockey Jesse Lumsden* McMaster Football
2003-04 Alison Goodman Laurier Soccer & Hockey Rob Smart Carleton Basketball
2002-03 Tara Hedican Guelph Wrestling Ryan McKenzie* Windsor Cross Country/T&F
2001-02 Liz Warden* Toronto Swimming Ben Chapdelaine McMaster Football
2000-01 Jennifer Rawson Toronto Hockey Kojo Aidoo* McMaster Football
1999-00 Janet Cook McMaster Swimming Michael Potts* Western Soccer
1998-99 Lamide Oyewumi Toronto Track & Field Steve Maga McMaster Basketball
1997-98 Foy Williams* Toronto Track & Field Titus Channer* McMaster Basketball
1996-97^ Karen Jackson York Basketball Titus Channer McMaster Basketball
1995-96^ Justine Ellison* Toronto Basketball Aaron Pomery Brock Wrestling
1994-95^ Kelly Dinsmore Windsor Track & Field Bill Kubas* Laurier Football
1993-94^ Kelly Dinsmore Windsor Track & Field Tim Tindale* Western Football
1992-93^ Nancy Sweetnam Laurentian Swimming Tim Mau Guelph Basketball
* named CIS Athlete of the Year
^ Prior to 1997-98 males at Ontario universities represented the Ontario University Athletics Association (OUAA) and females competed in the Ontario Women's Interuniversity Athletics Association (OWIAA)
 

Rachel Flanagan - 2018-19 OUA Female Coach of the Year

For the third year in a row, a Guelph Gryphon has been named OUA Female Coach of the Year. After leading the Gryphons women's hockey team to the first national title in school history, head coach Rachel Flanagan was named the OUA Female Coach of the Year for the second time in her career (2016-17 & 2018-19). It marks the fifth time in the 21-year history of the conference-wide award that a Gryphon female coach has earned the honour. Flanagan, who just wrapped up her 12th season in charge of the women's hockey program at the University of Guelph, has led the Gryphons to seven appearances in the McCaw Cup, winning OUA titles in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2018-19. Rachel FlanaganUnder Flanagan's guidance, the Gryphons women's hockey team has finished 1st in the OUA standings four times in the last six seasons and in 2018-19, led the OUA in both goals scored (79) as well as fewest goals allowed (34). Guelph's unforgettable 2018-19 season was capped with the first national title in program history following a 1-0 win over the McGill Martlets in the U SPORTS gold medal game in P.E.I.

Flanagan becomes Guelph's first ever two-time recipient of the OUA Female Coach of the Year award, with previous U of G winners including Colette McAuley (women's rugby, 2017-18), Angela Orton (women's basketball, 2004-05) and Linda Melnick (women's volleyball, 2002-03).
 
"It is an incredible honour to be recognized with this award with so many outstanding female coaches involved across so many different sports in the OUA," says Flanagan, a five-time recipient of OUA Coach of the Year in women's hockey. "I am very fortunate to be surrounded by a talented coaching staff who have played an integral role in helping create a strong team culture with our program. Our players this past season were a talented, experienced group who demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities both on and off the ice."

For Scott McRoberts, Director of Athletics at the University of Guelph, the conference-wide recognition for Rachel Flanagan is a much-deserved honour, "It was a historic year for the women's hockey team and that starts at the top with Coach Flanagan. Her leadership on and off the ice was admirable as she led the program to its first national title. She is a deserving recipient of this award and we couldn't be more proud of her."

OUA FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR

NOTE: The OUA Female Coach of the Year award is given annually to the top female coach in the OUA. Coaches from all OUA sports are eligible. The OUA Female Coach of the Year does not necessarily have to coach a female sport. In 2009-10, Brenda Willis was named OUA Female Coach of the Year while coaching men's volleyball at Queen's.
 
2018-19 Rachel Flanagan Guelph Women's Hockey
2017-18 Colette McAuley Guelph Women's Rugby
2016-17 Rachel Flanagan Guelph Women's Hockey
2015-16 Kristine Drakich Toronto Women's Volleyball
2014-15 Chantal Vallée Windsor Women's Basketball
2013-14 Beth Barz Queen's Women's Rugby
2012-13 Chantal Vallée Windsor Women's Basketball
2011-12 Vicki Croley Western Track & Field
2010-11 Chantal Vallée Windsor Women's Basketball
2009-10 Brenda Willis Queen's Men's Volleyball
2008-09 Chantal Vallée Windsor Women's Basketball
2007-08 Lisa Patterson Lakehead Nordic Skiing
2006-07 Theresa Burns McMaster Women's Basketball
2005-06 Marilyn Douglas Windsor Women's Volleyball
2004-05 Angela Orton Guelph Women's Basketball
2003-04 Angie McLeod Ottawa Women's Basketball
2002-03 Linda Melnick Guelph Women's Volleyball
2001-02 Vicki Croley Western Cross Country/Track & Field
2000-01 Karen Hughes Toronto Women's Hockey
1999-00 Karen Hughes Toronto Women's Hockey
1997-98 Beth Ali Toronto Field Hockey
 

Guelph Gryphons Women's Hockey - 2018-19 OUA Female Team of the Year

In the nine-year history of the OUA Team of the Year award, the Guelph Gryphons have never been recognized. Until now.

Following an unforgettable journey to the first national title in program history, the Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team were named co-recipients of the OUA's Female Team of the Year award, sharing the title with the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team (who also secured the first national title in their program's history).

The Gryphons have been the class of the OUA in women's hockey in recent years, but the 2018-19 team would make history. Guelph was motivated from the moment the puck dropped on the new season with fifth-year team pillars captain Kaitlin Lowy and goaltender Valerie Lamenta intent on ending their careers as champions. The team was simply dominant during the regular season, leading the OUA in both goals scored (79) and allowed (33) en route to a 18-3-3 record. Gryphons women's hockey 2018-19 U SPORTS championsLowy would lead the team in goals (13) and points (25) with Lamenta posting a 1.52 goals against average and .952 save percentage. But there was much more to come for Guelph, beginning with two-game sweeps of both the Brock Badgers and the Ryerson Rams in the OUA quarters and semis. That set up a McCaw Cup matchup with the Toronto Varsity Blues at the Gryphon Centre. The hosts trailed 2-1 but scored three unanswered goals in the third period to win the trophy they call "Judy" for the third time in four years.

With another OUA banner secured, the Gryphons went to Charlottetown, PEI ready to make a run at a national title. Guelph scored two quick goals and eventually hung on 3-2 to defeat the reigning U SPORTS champion Manitoba Bisons in the quarter-final. The Gryphons struck early and often in the national semi-final to eliminate the Montreal Carabins 5-0. And in the national final against the McGill Martlets, the Gryphons would realize their dream. Lowy score the lone goal of the game and Lamenta pitched her fifth shutout in eight postseason starts to lead Guelph to the first national championship in program history. Claire Merrick, who led all players in the country with seven goals in the playoffs, was named team MVP. Lowy was an OUA First-Team All-Star and Lamenta was named to the First Team, while also taking OUA Goaltender of the Year honours. 

OUA TEAM OF THE YEAR

The OUA Team of the Year is presented to one team (male, female, combined) that has demonstrated outstanding performance, compelling story and overall success. Beginning in 2017-18, the OUA recognized both a male and female team of the year. From 2010-11 to 2016-17, just a single team of the year was awarded.

YEAR FEMALE MALE
2018-19 Guelph Women's Hockey / McMaster Women's Basketball Carleton Ravens Men's Basketball
2017-18 Ryerson Rams Volleyball / Carleton Ravens Basketball Western Mustangs Football
 
YEAR TEAM
2016-17 UOIT Ridgebacks Women's Soccer
2015-16 Toronto Varsity Blues Women's Volleyball
2014-15 Western Mustangs Women's Hockey
2013-14 Toronto Varsity Blues Men's Swimming
2012-13 Windsor Lancers Women's Basketball
2011-12 McMaster Marauders Football
2010-11 Windsor Lancers Women's Basketball
 

Rob Massey - Media Member of Distinction

For the past 33 years, Rob Massey has been a driving force when it comes to the coverage and overall growth of amateur sports in the Guelph area.

From 1986 to 2016, Massey served as the sports editor at the Guelph Mercury, one of Canada's longest-tenured broadsheet newspapers. In 2016, the Guelph Mercury published its final edition in what was the paper's 149th year of existence. While the closure of the local newspaper could have proved catastrophic for the coverage of local sports in the Guelph area, Rob continued the rich tradition of amateur sports coverage in his region by launching an online journal dedicated solely to covering Guelph-based sports (Guelph Sports Journal). 

"It's an incredible honour to be a part of a list of previous winners like that," says Massey, who grew up just east of Oshawa in Mitchell's Corners, Ontario. Rob Massey"So many of the names on this list are people who I respect and have crossed paths with so many times over the years, including Morris Dalla Costa (2008 recipient). Morris and I were the sports department at "Oshawa This Week" back in the late 70's/early 80's. I'm just fortunate to have found something I really enjoy and it's an honour to receive this award."

In 1977, Massey spent a year writing for the York University newspaper (The Excalibur) before transferring to Durham College to earn a journalism degree. After four years writing for the Brampton Daily Times, Massey moved to Guelph and began his legendary 29-year run as the sports editor for the Guelph Mercury.

Having spent over 30 years with a front row seat to Guelph Gryphons sporting events, Rob was hesitant to point to any single games when asked which games or moments stand out. "It's so hard to say," says Massey. "The championship games in every sport always stand out. The 1997 men's hockey national championship in Toronto was special, having a chance to interview (Gryphon captain) Chris Clancy and some of the players down at ice level at the old Maple Leaf Gardens. But it's almost the people you remember more than the games. I was over at the stadium the other day and saw (Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach) Mike O'Shea, and I thought to myself 'I covered him when he played here' and now he has a son on the team!' So it's been a fun ride and it was a total surprise to receive an honour like this, but certainly a welcomed surprise."

Rob Massey Bio:
* Guelph Sports Journal (2016 – present):
* Sports Editor at Guelph Mercury (April 1986 – Jan. 2016) – 29 years
* Brampton Daily Times (1981 – 1986) – 4 years
* Motorsport Editor at "Wheelspin News Inc." (1981)
* Journalism degree from Durham College

OUA MEDIA MEMBER OF DISTINCTION
The OUA Media Member of Distinction Award is presented to a member of the news media who has made a major contribution to the development and growth of Ontario University Athletics

YEAR RECIPIENT
2019 Rob Massey
2018 David Grossman
2017 Ken Welch
2016 Terry Marcotte
2015 Cable 14 - Hamilton
2014 Donnovan Bennett
2013 Darren Stevenson
2012 Mike Koreen
2011 Cecelia Carter-Smith
2010 Mary Caton
2009 Tim Micallef
2008 Morris Dalla Costa
2007 Bill Sturrup
 

For more information on the 2018-19 OUA Honour recipients, visit oua.ca.


 
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