The 20th Annual BLG Awards: CIS athlete of the year nominees announced

CALGARY (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport and national law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) announced Wednesday the eight finalists for the 20th Annual BLG Awards.

Official website: www.blg.com/blgawards

The BLG Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with CIS.

On Monday, April 30, the eight national nominees will be honoured, with one female and one male winner receiving a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship in front of more than 1,000 guests at the EPCOR Centre’s Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary.

The awards show will premiere on TSN on Saturday, May 26, at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

“We are extremely excited to be hosting the 20th Anniversary of the BLG Awards in Calgary,” said Doug Mitchell, National Co-Chair of BLG, which sponsors the Awards. “We continue to be amazed by the talents and accomplishments of these outstanding athletes. Each year, as we follow the past winners and hear about their accomplishments or what they are involved in, we realize how important their university sports background has been to them. We congratulate the universities who have provided the great education and athletic programs for these students to succeed in their careers.”

“The BLG Awards is the event we look most forward to all year long,” said Marg McGregor, chief executive officer of CIS. “With over 10,000 student-athletes competing in CIS, the BLG Awards highlight eight exceptional individuals and we are extremely proud of their accomplishments and unrelenting pursuit of excellence.”

The 2012 nominees for the Jim Thompson Trophy presented to the female BLG Award recipient are Tyson Beukeboom of Uxbridge, Ont., a rugby player from St. Francis Xavier University; Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Que., a hockey player from McGill University; Jacey Murphy of Alliston, Ont., a rugby player from the University of Guelph; and Robyn Pendleton of Victoria, a field hockey player from the University of British Columbia.

The finalists for the Doug Mitchell Trophy presented to the CIS male athlete of the year are Andrew Clark of Brandon, Man., a hockey player from Acadia University; Marc-André Dorion of St. Hubert, Que., a hockey player from McGill University; Kyle Quinlan of South Woodslee, Ont., a football player from McMaster University; and Ben Ball of Abbottsford, B.C., a volleyball player from Trinity Western University.

The BLG Awards are based on athletic accomplishments, outstanding sportsmanship and leadership. Each of the 52 CIS schools selects one female and one male athlete of the year. From these nominees, one female and one male athlete are chosen within each of the four regional associations: Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA). To be eligible, a student-athlete must have competed in a CIS sport for a minimum of two years and cannot be a previous recipient of a BLG Award.

All nominees receive a commemorative gold ring and winners are presented with a trophy and a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Canadian university graduate school. Winners are selected by the Canadian Athletic Foundation, a not-for-profit board established for the purpose of administering the BLG Awards and protecting the integrity of the selection process. The CAF Board of Trustees consists of 21 members from five Canadian cities representing major corporations from across the country who are committed to ensuring that Canadian university athletes receive the recognition they deserve.

Past BLG Award Winners:

2010-11: Jessica Clemençon (Windsor – basketball) / Tyson Hinz (Carleton – basketball)
2009-10: Liz Cordonier (UBC – volleyball) / Erik Glavic (Calgary – football)
2008-09: Annamay Pierse (UBC - swimming) / Joel Schmuland (Alberta - volleyball)
2007-08: Laetitia Tchoualack (Montreal - volleyball) / Rob Hennigar (UNB - hockey)
2006-07: Jessica Zelinka (Calgary - track & field) / Josh Howatson (Trinity Western - volleyball)
2005-06: Marylène Laplante (Laval - volleyball) / Osvaldo Jeanty (Carleton - basketball)
2004-05: Adrienne Power (Dalhousie - track & field) / Jesse Lumsden (McMaster - football)
2003-04: Joanna Niemczewska (Calgary - volleyball) / Adam Ens (Saskatchewan - volleyball)
2002-03: Kim St-Pierre (McGill - hockey) / Ryan McKenzie (Windsor - cross country & track)
2001-02: Elizabeth Warden (Toronto - swimming) / Brian Johns (UBC - swimming)
2000-01: Leighann Doan (Calgary - basketball) / Kojo Aidoo (McMaster - football)
1999-00: Jenny Cartmell (Alberta - volleyball) / Michael Potts (Western Ontario - soccer)
1998-99: Corinne Swirsky (Concordia - hockey) / Alexandre Marchand (Sherbrooke - track)
1997-98: Foy Williams (Toronto - track & field) / Titus Channer (McMaster - basketball)
1996-97: Terri-Lee Johannesson (Manitoba - basketball) / Curtis Myden (Calgary - swimming)
1995-96: Justine Ellison (Toronto - basketball) / Don Blair (Calgary - football)
1994-95: Linda Thyer (McGill - track & field) / Bill Kubas (Wilfrid Laurier - football)
1993-94: Sandra Carroll (Winnipeg - basketball) / Tim Tindale (Western Ontario - football)
1992-93: Diane Scott (Winnipeg - volleyball) / Andy Cameron (Calgary - volleyball)

2011-2012 FEMALE BLG AWARD NOMINEES (Jim Thompson Trophy)

Atlantic University Sport (AUS)

Tyson Beukeboom
St. Francis Xavier University
Sport: Rugby
Year of eligibility: 3
Academic program: Human Kinetics
Hometown: Uxbridge, Ont.

Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ)

Ann-Sophie Bettez
McGill University
Sport: Hockey
Year of eligibility: 5
Academic program: Public Relations Diploma
Hometown: Sept-Iles, Que.

Ontario University Athletics (OUA)

Jacey Murphy
University of Guelph
Sport: Rugby
Year of eligibility: 5
Academic program: Science (Organic Agriculture)
Hometown: Alliston, Ont.

To say that Jacey Murphy and the Guelph Gryphons dominated the 2011 CIS women’s rugby season would be a major understatement.

In her fifth and final university campaign, the 22-year-old number 8 player led the Ontario conference with 12 tries in five league games as the Gryphons outscored their opponents by a mind-boggling 453-8 margin. Guelph resumed its domination in the post-season, defeating six rivals by a combined 261-34 en route to its fourth consecutive OUA championship banner and the second CIS title in program history. The national champs were the highest-scoring and best defensive team in the country during their undefeated journey.

Murphy, a native of Alliston, Ont., saw her exceptional all-around play recognized by CIS coaches, who voted her as the most outstanding player in the country for the second straight year. She also earned all-Canadian status and was named a CIS championship all-star, receiving both honours for the third time. The science student helped the Gryphons reach the CIS podium in each of her five seasons with the team, including four bronze medals and last fall’s Monilex Trophy triumph.

“Jacey is an exceptional athlete. She is nothing less than a specimen of athleticism,” says Guelph head coach Colette McAuley. “She has been an offensive threat ever since she joined the Gryphons in 2007. Now, she is developing her leadership abilities and makes everyone around her better.”

Murphy has always made the most of those abilities. She has competed on the national and international rugby stage since the age of 16, often travelling overseas to play against the junior English and Welsh teams. Her most recent accomplishment is a selection to the national 7’s trial camp in preparation for the 2016 Olympic competition.

“Athletics have always been a large part of my life and have helped me to become a more well-rounded individual,” says Murphy, a four-time OUA all-star whose father played football with the Gryphons and whose two older sisters suited up for Guelph’s lacrosse team. “Sports have taught me about leadership and how to work as a team. It has helped me become a goal oriented person and to strive to achieve these goals.”

In addition to rugby, the multi-talented Murphy also played basketball, volleyball, hockey and ball hockey all through high school.

Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA)

Robyn Pendleton
University of British Columbia
Sport: Field Hockey
Year of eligibility: 4
Academic program: Kinesiology
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.

2011-2012 MALE BLG AWARD NOMINEES (Doug Mitchell Trophy)

Atlantic University Sport (AUS)

Andrew Clark
Acadia University
Sport: Hockey
Year of eligibility: 3
Academic program: Kinesiology
Hometown: Brandon, Man.

Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ)

Marc-André Dorion
McGill University
Sport: Hockey
Year of eligibility: 4
Academic program: Physical & Health Education
Hometown: St. Hubert, Que.

Ontario University Athletics (OUA)

Kyle Quinlan
McMaster University
Sport: Football
Year of eligibility: 4
Academic program: Economics
Hometown: South Woodslee, Ont.

It has been said that big players must come up big in big games. It’s safe to say McMaster quarterback Kyle Quinlan got the memo last November.

Following a suspension-shortened regular season, the fourth-year pivot from South Woodslee, Ont., went on one of the greatest playoff runs in recent memory to lead the Marauders to their first-ever CIS football national championship. Over four post-season contests, Quinlan averaged 335 yards passing and another 92.5 on the ground, threw for 11 touchdown passes and guided his troops to four straight 40-plus-point performances as McMaster defeated Queen’s 40-13 (OUA semifinal), Western 41-19 (Yates Cup), Acadia 45-21 (Uteck Bowl) and Laval 41-38 in overtime (Vanier Cup). The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior earned game-MVP honours following each of the last three duels of the campaign.

Of course, the Cinderella story wouldn’t have been totally complete had Quinlan not kept his best for last. On Nov. 25 at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium, in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest CIS football games ever played, the economics student racked up 482 yards and two majors on 36-of-55 passing while also rushing for a team-high 106 yards as McMaster handed the powerful Rouge et Or their first loss in seven lifetime appearances in the Vanier Cup final. The Marauders tied the single-game record with 41 first downs, while their 675 yards of total offence and 25 first downs through the air rank second in Vanier Cup history.

As dominant as Quinlan was in the playoffs, it would be inaccurate to say his remarkable performances came out of nowhere. After all, despite being limited to five outings in conference play, he was named to the second all-Canadian team after he averaged a CIS-best 342 passing yards per game.

While he still has one year of CIS eligibility remaining, there is little doubt the talented QB is on the radar screen of a number of professional teams heading into the 2012 CFL Draft. He has participated in the last two CFL Evaluation Camps and was invited to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ training camp last summer.

“No athlete that I have watched over the years has developed more physically, mentally, socially and emotionally in such a short period of time than Kyle Quinlan during the 2011 football season,” says McMaster head coach Stefan Ptaszek. “In my humble opinion, it was one of the best seasons any player has had in the history of our football program.”

Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA)

Ben Ball
Trinity Western University
Sport: Volleyball
Year of eligibility: 5
Academic program: General Studies (Communications & Human Kinetics)
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C.

Source: CIS Communications