November 3, 2021
Defence reigns supreme as Varsity Blues Lynes lines up top conference honours
Burlington, Ont. - After playing a key role for the undefeated Toronto Varsity Blues during the regular season, Katie Lynes has earned the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Most Valuable Player Award, headlining a talent-laden list of award winners and all-stars from the 2021 field hockey season.
A third-year defender from Oakville, Ont., Lynes joins an impressive list of 14 fellow MVPs from the Blues program and has done so after playing an integral role for the No. 2 nationally ranked Blues. Her defensive play helped to hold opponents to a conference-low seven goals against during the regular season. For good measure, the talented defender also notched a pair of goals.
The commerce major, known for her composed play and technical skill, has been a true anchor for the Varsity Blues, who are set to host the 2021 OUA Field Hockey Championship on Sunday. The high-IQ player makes her mark with her positional awareness, outlet passing, and her ability to make critical defensive tackles in pressure situations.
Lynes hasn't just been a standout on the university scene; however, as the all-star student-athlete also helped Canada earn a gold medal at the 2021 Junior Pan Am Cup in Chile this past August and was recently named to the Field Hockey Canada senior national team for the upcoming tour to San Diego.
Another defensive stalwart stood out en route to conference recognition, doing so in her foray onto the university field hockey season no less. Arden Goddard-Despot, a defender from the Guelph Gryphons and also a member of the Canadian Junior National squad, was one of 10 players to make their debut for the defending champions, and she didn't skip a beat, as she led the team in minutes played (300 minutes) during what turned out to be an all-star campaign
The psychology major from North Vancouver, B.C. embraced the challenge with open arms, and although she didn't find the scoresheet herself, she did help her club concede just seven goals in their eight games, tying them for the league low in that category. Her emergence, which was anchored by her composure on the field and great ability to get the ball out of the high-pressure situations, also helped the Gryphons find their stride in the second half of the season and clinch top spot in the West Division.
While the likes of Lynes and Goddard-Despot impacted their team's defence beyond the net, Waterloo's Marley Dowling continues to make her mark between the pipes, doing so this season to the tune of a Goalkeeper of the Year nod.
The Waterloo, Ont. native is no stranger to the accolade, having also been tabbed with the honour in 2019. The third-year Warriors netminder proved that the extended offseason did not affect her on-field ability, as she allowed just 12 goals in eight games played. Her biggest match of the year came against the defending champion Gryphons, wherein she made 10 stops to give the black and gold their first win over Guelph in 15 years.
The architectural engineering student may have carried the load for the Warriors during her three seasons in net, but she is in good company among positional standouts for the program, with Waterloo now winning four of the last six top goalkeeper awards.
A team that is familiar with both Goddard-Despot and Dowling this season is the Western Mustangs, who faced off with these two award winners frequently as part of the West Division makeup. The London squad proved to be a much different group than the last time they hit the field in 2019, and at the helm of that turnaround came the team's voice from the sidelines, as Jeff Pacheco takes home the 2021 Coach of the Year award.
The veteran coach, now a two-time award winner (2012, 2021), sparked a spirited season from the purple and white, who went from just two wins in 12 games played last season to a stellar 5-2-1 record this time around. Their only losses on the year came at the hands of the 2019 champions, who edged them out by just a single point in the divisional standings. More than just the overall team performance, the veteran coach also saw a pair of his players reach all-star levels this season.
Beyond being an asset within the sport for the Queen's Gaels, meanwhile, Kira Atkinson has gone above and beyond to dedicate herself to her team, her school, and her community. For her efforts on the field, in the classroom, and in the greater community, the fifth-year science major has been named the Gail Wilson Outstanding Contributor.
Among the actions that have made Atkinson an instrumental member of the Queen's community are her participation in community events, such as high school field hockey clinics and umpiring in high school league; connecting with incoming student-athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic to help them feel part of the Queen's community despite the unique circumstances; and serving as the founder and vice president of the Queen's Naturopathic Society.
Atkinson has also contributed significantly to the academic community at Queen's. In addition to being a consistent member of the Dean's Honour List, she was also recognized by the Canadian Psychological Association, receiving the 2021 Certificate of Academic Excellence of Honours Thesis Research, which is awarded annually to students who make outstanding achievements in their thesis work.
This is the fourth time a member of the Tricolour has taken home the honour and first since the 2015 campaign (Caitlin Gordon).
The final award of the season, the Umpire of the Year, goes to an individual who has become synonymous with the moniker over the last decade. For her efforts this year, Denise Pelletier has earned her sixth such OUA honour in the past seven seasons.
After starting to umpire with the Waterloo Women's Field Hockey Club 13 years ago, Pelletier has made multiple stops since. From success at the high school level - for which she was selected to umpire at the OFSAA championships - to her more than decade-long tenure with the conference, the FIH rated umpire continues to be one of the top game officials not only in the province, but across Canada. She has been selected to work at multiple OUA and U SPORTS championships since coming on board in 2008 and the decorated umpire continues to help set the standard for the sport.
Among those also setting the standard with their efforts on the field are eight additional all-stars, who join Lynes, Goddard-Despot, and Dowling as this season's standout performers. A total of six schools see at least one member of their squads tabbed with the recognition, including a pair each from Guelph, Queen's, Toronto, Western, and Waterloo, as well as a single representative from York.
The complete list of 2021 OUA field hockey award winners and all-stars is as follows:
Award Winners
Most Valuable Player - Katie Lynes, Toronto
Coach of the Year - Jeff Pacheco, Western
Rookie of the Year - Arden Goddard-Despot, Guelph
Gail Wilson Outstanding Contributor - Kira Atkinson, Queen's
Goalkeeper of the Year - Marley Dowling, Waterloo
Umpire of the Year - Denise Pelletier
All-Stars
Katie Lynes, Toronto
Sidney Evans, Guelph
Payten Lang, Western
Miranda Hunter, Waterloo
Isabelle Mastantuono, Queen's
Arden Goddard-Despot, Guelph
Prava Sandhu, York
Madison Fisher, Western
Rebecca Carvalho, Toronto
Nina Watson, Queen's
Marley Dowling, Waterloo
A third-year defender from Oakville, Ont., Lynes joins an impressive list of 14 fellow MVPs from the Blues program and has done so after playing an integral role for the No. 2 nationally ranked Blues. Her defensive play helped to hold opponents to a conference-low seven goals against during the regular season. For good measure, the talented defender also notched a pair of goals.
The commerce major, known for her composed play and technical skill, has been a true anchor for the Varsity Blues, who are set to host the 2021 OUA Field Hockey Championship on Sunday. The high-IQ player makes her mark with her positional awareness, outlet passing, and her ability to make critical defensive tackles in pressure situations.
Lynes hasn't just been a standout on the university scene; however, as the all-star student-athlete also helped Canada earn a gold medal at the 2021 Junior Pan Am Cup in Chile this past August and was recently named to the Field Hockey Canada senior national team for the upcoming tour to San Diego.
Another defensive stalwart stood out en route to conference recognition, doing so in her foray onto the university field hockey season no less. Arden Goddard-Despot, a defender from the Guelph Gryphons and also a member of the Canadian Junior National squad, was one of 10 players to make their debut for the defending champions, and she didn't skip a beat, as she led the team in minutes played (300 minutes) during what turned out to be an all-star campaign
The psychology major from North Vancouver, B.C. embraced the challenge with open arms, and although she didn't find the scoresheet herself, she did help her club concede just seven goals in their eight games, tying them for the league low in that category. Her emergence, which was anchored by her composure on the field and great ability to get the ball out of the high-pressure situations, also helped the Gryphons find their stride in the second half of the season and clinch top spot in the West Division.
While the likes of Lynes and Goddard-Despot impacted their team's defence beyond the net, Waterloo's Marley Dowling continues to make her mark between the pipes, doing so this season to the tune of a Goalkeeper of the Year nod.
The Waterloo, Ont. native is no stranger to the accolade, having also been tabbed with the honour in 2019. The third-year Warriors netminder proved that the extended offseason did not affect her on-field ability, as she allowed just 12 goals in eight games played. Her biggest match of the year came against the defending champion Gryphons, wherein she made 10 stops to give the black and gold their first win over Guelph in 15 years.
The architectural engineering student may have carried the load for the Warriors during her three seasons in net, but she is in good company among positional standouts for the program, with Waterloo now winning four of the last six top goalkeeper awards.
A team that is familiar with both Goddard-Despot and Dowling this season is the Western Mustangs, who faced off with these two award winners frequently as part of the West Division makeup. The London squad proved to be a much different group than the last time they hit the field in 2019, and at the helm of that turnaround came the team's voice from the sidelines, as Jeff Pacheco takes home the 2021 Coach of the Year award.
The veteran coach, now a two-time award winner (2012, 2021), sparked a spirited season from the purple and white, who went from just two wins in 12 games played last season to a stellar 5-2-1 record this time around. Their only losses on the year came at the hands of the 2019 champions, who edged them out by just a single point in the divisional standings. More than just the overall team performance, the veteran coach also saw a pair of his players reach all-star levels this season.
Beyond being an asset within the sport for the Queen's Gaels, meanwhile, Kira Atkinson has gone above and beyond to dedicate herself to her team, her school, and her community. For her efforts on the field, in the classroom, and in the greater community, the fifth-year science major has been named the Gail Wilson Outstanding Contributor.
Among the actions that have made Atkinson an instrumental member of the Queen's community are her participation in community events, such as high school field hockey clinics and umpiring in high school league; connecting with incoming student-athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic to help them feel part of the Queen's community despite the unique circumstances; and serving as the founder and vice president of the Queen's Naturopathic Society.
Atkinson has also contributed significantly to the academic community at Queen's. In addition to being a consistent member of the Dean's Honour List, she was also recognized by the Canadian Psychological Association, receiving the 2021 Certificate of Academic Excellence of Honours Thesis Research, which is awarded annually to students who make outstanding achievements in their thesis work.
This is the fourth time a member of the Tricolour has taken home the honour and first since the 2015 campaign (Caitlin Gordon).
The final award of the season, the Umpire of the Year, goes to an individual who has become synonymous with the moniker over the last decade. For her efforts this year, Denise Pelletier has earned her sixth such OUA honour in the past seven seasons.
After starting to umpire with the Waterloo Women's Field Hockey Club 13 years ago, Pelletier has made multiple stops since. From success at the high school level - for which she was selected to umpire at the OFSAA championships - to her more than decade-long tenure with the conference, the FIH rated umpire continues to be one of the top game officials not only in the province, but across Canada. She has been selected to work at multiple OUA and U SPORTS championships since coming on board in 2008 and the decorated umpire continues to help set the standard for the sport.
Among those also setting the standard with their efforts on the field are eight additional all-stars, who join Lynes, Goddard-Despot, and Dowling as this season's standout performers. A total of six schools see at least one member of their squads tabbed with the recognition, including a pair each from Guelph, Queen's, Toronto, Western, and Waterloo, as well as a single representative from York.
The complete list of 2021 OUA field hockey award winners and all-stars is as follows:
Award Winners
Most Valuable Player - Katie Lynes, Toronto
Coach of the Year - Jeff Pacheco, Western
Rookie of the Year - Arden Goddard-Despot, Guelph
Gail Wilson Outstanding Contributor - Kira Atkinson, Queen's
Goalkeeper of the Year - Marley Dowling, Waterloo
Umpire of the Year - Denise Pelletier
All-Stars
Katie Lynes, Toronto
Sidney Evans, Guelph
Payten Lang, Western
Miranda Hunter, Waterloo
Isabelle Mastantuono, Queen's
Arden Goddard-Despot, Guelph
Prava Sandhu, York
Madison Fisher, Western
Rebecca Carvalho, Toronto
Nina Watson, Queen's
Marley Dowling, Waterloo
