Rhooms goes back-to-back, claims conference player of the year award

Burlington, Ont. – Aaron Rhooms will need to make room on his trophy shelf for yet another varsity honour, as he once again takes home the provincial player of the year award to headline a spectacular lineup of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men’s basketball award winners and all-stars from the 2025-26 campaign.

Player of the Year - Aaron Rhooms, TMU Bold

Adding to his decorated career with the TMU Bold, Rhooms added his second consecutive conference player of the year award to his resume, which also includes multiple first team OUA all-star selections and the 2021-22 rookie of the year selection.

Rhooms finished second in the OUA in scoring at 22.0 points per game, while shooting 50 per cent from the field on 376 attempts. The sharpshooter was known to have the ball in his hands for the crucial moments, delivering multiple clutch game-winning baskets in the dying seconds. A dominant offensive force, the Toronto native recorded three outings of 30-plus points this season, all of which came in front of the TMU Bold faithful.

Rhooms also ranked 12th in the OUA in rebounding at 7.2 per game and finished inside the top 10 in three-pointers made, shooting 37 per cent from beyond the arc.

His MVP season propelled the Bold to the No. 1 overall seed heading into the playoffs, closing the regular season on a five‑game win streak to secure a first‑round bye and home‑court advantage.

Rookie of the Year - Jakub Dobiech, Queen’s Gaels

Dobiech had a breakout rookie season for the Queen’s Gaels, putting up some serious numbers for the Tricolour. The Kingston, Ont. local averaged 10.6 points per game, finding the floor in all the Gaels’ games, including five starts.

His 46.8 three-point percentage put him at the top of all long-range shooters in the conference and third across the country. Adding to that, he shot 49.7 from the floor, averaged two rebounds, and 1.3 assists per night.

Whether at home or on the road, Dobiech delivered, impressing most with his season-high 30-point performance early in the year against Windsor.

Following teammate Ollie Engen's recognition last season, the sharp-shooting guard now makes it back-to-back rookie of the year recipients for Queen's.

Defensive Player of the Year - Nelson Cilien, Carleton Ravens

Tasked nightly with guarding the OUA’s top offensive threats, Cilien was the driving force behind the nationally ranked Ravens’ defensive identity.

The hard‑nosed Montreal, Que. product started in all the Ravens' 22 regular season contests, averaging 23.9 minutes per game. In his time on the floor, he kept opposing stars in check night in and night out, while also averaging 4.0 rebounds per game and committing less than two fouls per contest. Always looking for opportunities to disrupt his opponent’s offence, Cilien grabbed 22 steals and helped the Ravens hold teams to just 63.5 points per game.

The fourth-year guard was a key factor in securing the top seed in the OUA East Division and the second overall seed for the OUA playoffs.

Coach of the Year - Dave DeAveiro, TMU Bold

Leading his team to an exciting 17-5 regular season and claiming the top overall seed in the OUA playoffs, DeAveiro secures the conference's coach of the year honours.

In his five years with the Bold, he has led them to the playoffs each season, adding to an impressive 17 playoff appearances for TMU.

TMU climbed as high as No. 3 in the national rankings during the 2025-26 campaign and delivered impressive production under DeAveiro’s leadership. The Bold were an offensive powerhouse, averaging 82.9 points per game, good for fifth in the league, while putting up triple digit points three times this season. Along with their offensive acumen, their defence remained equally impressive, allowing opponents an average of just 67.9 points against (2nd in OUA) and limiting teams to a 36.8 FG%.

This season also featured a milestone moment, as DeAveiro earned his 500th career U SPORTS victory in November, becoming just the 19th coach to reach the feat.

He is no stranger to coaching accolades, having been awarded three OUA coach of the year titles and six RSEQ coach of the year honours before his time with the Bold.

Ken Shields Award - Chris Sagl, Lakehead Thunderwolves

Sagl is one of the most passionate players in Thunderwolves program history, contributing meaningfully both on and off the court.

He has re-written the Lakehead record book, holding program records in assists and three‑point field goals made. This season the point guard led the province and country in total assists with an impressive 135. He also sits amongst the top five best Thunderwolves in steals and top 10 in scoring with over 1000 career points.

Off the court, Sagl has spent his five years in Thunder Bay committing his time to nurturing and growing the basketball community through his work with a variety of youth programs. He is a jack of all trades, dedicated to giving back to the community and building important, long-lasting relationships, while also maintaining excellence on the court and in the classroom.

The education student's legacy at Lakehead extends far beyond statistics, through his leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to his team and community.

Champion of EDI Award - Micheal Okeke, Brock Badgers

Okeke has been a pillar of the Brock Badgers program over his five years in St. Catharines, embodying leadership, integrity, and a deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

He played a pivotal role in launching Brock’s 'All for Change' campaign, helping raise awareness around the experiences and challenges faced by Black student-athletes.

A dedicated community leader, the social sciences student regularly volunteers at local schools, sharing his story, inspiring youth, and encouraging teammates to join him. This year, he was selected to write an open letter during Black History Month, reflecting on his journey as a Black student-athlete, which turned into an honest and powerful piece that resonated across our campus community.

On the court, he started in 17 of the Badgers 22 contests, averaging 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in just 19.5 minutes per contest.

Hailing from Pointe-Claire, Que., Okeke leads by example and continually steps forward to support EDI initiatives on campus and in the community in meaningful and impactful ways.

MAJOR AWARDS

Player of the Year - Aaron Rhooms, TMU Bold
Rookie of the Year - Jakub Dobiech, Queen’s Gaels
Defensive Player of the Year - Nelson Cilien, Carleton Ravens
Coach of the Year - Dave DeAveiro, TMU Bold
Ken Shields Award - Chris Sagl, Lakehead Thunderwolves
Champion of EDI Award - Micheal Okeke, Brock Badgers
Officials Award of Merit - Robb Caporicci

FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS

SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS

THIRD TEAM ALL-STARS

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM