Lakers athletics awards
The Nipissing Lakers officially wrapped up the 2013-14 athletic season with their annual awards banquet this past weekend, celebrating another strong year.
The Lakers were able to put together some memorable accomplishments this past season and many teams and athletes were recognized on both a provincial and national level.
The Lakers family grew by one team this past year, as the Women’s Hockey program completed their inaugural season and the Lakers will once again expand, as they welcome both Men’s and Women’s Basketball for the 2014-15 season.
The big winners on the night were Nordic skiers Jordan Cascagnette and Kajsa Heyes, who each took home multiple awards, as well as Renee Clarke, who ended up with a few awards.
Cascagnette earned rookie of the year in both Nordic skiing and cross country running, he was also MVP for the Nordic ski team on the men’s side, and was named the Al Carfagnini male athlete of the year.
Cascagnette has proven himself among the best cross country skiers in the country, impressing the sport establishment in Canada with his ability to go to school and compete against National Team members. He has helped show that it is realistic to pursue high performance sports goals, with his aim of an Olympic berth as a varsity athlete. His recent 12th place finish at Nationals racing against the best skiers in the country and bronze medals among varsity skiers demonstrated that varsity skiing in Canada is a pathway to excellence in sport. He is a natural team leader and a good recruiter for Nipissing, putting our school on the map in the sport. Cascagnette also finished fifth at the OUA championships, putting together an impressive weekend. Cascagnette, as well as Heyes, was a Team Canada member at the World University Games earlier this year. He also was rookie of the year for both Nordic Skiing and cross country running, and is the male MVP for the Nordic team.
On the women’s side, there were two co-winners of the Jack and Mary Ann Jones female athlete of the year, with both Heyes and Clarke be named as deserving winners.
Heyes also took home the rookie of the year in Nordic skiing and was MVP, while Clarke was rookie of the year for women’s soccer and a co-winner of the women’s soccer MVP.
Heyes served as team captain this past year with the Lakers Nordic ski team, leading both during practice and in the gym. She has helped bring the team back into the running as top competitors on the OUA and national ski race circuits. Heyes recently earned a silver medal in Newfoundland at the CCUNC nationals and earlier this year, won a bronze medal at the OUA championships in the Team Sprints, with teammates Shelby Dickey. Heyes also finished fifth overall at the OUA championship, making her an OUA all-star. On top of all that, she also participated as a member of Team Canada at the World University Games just prior to Christmas, in Italy. We expect a lot from her as a team leader and look forward to continuing success with her on the team. Heyes was also named the Nordic team female MVP.
Clarke is a starting defender on the Lakers soccer team and helped them clinch a playoff berth in her first season. As a starter in all 17 games played, Clarke led the team in total minutes played averaging 87 minutes per game. She tallied three goals and five assists and was voted rookie of the year by her teammates on a squad that had 11 first-year players. She was also named to the OUA all-star team.
She is extremely coachable and inspires her teammates to push themselves past their comfort zone. She has become an integral part of the team’s defence. She is a superb defender one-on-one and, although it is early in her career, Clarke is well on her way to becoming a high performer and achiever. Clarke also took home the rookie of the year award for women’s soccer and was co-winner of the MVP.
2013-14 NIPISSING LAKERS AWARD WINNERS
Soccer
Women
Rookie of the Year – Renee Clarke
Captain’s Award – Shannon Russell
Lakers Pride Award – Claire Majid
MVP – Ashley Poirier, Renee Clarke
Men
Rookie of the Year – Drew Johnson
Captains Award – JC Courvoisier
Lakers Pride Award – Jesse Moreau
MVP – Ryan Mantle
Nordic Skiing
Women
Rookie of the Year – Kajsa Heyes
Captains Award – Lauren Aarts
Lakers Pride Award – Shelby Dickey
MVP – Kajsa Heyes
Men
Rookie of the Year – Jordan Cascagnette
Captains Award – Thomsen D’Hont
Lakers Pride Award – Kevin Durkee
MVP – Jordan Cascagnette
Cross Country Running
Women
Rookie of the Year – Jess Demers
Captains Award – Stephanie Leggat
Lakers Pride Award – Katie Kozub
MVP – Jess Demers
Men
Rookie of the Year – Jordan Cascagnette
Captains Award – Terry Doiron
Lakers Pride Award – Kevin Durkee
MVP – Terry Doiron
Volleyball
Women
Rookie of the Year – Jessica Klassen
Captains Award – Victoria Taylor
Lakers Pride Award – Tabitha Beedle
MVP – Brittany Ardron, Jessica Klassen
Men
Rookie of the Year – Warren Taylor
Captains Award – Jack Peckham
Lakers Pride Award – Shawn Humprey
MVP – Taylor Bielby
Hockey
Women
Rookie of the Year – Jade Gauthier
Captains Award – Sabrina Picard
Lakers Pride Award – Laura McKenzie
MVP – Carly Marchment
Men
Rookie of the Year – Brendan Mitchell
Captains Award – Dorian Peca
Lakers Pride Award – Dane Horvat
MVP – Grant Toulmin, Conor O’Donnell