Windsor forward Thomas Kennedy was named recipient of the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy as national player of the year. The 6-9 forward and fourth-year business administration major from Windsor, Ont. (St. Joseph’s HS) was the OUA player of the year and a first-team OUA all-star. He was the nation’s leading rebounder and 9th-leading scorer as he led the Lancers to a first-place finish in the OUA West division with a 16-6 record. In regular season OUA play (21 games), he averaged 32.2 mpg and hit 173-293 (.590) from the floor, 8-17 (.471) from the arc and 82-143 (.573) from the line, while garnering 283 boards, including 97 on the offensive glass and a 13.5 rpg, 39 fouls, 56 assists, 41 turnovers and an asst/to ratio of 1.4, 36 blocks, 26 steals and 436 points, for a 20.8 ppg. Lancers coach Chris Cheng said “I am very proud of Thomas for achieving this award. This is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft. It has been such an honour and privilege to coach such a phenomenal individual and talented player.” The other Moser nominees were Canada West player of the year Diego Maffia (Victoria); RSEQ player of the year Sidney Tremblay-Lacombe (Laval); and AUS player of the year Elijah Miller (UPEI).
Manitoba’s Simon Hildebrandt was named recipient of the Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy as national rookie of the year. A 6-9 forward and “university one” major from Winnipeg, Man. (Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute), Hildebrandt was the Canada West rookie of the year and a first-team conference all-star. He led the Bisons to an (18-2) first-place finish in Canada West regular season play, starting all 22 games, playing an average 29.7 mpg. He hit 113-247 (.457) from the floor, 54-135 (.400) from the arc and 90-106 (.849) from the line, while garnering 106 boards, including 18 on the offensive glass and a 4.8 rpg, 46 fouls, 31 assists, 51 turnovers, 22 steals, 9 blocks and 370 points, for a 16.8 ppg. Manitoba coach Kirby Schepp said “we knew coming in that Simon was going to be an impact player for us. I think he’s really embraced his role. He’s exceeded even our loftiest expectations in terms of what he can bring on a nightly basis.” The other Mullins nominees were AUS rookie of the year Marcus Barnes (New Brunswick); RSEQ rookie of the year Étienne Gagnon (Bishop’s), and OUA rookie of the year Dezayne Mingo (Guelph).
St. Francis Xavier forward David Muenkat was named national defensive player of the year. The 6-0 guard and fourth-year arts major from Brampton, Ont. (The Rise Center). was the AUS defensive player of the year, a first-team all-star and led the AUS in rebounding. A transfer from St. Francis Brooklyn, Muenkat also toiled two years at Trinidad State Junior College in Colorado. He started all 20 regular season conference games, playing an average 24.3 mpg. He hit 112-228 (.491) from the floor, 5-19 (.263) from the arc and 75-117 (.641) from the line, while garnering 203 boards, including 57 on the offensive glass and 10.2 rpg, 47 fouls (fouling out once), 27 assists, 52 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.5), 12 blocks, 28 steals and 304 points, for a 15.2 ppg. X-men coach Tyrell Vernon said “David all year has been protecting the rim and rebounding the basketball. Anytime there’s a match-up where I feel we’re having trouble, David is the one I always go to. His versatility, what he does on the defensive end and what he’s capable of athletically, there’s nothing that he can’t do. We’re proud of him for everything that he’s done this season.” The other national nominees were OUA defensive player of the year Khalil Miller (McMaster); RSEQ defensive player of the year and first-team all-star Bahaide Haidara (U.Q.A.M); and Canada West defensive player of the year Anthony Tsegakele (Brandon).
Queen’s’ Stephan Barrie was named recipient of the Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Trophy as national coach of the year. In his 12th year (an 11th season at the helm, because of the covid pandemic) at the helm, Barrie guided the Gaels to a 17-5 (tied 2nd) in the OUA East division. It was their best regular season record in more than 50 years this season. The Gaels defeated Western 98-85 and Brock 82-80 before losing 93-86 to Carleton in the OUA playoffs. They received a wild card berth to the uSports nationals, were seeded 5th, and fell 107-98 to St. Francis Xavier in the quarterfinals. Executive director of Queen’s Athletics & Recreation Linda Melnick said “a huge congratulations to Steph Barrie, who has built a successful culture for the Men’s Basketball program at Queen’s through his commitment to creating an exceptional student-athlete experience. The dedication and efforts of Coach Barrie have led to ongoing success for the team, culminating in two sequential appearances at the U SPORTS Men’s Basketball Final 8 Championship and the best regular season record for the program in more than 50 years this season. The recognition is a tremendous accomplishment and one that Steph is truly deserving of receiving. Cha Gheill [a Gaelic war cry typically translated as ‘no surrender’ that ends the Gaels traditional cheer]!” The other Aberdeen nominees were AUS coach of the year Tyrell Vernon (St. Francis Xavier); RSEQ coach of the year Mario Joseph (U.Q.A.M); and Canada West coach of the year Kirby Schepp (Maniotba).
Joining Kennedy on the All-Canadian first team were: Aiden Warnholtz (Carleton); Cole Syllas (Queen’s); Diego Maffia (Victoria) and Elijah Miller (Prince Edward Island). …………………………………………………… Warnholtz, a 6-2 guard and fourth-year health sciences major from Kanata, Ont. (A.Y. Jackson HS), was a first-team OUA all-star and the uSports tournament MVP while leading Carleton to its 4th-consecutive title and 17th in 20 years. The four-time academic All-Canadian was also the recipient of the national Ken Shields Award for athletic, academic, and community achievements. Warnholtz acted as a mentor and a tutor for the organization Athletes Combating Racism in the Ottawa area. In regular season play, Warnholtz started all 22 games, playing an average 33.3 mpg. He hit 130-313 (.415) from the floor, 53-128 (.414) from the arc and 60-70 (.857) from the line, while garnering 122 boards, including 12 on the offensive glass and a 5.5 rpg, 61 fouls (fouling out twice), 145 assists, 81 turnovers (and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.8), 5 blocks, 16 steals and 373 points, for 17.0 ppg. …………………………………………………… Syllas, a 6-5 guard and fourth-year engineering student from Kingston, Ont. (La Salle Secondary) was a first-team OUA all-star. He started all 22 regular season conference games, playing an average 29.4 mpg. He hit 149-320 (.466) from the floor, 18-78 (.231) from the arc and 66-102 (.647) from the line, while garnering 209 boards, including 57 on the offensive glass and a 9.5 rpg, 50 fouls (fouling out once), 110 assists, 58 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ration of 1.9), 17 blocks, 24 steals and 382 points, for a 17.4 ppg. …………………………………………………… Maffia, a 6-1 guard and third-year humanities major from Victoria, B.C. (Oak Bay Secondary), was the Canada West player of the year. Vikes coach Craig Beaucamp said “as a coach, there is no greater satisfaction than seeing your players reach their potential and achieve their goals. Diego’s leadership and individual play have been instrumental to our team’s success. He led the conference in points and was also one of the conference leaders in assists. This is a tremendous honour and a testament to Diego’s exceptional skill and dedication to the game.” Maffia started all 20 regular conference games, playing an average 32.1 mpg He hit 174-368 (.473) from the floor, 79-212 (.373) from the arc and 70-75 (.933) from the line, while garnering 84 boards, including 8 on the offensive glass and a 4.2 rpg, 19 fouls, 85 assists, 51 turnovers (and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.7), 1 block, 25 steals and 497 points, for a 24.9 ppg. …………………………………………………… Miller, a 5-11 guard and third-year business administration major from Rexdale, Ont. (Richview Collegaite), was the AUS player of the year and a first-team AUS all-star. He started all 20 regular season conference games, playing an average 33.3 mpg. He hit 132-316 (.418) from the floor, 33-99 from the arc and 97-107 (.907) from the line, while garnering 107 boards, including 20 on the offensive glass and a 5.3 rpg, 30 fouls (fouling out once), 120 assists, 56 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.1), 1 block, 33 steals and 394 points, for a 19.7 ppg.
Joining Muenkat and Hildebrandt on the All-Canadian second team were: Guillaume Pepin (Ottawa); Mason Bourcier (Trinity Western); and Sidney Tremblay-Lacombe (Laval). …………………………………………………… Pepin, a 6-6 forward and third-year marketing major from Montreal, Que. (Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf) was a 1st-team OUA all-star. He started all 22 games in regular season conference play, for an average 30.7 mpg. He hit 123-294 (.418) from the floor, 46-120 (.383) from the arc and 57-77 (.740) from the line, while garnering 115 boards, including 26 on the offensive glass and a 5.2 rpg, 30 fouls, 39 assists, 48 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.8), 11 blocks, 21 steals and 349 points, for a 15.9 ppg. …………………………………………………… Bourcier, a 6-4 guard and fifth-year philosophy major from Kelowna, B.C. (Kelowna HS), was a first-team Canada West all-star after finishing in the nation’s top 15 in points, steals and assists per game. Bourcier played three years at U.B.C. and spent a transfer year at Carleton (where he did not play during the covid pandemic, before enrolling at Trinity Western. He started all 17 regular season conference games he played, for an average 35.9. He hit 126-299 (.421) from the floor, 55-134 (.410) from the arc and 38-54 (.704) from the line, while garnering 95 boards, including 15 on the offensive glass and a 5.6 rpg, 38 fouls, 105 assists, 73 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.4), 1 block, 43 steals and 345 points, for a 20.3 ppg. …………………………………………………… Tremblay-Lacombe, a 6-3 guard and third-year sports intervention major from Montreal, Que. (Montmorency College) was the RSEQ player of the year and a 1st-team all-star. He started all 14 regular season conference games he played, for an average 35.4 mpg. He hit 101-244 (.414) from the floor, 15-61 (.246) from the arc and 48-53 (.906) from the line, while garnering 69 boards, including 7 on the offensive glass and a 4.9 rpg, 24 fouls, 68 assists, 61 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.3), 2 blocks, 27 steals and 265 points, for an 18.9 ppg.
Joining Hildebrandt on the All-Canadian rookie team were: Dezayne Mingo (Guelph); Etienne Gagnon (Bishop’s); Marcus Barnes (New Brunswick); and Renoldo Robinson (Victoria). …………………………………………………… Mingo, an 6-4 guard and arts major from Hamilton, Ont. (Cathedral HS), was the OUA rookie of the year. In regular season OUA play, Mingo started 19 of 22 games, playing an average 26.7 mpg. He hit 96-215 (.447) from the floor, 23-65 (.354) from the arc and 67-97 (.691) from the line, while garnering 104 boards, including 16 on the offensive glass and a 4.7 rpg, 42 fouls, 84 assists, 59 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ration of 1.4), 4 blocks, 25 steals and 282 points, for a 12.8 ppg. …………………………………………………… Gagnon, a 6-8 forward and sociology major from Lennoxville, Que. (CEGEP de Sherbrooke), was the RSEQ rookie of the year. He started all 16 regular season conference games, playing an average 29.6 mpg. He hit 93-193 (.482) from the floor, 10-41 (.244) from the arc and 31-41 (.756) from the line, while garnering 147 boards, including 62 on the offensive glass and a 13.1 rpg, 21 fouls, 19 assists, 29 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.7), 8 blocks, 11 steals and 227 points, for a 14.2 ppg. …………………………………………………… Barnes, a 6-3 guard and x major from Kitchener, Ont. (Niagara Prep), was the AUS rookie of the year. He started 17 of 20 regular season conference games, playing an average 29.2 mpg. He hit 109-285 (.382) from the floor, 39-128 (.305) from the arc and 40-51 (.784) from the line, while garnering 98 boards, including 16 on the offensive glass and a 4.9 rpg, 31 fouls, 57 assists, 38 turnovers (an assist-to-turnover ration of 1.5), 15 steals and 297 points, for a 14.8 ppg. …………………………………………………… Robinson, a 6-3 guard and first-year general studies major from Montreal, Que. (Dawson College), was a Canada West all-rookie selection. He started 9 of the 20 regular conference games, for an average 20.9 mpg. He hit 101-208 (.486) from the floor, 21-63 (.333) from the arc and 80-113 (.708) from the line, while garnering 89 boards, including 25 on the offensive glass and a 4.5 rpg, 44 fouls (fouling out once), 34 assists, 42 turnovers (and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.8), 4 blocks, 41 steals and 303 points, for a 15.2 ppg.