Calgary Dino Nate Petrone was named recipient of the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy as the uSports player of the year. The 6-2 guard and 4th-year kinesiology student from Calgary, Alta., was the Canada West player of the year and a first-team league all-star. He led the nation and the league in scoring (24.2 ppg) and ranked third in assists. He started all 20 league games, playing an average 33.6 mpg. He hit 168-296 (.568) from the floor, 50-116 (.431) from the arc and 98-110 (.891) from the line, while garnering 78 boards, including 9 on the offensive glass and 3.9 rpg, 25 fouls, 99 assists (5.0 apg), 57 turnovers, a 1.7 asst/to ration, 3 blocks, 14 steals and 484 points, for a 24.2 ppg. “This could not happen to a player more deserving,” said Dinos coach Dan Vanhooren. “Nate gets the job done with intellect and high efficiency from three levels – his numbers are extraordinary from the field, from 3 and from the foul line. He not only scores, but he leads us in assists. He is an exceptional competitor that finds a way to consistently contribute in big moments. We are very lucky to have him lead our team.” The other nominees were D.J. Jackson (St. Francis Xavier); Charles Robert (Bishop’s) and Aaron Rhooms (Toronto Metropolitan).
Queen’s guard Ollie Engen was named recipient of the Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy as national rookie of the year. The 6-4 guard and kinesiology student from Kingston, Ont., was the OUA rookie of the year and a first-team league all-star. He started all 20 conference games, playing an average 28.4 mpg. He hit 161-310 (.519) from the floor, 10-42 (.238) from the arc and 44-51 (.863) from the line, while garnering 86 boards, including 20 on the offensive glass and 4.3 rpg, 11 fouls, 80 assists, 43 turnovers, a 1.9 asst/to ratio, 2 blocks, 24 steals and 376 points, for an 18.8 ppg. The other nominees were Ryan Regault (Acadia); Noah Sincere (McGill); and Kyle Varner (Alberta).
Victoria’s Sam Maillet was named the national defensive player of the year. The Canada West defensive player of the year became the first person to win defensive player of the year in two different conferences. After completing his undergraduate work at Dalhousie – where was named AUS defensive player of the year in 2022 and won three AUS titles, he transferred to Victoria to pursue an MBA this season. He helped the Vikes to a 20-0 Canada West season. The 6-7 guard and 5th-year business student from Moncton, N.B. He started 18 of 20 conference games, playing an average 24.2 mpg. He hit 47-117 (.402) from the floor, 6-35 (.171) from the arc and 18-27 (.667) from the line, while garnering 85 boards, including 22 on the offensive glass and a 4.7 rpg, 33 fouls (fouling out once), 72 assists, 35 turnovers, a 2.1 asst/to ratio, 11 blocks, 15 steals and 118 points, for a 6.6 ppg. The other nominees were: Jeff Ngandu (St. Francis Xavier); Étienne Gagnon (Bishop’s); and Jacque-Mélanie Guemeta (Ottawa).
Victoria’s Murphy Burnatowski was named recipient of the Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Award as the Fox 40 national coach of the year. In his rookie year at the helm, the guided the Vikes to a uSports national title and a 20-0 Canada West regular season title. He was the Canada West coach of the year. The Vikes 89.5 points per game scoring average was the second-best in the league, while their 70.2 points per game allowed to their opponents was third in the conference. The other nominees were: Darrell Glenn (UPEI); Matt McLean (Bishop’s); and Ryan Thomson (Lakehead).
Joining Petrone on the All-Canadian first team were: D.J. Jackson (St. Francis Xavier); Aaron Rhooms (Toronto Metropolitan); Charles Robert (Bishop’s) and Renoldo Robinson (Victoria). …………………………………………………… Jackson, a 6-4 guard and 3rd-year human kinetics student from Mississauga, Ont., was the AUS player of the year and a first-team league all-star. He led the league in steals and free throw shooting. He started all 18 conference games he played, for an average 31.8 mpg. He hit 150-344 (.436) from the floor, 16-58 (.276) from the arc and 124-144 (.861) from the line, while garnering 134 boards, including 18 on the offensive glass and a 7.4 rpg, 46 fouls (fouling out once), 73 assists, 29 turnovers, a 2.5 asst/to ratio, 16 blocks, 40 steals and 440 points, for a 24.4 ppg. …………………………………………………… Rhooms, a 6-6 guard and 4th-year business management student from Toronto, Ont. He was the OUA player of the year and a first-team league all-star. He led the OUA in scoring (third in the nation). He represented Canada as a member of the 3×3 U23 men’s national team in 2024. He started 21 of the 22 conference games he played, for an average 29.9 mpg. He hit 170-364 (.467) from the floor, 59-142 (.415) from the arc and 64-84 (.762) from the line, while garnering 140 boards, including 30 on the offensive glass and a 6.7 rpg, 38 assists, 47 turnovers, a 0.8 asst/to ratio, 8 blocks, 35 steals and 463 points, for a 22.0 ppg. …………………………………………………… Robert, a 6-8 wing and 4th-year mathematics student from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., was the RSEQ player of the year and a first-team league all-star. He started all 14 conference games he played, for an average 29.0 mpg. He hit 83-166 (.500) from the floor, 17-48 (.354) from the arc and 38-70 (.543) from the line, while garnering 69 boards, including 22 on the offensive glass and a 4.9 rpg, 33 fouls (fouling out once), 39 assists, 43 turnovers, 7 blocks, 7 steals and 221 points, for a 15.8 ppg. …………………………………………………… Robinson, a 6-3 guard and 3rd-year human & social development student from Montreal, Que., was a first-team Canada West all-star. He played in 20 conference games, for an 21.1 mpg. He hit 103-232 (.444) from the floor, 36-85 (.424) from the arc and 65-84 (.774) from the line, while garnering 84 boards, including 24 on the offensive glass and a 4.2 rpg, 39 fouls, 33 assists, 34 turnovers, a 1.0 asst/to ration, 3 blocks, 43 steals and 307 points, for a 15.3 pp.
The second team featured: Shakael Pryce (Cape Breton); Jaheem Joseph (Concordia); Nathan Bilamu (Lakehead); Dragan Stajic (Ottawa); and Sultan Haider Ghatti (Brandon). …………………………………………………… Pryce, a 6-2 guard and fifth-year business student from Pickering, Ont., was a first-team AUS all-star. He started all 18 conference games he played, for an average 31.3 mpg. He hit 104-265 (.392) from the floor, 44-136 (.324) from the arc and 90-116 (.776) from the line, while garnering 86 boards, including 9 on the offensive glass and a 4.8 rpg, 26 fouls, 131 assists, 73 turnovers, a 1.8 asst/to ratio, 2 blocks, 29 steals and 342 points, for a 19.0 ppg. …………………………………………………… Joseph, a 6-5 guard and 3rd-year theology student from Ottawa, Ont., was a first-team RSEQ all-star. He started 14 of the 15 conference games he played, for an average 26.3 mpg. He hit 76-177 (.429) from the floor, 23-72 (.319) from the arc and 33-43 (.767) from the line, while garnering 72 boards, including 11 on the offensive glass, 27 fouls, 40 assists, 33 turnovers, 4 blocks, 24 steals and 208 points, for a 13.9 ppg. …………………………………………………… Bilamu, a 6-5 wing and 5th-year arts student from Burlington, Ont., was a first-team OUA all-star. He started all 21 conference games, playing an average 33.0 mpg. He hit 139-323 (.430) from the floor, 53-154 (.344) from the arc and 83-112 (.741) from the line, while garnering 94 boards, including 48 on the offensive glass and 4.5 rpg, 30 fouls (fouling out once), 79 assists, 56 turnovers, a 1.4 asst/to ratio, 6 blocks, 17 steals and 414 points, for a 19.7 ppg. …………………………………………………… Stajic, a 6-2 guard and 5th-year marketing student from Waterloo, Ont., was a first-team OUA all-star. He started all 16 of the conference games he played, for an average 27.7 mpg. He hit 56-119 (.471) from the floor, 28-55 (..509) from the arc and 33-42 (.786) from the line, while garnering 96 boards, including 18 on the offensive glass and a 6.0 rpg, 24 fouls, 84 assists, 27 turnovers, a 3.1 asst/to ratio, 2 blocks, 45 steals and 173 points, for a 10.8 ppg. …………………………………………………… Haider Bhatti, a 6-4 win and 4th-year business administration student from Laval, Que., was a first-team Canada West all-star and finished second in the conference in scoring. He started all 20 conference games, playing an average 36.0 mpg. He hit 140-315 (.444) from the floor, 47-138 (.341) from the arc and 82-103 (.796) from the line, while garnering 213 boards, including 41 on the offensive glass and 10.7 rpg, 72 fouls, 91 assists, 93 turnovers, a 1.0 asst/to ratio, 6 blocks, 33 steals and 409 points, for a 20.4 ppg.
Joining Engen on the all-rookie team were: Ryan Regault (Acadia); Noah Sincere (McGill); Owen Kenney (Ottawa); and Kyle Varner (Alberta). …………………………………………………… Regault, a 6-0 guard and law & society student from Scarborough, Ont. He was the AUS rookie of the year and finished second in the conference in assists. He started 11 of the 17 conference games he played, for an average 28.8 mpg. He hit 72-195 (.369) from the floor, 25-84 (.298) from the arc and 41-50 (.820) from the line, while garnering 63 boards, including 16 on the offensive glass and a 3.7 rpg, 52 fouls (fouling out 3 times), 84 assists, 43 turnovers, a 2.0 asst/to ratio, 1 block, 19 steals and 210 points, for a 12.4 ppg. …………………………………………………… Sincere, a 6-1 guard and arts student from Laval, Que, was the RSEQ rookie of the year. He started 4 of the 16 games he played, for an average 19.6 mpg. He hit 31-103 (.301) from the floor, 12-44 (.273) from the arc and 33-40 (.825) from the line, while garnering 35 boards, including 8 on the offensive glass and a 2.2 rpg, 23 fouls, 41 assists, 38 turnovers, 14 steals and 107 points, for a 6.7 ppg. …………………………………………………… Kenney, a 6-7 forward and psychology student from Barrie, Ont., was an OUA all-rookie team selection. He started 5 of 22 conference games, playing an average 20.0 mpg. He hit 64-159 (.403) from the floor, 35-103 (.340) from the arc and 21-31 (.677) from the line, while garnering 106 boards, including 27 on the offensive glass and 4.8 rpg, 40 fouls (fouling out once), 21 assists, 18 turnovers, a 1.2 asst/to ratio, 21 blocks, 21 steals and 184 points, for an 8.4 ppg. …………………………………………………… Varner, a 6-6 guard and science student from Munich, Germany, was the Canada West rookie of the year. He started 17 of 20 conference games, playing an average 25.8 mpg. He hit 79-187 (.422) from the floor, 41-115 (.357) from the ac and 23-30 (.767) from the line, while garnering 82 boards, including 20 on the offensive glass and 5.1 rpg, 54 fouls, 31 assists, 44 turnovers, a 0.7 asst/to ration, 4 blocks, 21 steals and 222 points, for an 11.1 ppg. Golden Bears coach Barnaby Craddock said “Kyle’s composed play made us better right from the first game of the season. He defended, shot the ball well, and rebounded it at a high level as a rookie. We are excited to watch his continued development going forward.”