McMaster guard Titus Channer was named recipient of the Moser. The 6-2 point guard from Sault Ste. Marie averaged 23.6 ppg while leading the Marauders to a 13-1 regular season record in the OUA West and number one ranking in the CIAU tourney. Channer was a two-time, conference MVP, a four-time first team all-star, and finished second in the nation in scoring. He shot .440 from the floor, .820 from the line, while nabbing 4.6 rpg and dishing 4.1 apg. At the time of his selection, Channer was McMaster’s all-time leading scorer and the third all-time leading scorer in the OUA. Channer, part Cree, has lived on a native reserve in Quebec as was a member of Canada’s FISU Games team in 1997.
Bishop’s coach Eddie Pomykala was named recipient of the Aberdeen after leading the Gaiters to an 18-2 conference record and an overall 27-5 mark heading into the national draw, while in his 14th year at the helm.
York guard Dean Labayen was named the Mullins winner. The 6-0 guard led the OUA East in scoring and finished fourth in the nation with a 22.4 ppg. First team OUA East all-star, scored more than 30 in five games, topped 20 some 14 times. He shot .314 from floor in 30-game schedule, .500 from floor and .750 from line. Yeomen coach Bob Bain described him as “the best pure basketball player to come to York since David Coulthard.”
Joining Channer as 1st team All-Canadians were: Jan Trojanowski (Acadia); Kevin Gilroy (Regina); Danny Balderson (Lethbridge); and Eric Hinrichsen (Victoria). …………………………………………………… Trojanowski, a 6-8 centre, averaged 19 ppg and 9 rpg while being chosen MVP of the AUAA. A native of Houlton, Maine, Trojanowski scored 26 and nabbed 14 boards while leading the Axemen to a 73-66 win over Dalhousie in the postseason tournament final. …………………………………………………… Gilroy, a fifth-year 6-7 forward, led the nation in scoring with a 25.7 ppg and finished third in the country in rebounding with a 9.8 rpg. …………………………………………………… Balderson, selected national rookie of the year in 1994, was player of the year in Canada West and a first-team all-star. The 6-4 guard averaged 21.3 ppg (sixth best in the nation). He had a 20.7 ppg average on his career. …………………………………………………… Hinrichsen, who was rookie of the year in 1995, Moser recipient in 1997 and Final Eight MVP in 1997, average nearly 20 ppg, 9.4 rpg and shot .650 from the floor.
The 2nd team selections were: Brian Parker (Dalhousie); Shawn Gray (Brandon); Ted Dongelmans (Laurentian); Mano Watsa (Waterloo); and Micah Bourdeau (Western Ontario). …………………………………………………… Parker, finished third in the CIAU in scoring with a 23.1 ppg and was sixth in the nation in free throw shooting with an .851 mark. He was selected MVP of the AUAA postseason tournament. …………………………………………………… Dongelmans, a native of Orillia who had originally enrolled at Dalhousie.
Honorable mention was awarded to: Peter Benoite (Memorial); Brian Leonard (Carleton); Ryan Thorne (Bishop’s); Jay Prosper (Concordia); and Seth Adler (Victoria). …………………………………………………… Leonard, a transfer from Simon Fraser, average 22 ppg, 9.4 rpg and led the OUA in field goal percentage. The 23-year-old helped the Ravens to a 14-15 overall record despite playing with a bruised left shoulder that forced him to miss three games. He represented Canada at the FISU Games in Sicily. “It’s a nice achievement,” said Leonard. Ravens coach Paul Armstrong noted that Leonard is “outstanding. He can do it all. He has versatility. He’s a point guard and forward. He’s an all-around athlete who can cover both ends of the floor.”