Brock’s Kevin Steinstra was named recipient of the Moser. A fourth-year centre from Vineland, Ontario, and the first Badger to earn the honour, the 6-8 accounting student was named OUA MVP, finished the regular season 10th in scoring and third in the OUA with an average of 19.0 ppg, while placing second in the country in blocks (2.7 bpg), third in field goal percentage (.63)) and seventh in rebounds (9.7). He totaled 13 double-doubles in 22 conference games while leading the Badgers in scoring 12 times and in rebounding 15 times. “Every night the opponent’s game plan is keyed on shutting down Kevin, yet he still manages to put up big numbers and win games,” said Brock coach Ken Murray. “He continually fights through double and even triple teams. There’s no doubt Kevin is the best big man in the country. He had an exceptional season leading by example both on and off the court, and is well deserving of the CIS player-of-the-year award.” Stienstra said that “when I first arrived at Brock, I just wanted to contribute, maybe provide some rebounding off the bench. But I’ve made steady progress over the last few years.” Murray said Steinstra’s progress has been phenomenal. “He wasn’t highly recruited out of high school. But Kevin is a human sponge when it comes to instruction. He just got better with every practice.”
Carleton’s Dave Smart was awarded the Aberdeen for the second time in three seasons after leading the Ravens to a glittering 31-1 record against Canadian competition and the top seed in national championships. In just his sixth season at the helm, Smart guided the Ravens to a second straight 22-0 Ontario University Athletics regular season title and third straight postseason title, despite graduating three starters. He sports a phenomenal 135-16 record since assuming the Ravens helm and also earned national coach of the year laurels in 2002-03, when Carleton captured its first CIS crown in any sport. “It’s an honor but it’s really a team award,” said Smart. “Everybody who’s in this profession thinks that. It has very little do with the coach and everything to do with the kids.” The task was made easier by veterans Mike Smart and Osvaldo Jeanty, Smart added. “They both had great years and have really done a wonderful job, both on the floor and in providing leadership for a very, very young basketball team.”
York’s Tut Ruach was awarded the Mullins. Ruach stepped in as a freshman to replace all-star Tom McChesney and easily made the transition from high school. “I thought the adjustment would be easier at first, but it was difficult, very difficult,” said Ruach. He finished second in the OUA and 11th in the country in assists per game at 4.91 per game and fourth in free throw percentage (and 7th in the country) hitting .855 for the Lions, who finished 16-6 in league play and a second-place finish in the East division. Coach Tom Oliveri said “Tut has been Mr. Everything for us this year. He was scored, defended the opposition’s best player and allowed us to transition into offence from the day he stepped onto the court.
St. Francis Xavier’s Garry Gallimore, a native of Ottawa, won the first Defensive Player of year award. “He’s the toughest guy I know,” said St. FX coach Steve Konchalski. Gallimore appreciated the honour. “I was never one to score a lot of points. I just didn’t want people to score on me. That’s how you get respect in basketball. You limit the amount of points the other guy scores.” The former AUAA rookie of the year was captain of the Canadian under-21 squad that qualified for the junior worlds. Named AUAA defensive player of the year and AUAA postseason tourney MVP in the 2005 campaign. He averaged 4.8 rebounds per game and added 17 steals, while maintaining an assist to turnover ratio of 0.7. “Garry is one of the most physically and as well as mentally tough defenders I have ever coached,” said Steve Konchalski. “Night in and night out he draws the opponent’s toughest perimeter players, including Duke’s All-American guard J.J. Redick, who Garry held three points below his season average. This season, he held Memorial’s Jeff Saxby to 33 per cent shooting over two games, UPEI’s Sherone Edwards to 39 percent over four match-ups, and UCCCB’s Anthony Breland to 42 percent in three games.”
Joining Steinstra as 1st team all-Canadians were: Andrew Spragud (Saskatchewan); Philippe Langlois (Concordia); Sherone Edwards (U.P.E.I.); and Michael Smart (Carleton). …………………………………………………… Langlois, from Varennes, Quebec, was chosen player of the year in Quebec and a first team all-star. He led the country in steals with 3.44 per game. He averaged 10.3 ppg, 7.81 apg and shot .900 from the line.
. …………………………………………………… Spragud, from Saskatoon, Sask. …………………………………………………… Edwards, from Toronto. …………………………………………………… Smart, from Napanee, Ont., averaged 11.4 points per game, dished out 101 assists and made 34 steals in OUA East play, while earning MVP laurels as Carleton dumped Brock 61-58 for the postseason OUA crown.
The 2nd-team selections were: Chris Trumpy (Victoria); Daniel Eves (York); Osvaldo Jeanty (Carleton); O’Neil Gordon (Brandon); and Charles Fortier (Laval). …………………………………………………… Trumpy, from Victoria. …………………………………………………… Eves, from Barrie. …………………………………………………… Jeanty, from Gloucester, led Carleton scorers in 14 of 22 OUA starts, averaging 16.6 points per game, most of which came in critical moments as he solidified his reputation as a ‘go-to-guy’ in crunch situations. …………………………………………………… Gordon, from Toronto. …………………………………………………… Fortier, from Amos, was named a second-team All-Canadian for the fourth time.