ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Chris Flynn
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Pat McAlpine
ALPINE SKIING – Rob Tweedy (Ottawa), a third-year member of the National Capital Division ski team made a significant breakthrough last winter, winning the junior men’s downhill race. He also had a second at a Canadian alpine ski series downhill race.
ARCHERY – Margaret Sampson almost does it all in the field of Archery as a competitor, administrator and coach. She participated in her first world field and ninth in Olympic target at the nationals. She an executive member with the R.A. and Nepean Archery Clubs.
BADMINTON – Doris Piche (Ottawa) had good success on the national and international courts last year. At the Canadian Open, Piche shared the women’s doubles title and was a singles finalist. The Commonwealth Games athlete won the doubles title at the national championship and was third in singles. She also was a semifinalist at the Dutch Open in singles, and the Wimbledon Open women’s doubles.
BALL HOCKEY – Yvon Breton (Nepean), for the past decade, has been one of the top ball hockey players in the province. He was named to the Ontario all-star team last year, after leading the Ottawa Senators of the Ottawa Triple A league in goals and assists.
BASEBALL – Shawn O’Conner – 25 year old Shawn O’Connor of Kanata has played 7 years for the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians Sports Club as a pitcher and 2nd baseman. In 1990, in 220 at bats he had 73 hits, 53 RBI’s, 12 home runs and only struck out eight times for a batting average of 369. In 86 innings pitched he had 92 strikeouts, only 28 walks and 26 runs scored, only 14 earned, for an E.RA. of 1.13. He came within one out of a no-hitter against the National Champion Windsor team and joined Windsor for the Cuban Goodwin Tournament. Shawn has been selected to tour Europe with our National Team and hopes to play for Canada in the 1992 Olympics.
BASKETBALL – Steve Anderson (Nepean) led the Sir Robert Borden Bengals to a 43-6 record in 1989-90 where he averaged 20 points per game. He was named to the junior national team and competed in the North American basketball championship and won a gold medal with the Canadian junior champions.
BIATHLON – Joanne Thomson (Ottawa) finished second overall at the Canadian biathlon championships, which is a mix of cross-country skiing and shooting. She was first in a national junior women’s sprint race and third in the senior individual race. At the Ontario championships, Thomson was second in both the individual and sprint junior races.
BOARD SAILING – Caroll Ann Alie (Hull), former ACT athlete of the year, was second in the combined Can-Am board sailing series with a second in Long Beach, California, and third in Miami, Florida. She was the top-ranked North American athlete competing in Europe.
BOBSLEIGH – Canada placed first in the four-man World Cup Bobsleigh standings in 1990 and Ottawa’s Ken Leblanc was an important part of that success. The foursome had a first on the Calgary Olympic track and a second in Cervinia, Italy. At the national championships, Leblanc was first in the four-man and second in the two-man.
BOWLING – Ron Denofreo – Ron has been active in bowling for many years and in 1990 he was chosen as the 5 pin Bowling coach of the year for Ontario. He is a member of the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers Association and is President of the Canadian 5 Pin Association.
BOXING – Jay Massie (Ottawa) – 16 year old Beaver Boxing Club middleweight won a silver medal at the Canadian championships and a gold in the Ontario meet. The provincial boxing body also recognized Massie as its sportman of the year earning him the Harold Smyth Trophy. Because of his age, he is ineligible for the 1992 Olympics but the 1996 Olympics are in his plans.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING – Larry Hegan (Ottawa), member of the Ontario team won two bronze medals at the Canadian junior cross-country ski championships and placed sixth at the world junior trials. One of his victories came at the Northern Ontario interdivisional meet.
CURLING – The Dave Van Dine Rink, curling out of the Rideau Curling Club, competed at the Provincial Tankard in Owen Sound and placed fourth. They also won the Red Anderson Memorial Trophy which is presented to the City of Ottawa Men’s Champions. They are also ranked in the top 10 in Canada and were runners up in the TSN Skins game. Team Members: Rich Moffat, Gord Pringle, Dave Collyer, Steve Doty.
CYCLING – Gord Fraser (Nepean) qualified for two national team meets, competing in the Commonwealth Games and the Goodwill Games. He broke the national record for the 15-kilometre road race time trial.
DISABLED WHEELCHAIR – Jamie Eddy (Nepean) – 1990 was a busy year for this Canterbury High School athlete. Jamie placed 1st in the 1500 metre wheelchair event at the Canadian Jr. and Field championships and 1st at a 5000 metre event in the U.K.. At the Sunshine Games in Tampa he won gold medals in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 metre events. Jamie also found time to compete with the Canadian National Sledge Hockey Team which were crowned world champions in Norway.
DIVING – Chris Huber (Nepean) was on the verge of the medals at the Ontario diving championships, placing fourth in both the one- and three-metre springboard competitions. The Canadian championship participant was third in the President’s Cup three-metre springboard.
EQUESTRIAN – Shannon Taylor (Gloucester) riding Waltzertraum, won the Canadian junior dressage championship by three-tenths of a point. At the nationals, she also won the gold medal in freestyle, which is dressage put to music. The St. Matthew’s High School student was accustomed to winning last year in the ring with firsts at the Ontario championships, and in Belleville, Montreal, Navan and Nepean.
FENCING – Michel Dessureault of the R.A. Les Spadassins Fencing Club refuses to quit, despite Arthritis in both knees and a limited training schedule. At 33, Dessureault won his fourth Canadian Men’s Epee Title, beating a fencer 14 years younger in the final. Dessureault also won the local Governor General’s Epee Title.
FIELD HOCKEY – Hari Kant, Goalkeeper (Gloucester) is a nationally-funded athlete who has played for the Canadian men’s field hockey team for three years. He competed recently in a tournament in New Zealand.
FIGURE SKATING – Charlene Wong (Vanier), who spent her final amateur years training in Gloucester, ended a decade of skating as a senior woman placing second in the Canadian championships for the third straight year.
FOOTBALL – Chris Flynn – This St. Mary’s University quarterback and Buckingham, Quebec native won his third straight Hec Crighton Trophy – a first for any athlete – as the most outstanding player in the CIAU. He also led his team to a berth in the Vanier Cup for the 2nd time. Chris was the first Canadian player signed by the World League of American Football’s Montreal Machine and was also dratted by the Ottawa Rough Riders.
FREESTYLE SKIING – John Ross had a hot season flying through the air, placing fourth overall on the World Cup freestyle aerials circuit. He reached the World Cup medal podium twice with a second and a third and he also had two fourths, a fifth and a sixth. He was third in the national championships.
GOLF – Chris McCuaig (Ottawa) – Watch out for Chris on the golf course. At 15, McCuaig dominated the Quebec juvenile championship and came within a stroke of winning the junior crown for players under 18 years old.
HOCKEY – Kim Ratushny (Nepean) had that winning feeling last year as she helped Canada to the gold medal at the first world women’s hockey championship. She also assisted the Cornell Big Red team in capturing the Ivy League championship and was named to the Ivy League’s first all-star team. Her brother, Dan, won the 1989 ACT hockey award.
JUDO – Michelle Buckingham reached the top step of the medal podium at the national judo championships, when she won her first gold medal in the 52-kilogram class. She came close to victory three times with seconds at the Pan American championships, the Cuba Cup and the Quebec Open.
KARATE – Germain Bison – At the Nationals in 1990, Germain was selected to the Canadian National Team and is also a member of the select Canadian Team.
KICK BOXING – Troy Libbus – A newcomer to kick boxing, Troy was undefeated in 1990 with three wins, including two by knockout. The 25-year-old welterweight has been kick boxing for almost two years and appears to have a good future.
LACROSSE – Dean Usher – High-scoring Dean led the Gloucester Sports Club Griffins into the Ontario Lacrosse League playoffs, where they lost in the quarterfinals. Usher was a consistent scorer for Griffins and had a six-goal game early in the season.
MODERN PENTATHLON – Lawrence Keyte (Nepean) – Coming off his second knee operation since the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, Lawrence was fifth another at the Nordic Cup in Denmark and first in the Ontario Open meet. He injured himself running last July and is considering another comeback.
ORIENTEERING – Philippa McNeil – The Ottawa area continues to produce quality orienteers, a special breed of athlete who loves to run and navigate through the woods. Philippa won the Canadian and North American junior championship and was named to the national junior team.
PADDLING – Stephen Losty & Ashley McColgan – These 2 paddlers were 1st in the Junior Men’s K2, 500 and 1000 metres at the Canadian Championship. Both paddlers competed with the Canadian National Team in Europe.
RACQUETBALL – Sue McTaggart (Ottawa) helped Canada win a silver medal in the team competition at the world racquetball championships and placed sixth in the individual draw. The racquetball pro at the Ottawa Athletic Club is ranked third in the country,
RINGETTE – Vicky Cavers – This MVP centre is a member of the Gloucester Rebs, a team which won the provincial championship in 1990. Vicky is also heavily involved in teaching younger players the skills of ringette.
ROAD RACING – John Halvorsen (Ottawa), the top-ranked road runner in 1989, faced stiff opposition last year and placed sixth overall on the United States-based circuit. But Halvorsen, the Canadian university cross-country and Athletics Canada road racing champion, still won races in San Diego, Tampa and Orlando, Florida and Lynchburg, Va.
ROWING – Ed Fournier and Julia Fournier (Gloucester) – This husband and wife combination competed individually in 1990 at various regattas throughout Canada. Julia had first place finishes in Welland and Mervimac and she placed 3rd at the Ontario Championships. Ed placed 2nd in Welland and third at Thames and he also won a Bronze Medal at the Ontario Championships in the Senior Lightweight Division.
RUGBY – Al Charron was a member of the Ontario Rugby Team, which had a successful four-game tour of England and Scotland as a warmup for the Canadian Championships. Unfortunately for Charron, he was suspended in the National semifinal game and missed the final, which was won by British Columbia. He also hopes to make the National Team for the World Cup of Rugby later this year.
SHOOTING – Alain Marion, Marksman, (Hull) hit the jackpot at the prestigious Bisley competition in Great Britain, winning the 100th grand aggregate title and the century competition. He also was third against more than 1,000 shooters in the Queen’s Prize.
SKI JUMPING – Martin Pachner (Ottawa) prefers the challenge of putting two sports into one. The 21-year-old Carleton University student used his jumping and cross-country ski skills to place third in the Canadian senior nordic combined championships. He also won the Ottawa Ski Club Winterlude jumping meet and was third in the National Capital Division championship.
SNOOKER – Gorgio Giaccone (Nepean) won two of the four major regional tournaments and captured the Eastern Ontario snooker championship. He is ranked in the top 20 in Canada.
SOCCER – Charmaine Hooper received one of Soccer America’s highest awards, when she was named the United States collegiate player of the year. The University of North Carolina student is a member of the Canadian women’s team.
SOFTBALL – Don Cox (Kanata) – Left fielder Don was a star in two leagues last year. He batted .414 for Covent Glen Electric and led the team to the Eastern Ontario Softball League championship. As a member of the Carp Valley pride, he finished with a .350 batting average and was on the ninth-place team in the world Championships at Victoria.
SPEEDSKATING – Chantal Cote won the Canadian senior long track speedskating championship, capturing two of four races, and placed fourth overall in the national sprint finals. Cote had placed fourth overall in the national sprint finals. Cote had top-15 results on the World Cup circuit, was 22nd overall at the world long track championships and 23rd overall at the world sprint championships.
SQUASH – Carole Ann Rodgers – This 18 year old member of the Queensview Racket Club is ranked 2nd in Canada in the under 19 age category. Carole Ann is also a member of the Canadian Junior National Team which toured Europe and competed at the World Championships in New Zealand.
SWIMMING – Lisa Blackburn (Kanata) – When it comes to the women’s 100-metre breaststroke race, Lisa Blackburn of the Gloucester-Ottawa Kingfish Swim Club is the best in Ontario. The provincial champion significant strides nationally with a third at the winter nationals and fourths at the summer nationals and world trials.
TABLE TENMS – Julie Barton, a Bell High School student, won the Canadian junior singles and doubles table tennis championships and is ranked fourth in the nation as a senior. She was a finalist in the World Cup women’s doubles regional trails.
TAEKWONDO – Harry Brewer (Kanata) represents the Ottawa Taekwondo Club, won the gold medal at the Ontario championships and third in the national finals.
TENNIS – Jennifer Kalnitsky is ranked fourth on the national junior tennis rankings, having placed fourth at the outdoor championships, fifth in the indoor tournament and second at both events as a doubles player. A finalist at the Ontario Rolex Grand Prix playoffs, Kalnitsky was ranked 20th on the senior computer list.
TOUCH FOOTBALL – Bryan Hughes (Nepean) – This member of the Canadian Champion Ottawa Silver Bullets was named the MVP of the Ottawa-Nepean Touch Football League. Barry was also named MVP at the Canadian championships in St. John, New Brunswick where he caught the pass that won the game with no time left on the clock.
TRACK AND FIELD – Ricardo Greenidge won the men’s 200 metres and placed third in the 100 metres at the Canadian junior track and field championships. He is ranked 25th in the world as a junior over 100 metres.
TRIATHLON – Bev Cummings is one of Canada’s top triathletes. On the World Ironman Series, Cummings was ninth overall and seventh in the Shorter Royal-Lepage Canadian circuit. In the three Ironman races, Cummings was fourth in Japan, 10th in New Zealand and 27th at the world championships in Hawaii.
ULTRAMARATHON – Andy Jones (Nepean) was named runner of the year by the United States-based magazine Ultrarunning. He set Canadian records for long distance runs covering 50 and 60 kilometres and 40 and 50 miles.
VOLLEYBALL – One of the top women intercollegiate players in Canada, University of Ottawa setter Annette Saikaley was a first team All-Canadian, an Ontario league all-star, the MVP in tournaments at McGill and Sherbrooke, and an all-star at the Carleton and Laval competitions. She also was the University of Ottawa women’s athlete of the year for 1990.
WATER POLO – Roxane Lafrance – When Roxane charges in from the left wing, opposing goaltenders shutter and wait for her deadly left-handed shot. Lafrance scored her share of goals in Perth, Australia, as she helped Canada win a silver medal in Water Polo at the world aquatic championships. At 22, she is hoping women’s water polo will be added to the Summer Olympic Games some day.
WEIGHTLIFTING – Martha Mason-Ward (University of Ottawa) was at the top of her class as a weightlifter in the women’s 67 ½ kilogram class. Not only did she win the Ontario title, but also picked up the gold medal at the Canadian championships.
WRESTLING – Evan Lavoie (Gloucester) has established himself as one of the top junior wrestlers in Canada, winning the 81-kilogram class at the national championships. Now, he’s hoping to earn a spot on the Canadian team for the word espoir championships in Czechoslovakia this summer.
YACHTING – Stephen Poirier Defoy (Alymer) was second with his partner in the 470 class at the Canadian yachting championships in Halifax. The national team member also was third in the CORK regatta in Kingston.
The Ottawa West Crusaders swept the provincial championships and then proceeded to the Canadian big League Baseball Championships and were crowned Canada’s best after a final game, 10th inning win. Coach – Fred Perry, General Manager – Cari Faulkner.
The Ottawa-Nepean Silver Bullets captured the men’s double Canadian touch football title under similar dramatic circumstances when they won their final game 50-48 with a last play touchdown pass from Ed Laverty to Bryan Hughes. They were 14 and 5 in their league with 555 points for and only 220 against. Coach – Brian Billings, General Manager – Bryan Hughes, Captains – Wayne Lahaie and Gary Browse.