ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Seamus Kotyk
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ken Parker
ALPINE SKIING – Patrick Biggs, Gloucester – A member of the Ottawa Ski Club, Patrick was one of the top slalom skiers in Ontario last season. He dominated the Parmalat Ontario Series by winning two slalom races on his home Camp Fortune course. Patrick also challenged for the Pontiac GMC Cup title, winning one race along the way. He finished last season with 10 top-10 results.
ARCHERY – Bruce Malmberg, Stittsville – Bruce maintained his No. 1 national ranking in the compound unlimited class by winning his fourth Canadian championship and seventh Ontario title. He shot a personal best score of 599 out of 600 at the provincial championships. His results have earned him a berth in the 2003 world championships and a sizeable sponsorship contract.
BADMINTON – Carl Baxter, Nepean – Carl took some major strides on the domestic junior badminton scene in 2001. Representing the R.A. Badminton Club, he won the Canadian junior men’s under-16 singles title. Carl also was the champion at a junior elite tournament in Montreal and reached the semifinals of an under-19 international age group tournament in Calgary.
BALL HOCKEY – Mike Murphy, Nepean – A centre for the Avnet Wild of Gloucester, Mike was the most valuable player in the Greater Ottawa Ball Hockey League. Last season, he had 30 goals in 26 league and playoff games, including nine game-winners, and 75 points. He also scored the winning goal as the Wild won the North American men’s championship in Burlington, Ont.
BASEBALL – John Cole, Kanata – In his junior year at the University of Nebraska, John was a second team Big 12 all-star with a .418 batting average, the eighth-best in school history. The second baseman/left fielder also had 11 home runs and 61 RBIs and led the Huskers to their first berth in the College World Series. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners and later signed a pro contract.
BASKETBALL – Jafeth Maseruka, Ottawa – A key reason why the Carleton Ravens reached the Canadian men’s basketball championship tournament in Halifax, Jafeth was showered with individual honours. The shooting guard was named the Ontario University Athletics East player of the year and selected to the Ontario East and All-Canadian all-star teams.
BIATHLON – Robing Clegg, Ottawa – Robin started his road to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City with his best two World Cup race results in Slovakia. The Canmore, Alberta resident was 38th in a sprint race and 39th in a longer individual race. He finished his 2001 season by winning an unprecedented four gold medals at the Canadian biathlon championships.
BOBSLEIGH – Ken LeBlanc, Ottawa – A four-time Olympian, Ken produced four top-10 results with pilot Pierre Lueders of Edmonton on the World Cup circuit. His best result was a bronze medal effort on his home course in Calgary. Ken also placed sixth, seventh and 10th on the two-man circuit. His best result in four-man on the World Cup circuit was a seventh.
BOWLING (5 PIN) – Bernie Menard, Alexandria – Bernie qualified fifth to make the Masters Bowlers’ Association men’s team for Ontario and won a gold medal in the team competition at the Canadian championships in Saskatoon. He averaged 268 for 62 games and at Ottawa’s Kent Bowling lanes he had a 228 average.
BOWLING (10 PIN) – Dave Wiskowski, Stittsville – Dave was in peak form in 2001 as he rolled a career high average of 220 and two perfect games. He also teamed with Ottawa’s Roger Sarazin to bowl Canada’s first doubles perfect game at a tournament in Watertown, New York. He also won numerous other tournaments in Ontario and Quebec.
BOXING – Ken Dostaler, Sarsfield – For the third straight year, the Ottawa Beaver Boxing Club athlete was the Ontario heavyweight champion, but fell one win short of being a national champion. The 29-year-old high school teacher captured his third provincial title, but had to settle for a repeat silver medal at the Canadian championships.
BROOMBALL – Lori Strike, Ottawa – An assistant captain with McMillan Sand and Gravel of Carleton Place, she helped her team win the 25th Canadian senior women’s broomball championship with her sound offensive and defensive play and leadership. She also was named to the all-star teams at the Canadian and Ontario championships.
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING – Perianne Jones, Almonte – Perianne was named Canadian girls’ juvenile age group champion, after winning the 7.5-kilometre classic and five-kilometer freestyle races and placing second in the one-kilometer sprint. She also won seven Ontario Cup races, two Continental Cup races, and a gold at the Ontario high school championship.
CURLING – Brian Fleischhaker, Ian Soutar, Mark Ruddock, and Gavin Jamieson, Ottawa – The Granite Curling Club junior team defeated veteran Layne Noble to win the grand aggregate title during the City of Ottawa Bonspiel. At the Ontario junior championships in Unionville, the Fleischhaker rink narrowly missed a medal by playing fourth.
DIVING – Laura Knowles, Ottawa – Laura will remember last season for significant results. The national junior team member, who competes for the Nepean Ottawa Diving Club, won a silver medal in the 10-metre tower competition at the Pan-Am Junior championships. She also won two medals at the Canadian age group championships and was the Ontario platform champion.
EQUESTRIAN – Kelley Small, Kanata – Kelley was a member of the Ontario-Alberta show jumping team which won a bronze medal at the North American Young Riders’ Championship. Ranked fourth in Ontario, she won section 4 competitions in Ottawa and Caledon. At Caledon won the Paul Scriver Award for the high point junior amateur. In the Ontario junior amateur section 4 class she placed fourth and ninth with her horses Double O’Seven and Esprit de Lys.
FASTBALL – Randy Peck, Wakefield – A third baseman and catcher, Randy played a key role for the Waterloo Twins at the world softball championships in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. During the tournament, he provided some offensive punch with three home runs. The former national team member and his wife Stacey recently hit a grand slam home run with the birth of quadruplets.
FENCING – Sherraine MacKay, Ottawa – A first-time Olympian in 2000, the former Sherraine Schalm had a breakthrough season last year. The Excalibur Fencing Club member, who lives in Paris, scored six top-10 World Cup women’s epee results. She earned a silver medal in Zurich and bronze medals in Sweden and Italy in a three-week period. She also was sixth at the worlds.
FIELD HOCKEY – Shankar Premakanthan, Ottawa – The highlight of Shankar’s season in 2001 was representing Canada at the Junior World Cup in Hobart, Australia. Despite a 16th-place showing, the Outaouais Field Hockey Club goaltender gained valuable experience. He also was voted the MVP at the Canadian senior championships, when the national junior team placed third.
FIGURE SKATING – Shawn Sawyer, Ottawa – A talented skater with senior-level programs, Shawn was a big hit on the International Skating Union Junior Grand Prix circuit. He was the men’s champion at the Sofia Cup in Bulgaria, third at the SBC Cup in Nagano, and fifth in the Grand Prix final. In Canada, he won the Eastern Challenge and was fourth at the national championships.
FOOTBALL – Wendall Belony, Nepean – The Ottawa Junior Riders wide receiver was selected the Quebec Major Junior Football League’s 2001 most valuable player. He also was named a league all-star for the second straight season and caught six touchdown passes for the league finalists. He is ranked No. 1 in team career receptions and No. 2 in receiving yardage and touchdowns.
FREESTYLE SKIING – Jeff Bean, Ottawa – The veteran aerial skier helped his selection to the 2002 Canadian Winter Olympic team by winning a silver medal at a World Cup meet at the Olympic site in Deer Valley, Utah. Jeff also placed second in a World Cup event at Mont Tremblant, Que., and finished eighth at the world championships in Blackcomb, B.C.
GOLF – Lee Curry, Kemptville – Lee had a near perfect season at the big three Quebec Golf Association tournaments. He won the Quebec Amateur and the Alexander of Tunis and finished tied for second in the Duke of Kent. The Miami University at Ohio athletic scholarship student missed the cut at the Canadian Open by just one stroke.
GYMNASTICS (Artistic) – Melanie Banville, Cornwall – A victory in the vault helped Melanie win the all-around Ontario junior high performance title. At the national junior championships, the Ottawa Gym Club athlete was third all-around with three individual medals. Representing Canada, she was fifth all around at a meet in Slovenia, and won team gold in a dual meet against Great Britain.
GYMNASTICS (Rhythmic 2001) – Kieva Hranchuk, Carp – Competing in the open 4 category for the Kanata Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics Club, Kieva earned high marks at the Ontario championships and won the overall title in her class with a first in clubs, seconds in ribbon and hoop and a fourth in rope. She also was overall champion at the Kanata Cup and Kalev/York invitational.
GYMNASTICS (Rhythmic 2000) – Amanda Cook, Ottawa – Amanda was missed last year for her performance in the year 2000. She capped an exceptional season by winning the all-around open 2 division at the Ontario rhythmic gymnastics championships. She was first in ball and second in hoop. The Kanata Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics member also won the Kanata Cup and was second at the Etobicoke invitational.
HOCKEY – Seamus Kotyk, Ottawa – Seamus paced the Ottawa 67’s to their second Ontario Hockey League major junior championship and second straight berth in the Memorial Cup. He won the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as the OHL playoff’s MVP with 16 wins in 20 games, including three shutouts. Before signing his first pro contract with San Jose Sharks and playing his first pro season with the AHL’s Cleveland Barons, Seamus set a 67’s franchise record for wins at 75.
JUDO – Michelle Buckingham, Ottawa – Michelle had a flurry of international success in the women’s 63-kilogram weight division. In a series of European meets, she had five top-five results, including one gold and two bronze medals. Winner of her seventh Canadian championship and the U.S. Open, she also was third at the Games of the Francophonie and the Pan Am Championships.
KARATE – Krista Corneil, Gloucester – After studying her martial art for only six years, Krista became a double world champion in 2001. Not only did she win the world fighting title in her World Karate Association division, but she also helped Canada win the team gold medal. The first-degree black belt from Douvris Martial Arts in Orleans also was the provincial and national champion. Krista is a teacher at Cairine Wilson High School.
LACROSSE – Mickey Gilchrist, Nepean – One of the youngest players at 16 in the Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior B League, Mickey led the Nepean Knights with 50 goals and 51 assists in the regular season and was named the East Division rookie of the year. In the playoffs, he had 23 goals and 18 assists as the Knights reached the East final. He also was drafted by the Toronto Beaches junior A team.
LAWN BOWLING – Gerry Laporte, Nepean – The highlight of Gerry’s season came when he played for two Ontario championships, reaching the finals of men’s singles and mixed triples. He did, however, experience that winning feeling by capturing the Carleton District Senior Games gold medal and placing first in the Maynard triples tournament.
LUGE – Kyle Connelly, Ottawa – In his first season as a senior, Kyle produced respectable results on the World Cup circuit. He had two 16th-place finishes and one 20th. The Calgary resident also was 17th at the world senior championships and seventh at the Canadian championships. His results helped him qualify for his first Winter Olympics last month.
ORIENTEERING – Cherie Mahoney, Ottawa – The highlight of Cherie’s 2001 season came at the Canadian senior orienteering championships, where she earned bronze medals in both the classic sprint and short distance races. She also represented Canada at the world championships in Finland.
PADDLING – Victoria Tuttle, Carleton Place – A member of the Canadian women’s sprint kayak team, Victoria had an outstanding performance at the Canadian paddling championships. She won four gold medals and one bronze in junior K-1, and K-2 finals with partner Alison Caiger-Watson. Victoria is a member of the national senior squad.
RINGETTE – Diane Ouimet, Gloucester – Diane was the leading scorer as she helped Gloucester win the Ontario belle ringette championship. She finished with 13 goals and 11 assists. She took her scoring to the Canadian championships, earning a bronze medal and a spot on the national all-star team. Diane also was invited to the Canadian team tryouts.
ROAD RACING – Sean Kaley, Ottawa – Competing for the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club, Sean won the Canadian Timex 10-kilometre road race, and was the top Canadian and senior men’s champion at the Canadian cross country running championships. He also was fourth at the Ottawa Nordion 10-kilometre race and sixth at the Vancouver Sun Run.
ROWING – Lysanne Lavigne, Ottawa – Rowing Canada’s top junior women’s sculler for the third straight year, Lysanne won gold medals in junior single sculls and lightweight women’s under-23 single sculls at the Ontario championships and Royal Canadian Henley regatta. At the United States championships, the Canada Cup under-23 single sculls champion won a bronze medal with the Canadian senior lightweight quadruple sculls crew.
RUGBY – Lauren Smithson, Kanata – Playing for Guelph University, Lauren was named to the Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport all-star teams as well as being selected the national university player of the year. She helped Quebec win the national women’s title and also was named to the Canadian team for the first time for a series against Wales.
SAILING – Kristyn Hope, Nepean – An Ontario sailing team member, Kristyn competed at the Canadian youth championships and was 16th in the single-handed Byte category. She also was fourth among the 17-and-under girls and was named to the Canadian team. Kristyn tasted victory at the Fruit Bowl regatta, the Unistrut regatta and the Fogh Boorman regatta.
SHOOTING – Wayne Salhany, Limoges – A four-time gold medallist at the Ontario and Quebec championships in air and free pistol shooting, Wayne was 11th in both free and air pistol and a bronze medallist in team at the Championships of the Americas. In open free pistol, he was runner-up at the Canadian championships and 16th at a World Cup in Atlanta, Georgia.
SNOWBOARDING – Isabelle Piche, Buckingham – At the Snowboard Canada national jam tour, Isabelle was second in pro slopestyle and third in senior half-pipe in Collingwood, Ont., and fifth in pro slopestyle at Big White, B.C. She was also eighth in quarter-pipe at the International Snowboard Federation meet in Stoneham, Que., and was half-pipe runner-up at the Quebec championships.
SOCCER – Eva Melamed, Ottawa – A finalist for the McGill University female athlete of the year, Eva was Canada’s top scorer at the World University Games. McGill’s co-captain led the Martiets to the Quebec title and Canadian Interuniversity Sport silver medal. Eva also was renamed to the Quebec and All-Canadian teams and was the top Canadian university soccer player and second in CIS scoring. In the summer, Eva played for Ottawa Fury of the W-League.
SPEEDSKATING (long track) – Kristina Groves, Ottawa – With a seventh-place finish in the 5,000 metres at the long-track world single distance speed skating championships, Kristina posted her best international result. Her international results, which included an 18th World Cup ranking in the 3,000 and 5,000 metres, also helped her qualify for her first Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
SPEEDSKATING (short track) – Andrew Lahey, Ottawa – In his fourth year on the Canadian junior team, Andrew competed in two major short-track international competitions last year. Andrew placed fourth in the 1,500 metres and eighth in the 1,000 metres at the world junior championships, and represented Canada at the World University Games.
SQUASH – Shauna Flath, Ottawa – At the Canadian squash championships, Shauna was a double medallist. She won the women’s 30-plus title, and as captain for Team Ontario, she led her provincial side to the silver medal in the team competition.
SWIMMING – Andrew Coupland, Gloucester – A member of the Gloucester Ottawa Kingfish Swim Club, Andrew was named to the Canadian junior team. He shared in the men’s 200-metre freestyle relay win for Canada at the United States Open and also was a World Cup finalist in the 200- and 400-metre freestyle. At the national summer championships, he was a two-time consolation finalist.
SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING – Chandra Costello, Gloucester – Chandra showed her versatility at the 2001 Ontario age-group synchronized swimming championships. In the 12-14 age class, Chandra won gold at the regionals in Nepean and gold medals in the provincial figures, duet and team competitions.
TABLE TENNIS – Bence Csaba, Ottawa – The Champlain Table Tennis Club star established himself as one of the top junior players in the world, placing second at high calibre youth open tournaments in Portugal and China. Ranked No. 1 in Canada from under 18 through under 25 age classes, Bence also was the North American, U.S. Open, and Canadian international champion.
TAEKWONDO – Lionel Gibson, Gloucester – A second-degree black belt, Lionel placed third in the Olympic division at the Canadian taekwondo championships in Montreal. At the Ontario taekwondo championships in Toronto, he also won the gold medal.
TENNIS – Tomasz Grzyb, Nepean – Tomasz remained one of Canada’s top junior players by reaching the men’s singles under-18 final at the national indoor championship, and placing fifth at the outdoor championships. He represented Canada at the Sunshine Cup in Key Biscayne, Florida where the Canadian under-18 team placed eighth out of sixteen. The Ontario under-18 junior champion finished the 2001 season ranked fourth in Canada.
TOUCH FOOTBALL – Christie Hughes, Ottawa – A highly accomplished touch football quarterback, Christie directed the Ottawa Devils to their third consecutive elite women’s title at the Canadian touch football championships. On the international level, she played for Canada at the World Cup in Florida, winning five games before losing to Mexico in the championship game.
TRACK & FIELD – Ashley Purnell, Metcalfe – The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club sprinter produced a list of remarkable achievements in the 100 and 200 metres, 100-metre hurdles and relays. One gold and two silvers at the Pan Am Junior championships as well as three golds at each of the Canada Summer Games, Canadian junior and Ontario high school championships. She also earned a four-year $310,000 athletic scholarship to Stanford University.
TRAP & SKEET – Linda Conley, Stittsville – There were plenty of medals in Linda’s season for 2001. She won the bronze medal in skeet shooting at the Championship of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia. Linda also was the gold medallist at the Ontario championships, and captured gold and silver medals at the Canadian team trials.
TRIATHLON – Lynda Hickman, Kanata – Competing at the world triathlon championships in Edmonton, Lynda was a convincing winner in the women’s 50-54 class in a field of 37. She was sixth in the 1,500-metre swim, had the best time in the 40-kilometre cycle and was second in the 10-kilometre run. She also was named the Triathlon Canada master athlete of the year.
VISUALLY CHALLENGED/CYCLING – Richard Marsolais/Craig DeVeer, Ottawa – Competing on a tandem bike with Craig DeVeer, Richard had a great season. A bronze medallist in the time trials and fifth in the road race at the Canadian championships, Richard was ninth at the European championships, won a bronze medal at the French Cup and was named bike racer of the year by the West of Quebec Wheelers.
VOLLEYBALL – Kara Zakrzewska, Ottawa – Kara was the first Ontario player in a decade to make the Canadian women’s team. The left side hitter for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees led the Canadian university scene in kills per game, was top five in blocks and top 10 in digs. The Gee-Gee’s female athlete of the year also was an Ontario Universities Athletic all-star and an Academic All-Canadian.
WATER POLO – Marianne Illing, Ottawa – At the Ontario senior women’s water polo championship, Marianne played for the Ottawa Titans and was named the defensive player of the tournament. She also was the top defensive player at the Canadian championships and was part of the Montreal-based national women’s team program.
WAKEBOARDING – Jennifer Barker, Nepean – Jennifer proved she is one of the top junior women’s wakeboarders in the world by winning the Canadian title for the second straight year and capturing the bronze medal at the world championships. She was ranked the top junior and sixth in the senior class in Canada. Jennifer plans to compete as a professional this summer.
WHEELCHAIR SPORTS – Sally Thomas, Ottawa – A fitness instructor at the downtown Ottawa YM-YWCA, Sally won a bronze medal in powerlifting in her first international competition last fall in Budapest. She also is involved in track and field with the Ottawa Panthers and wheelchair basketball with the Ottawa Royals of the Ottawa-Carleton Wheelchair Sports Association.
WRESTLING – Tyler Marghetis, Nepean – Wearing the colours of the National Capital Wrestling Club, Tyler had a perfect season at the big meets. He won the 68-kilogram title at the Canadian boys’ juvenile wrestling championships, was the Ontario high school 67.7-kilogram champion, and the gold medallist at the Canada Summer Games in the 68-kilogram division.
McMillan Sand & Gravel Broomball Team – The Carleton Place-based team won the Canadian women’s senior broomball championship in Calgary, defeating the host Calgary Bullets 2-1 in the final game. Debbie Dewar scored the winning goal and was named the most valuable player. McMillan Sand and Gravel also won the Eastern Ontario title in a two-game series over Seaway Valley, and captured the bronze medal at the Ontario championships.
Nepean Knights Midget B Lacrosse Team – The chances of repeating as Ontario champions in 2001 seemed distant as the Knights had many new and young players. But by the end of the season, the Knights went to the provincial championship and played as a team, eliminating five teams, including Niagara on the Lake 7-4 in the final. Their overall record was 28-4.
Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club – For the second time in three years, the Ottawa 67’s major junior hockey team reached the Memorial Cup. Their berth in the national championship came as a result of winning the Ontario Hockey League title at the J. Ross Robertson Cup by beating Plymouth Whalers 4-2 in the best-of-seven final. When the 67’s resumed play last September, it marked the team’s 35th anniversary and Brian Kilrea’s 25th season as a head coach.
Ottawa Sooners Football Club – The long-running Ottawa junior football team won its biggest game in four years last November. The Sooners beat their arch rival Ottawa Junior Riders 18-17 in the Quebec Major Junior Football League championship game and won the Mason Cup. The Sooners finished the regular season in the first place with a 7-1 record. Barry Gregory was named coach of the year, while Bobby Bird was selected rookie of the year.