Dec. 17, 2024
Photo: Marc Lafleur / Carleton Ravens
Dani Sinclair was named the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Coach of the Year across all university sports for the 2023-2024 season which culminated Sinclair’s Carleton Ravens winning their second straight U SPORTS National Championship. Sinclair also coached the Ravens to their second straight OUA Championship in 2023-24. The Ravens were dominant throughout their 21-1 regular season and the six-game postseason in 2023-24.
Sinclair then guided four members of the Ravens to a gold medal performance at the FISU America 3×3 women’s basketball tournament in May, which qualified the team for the 2024 FISU 3×3 University Basketball World Cup, where the team earned a silver medal. To begin the 2024-25 OUA season, the Ravens are 11-0 in regular season play.
It was a year of success for Ottawa South United teams and David Fox. As the club’s Ontario Player Development League technical lead, Fox was part of the club’s incredible four provincial championship wins in 2024. The ODPL championships were won by the club’s U16 and U17 girls and by the U15 and U17 boys, with the U15 boys going on to become national champions.
Fox was the head coach of the U16 girls 5×5 team which won the Gatorade Canada 5×5 tournament, earning the right to represent Canada at the Global 5×5 tournament. There, the OSU team defeated Colombia 4-0 and Brazil 1-0, and then beat Colombia again in the gold medal game by a score of 3-2.
And, Annabelle Chukwu, an OSU alumna whom Fox coached in at the U13, U14, and U15 levels, set a new Canadian record for career international goals at the youth levels while competing at the U20 World Cup (the previous record was held by Christine Sinclair).
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The Athletes of the Year and Teams of the Year were also announced on December 17. The national championship-winning Gloucester Celtic FC Men’s Premier team and Carleton Ravens Women’s Basketball team were selected as Teams of the Year while World Champion speedskater Ivanie Blondin and World Champion para hockey player Tyrone Henry are the Athlete of the Year award winners.
The recipients of the Ottawa Sports Awards Lifetime Awards and Mayor’s Cup for 2024 were announced on December 12, with longstanding contributors to the sports of rhythmic gymnastics, curling, athletics, cricket, and field hockey being honoured.
These remarkable members of the community will be celebrated at the 2024 Ottawa Sports Awards Dinner, which will be held on February 5, 2025 at the Infinity Convention Centre. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Further award announcements will include the individual sport award winners in over 70 sports, over 50 championship-winning teams from local clubs, and the Spirit of Sport Award, Special Recognition, and Community Sport Endowment recipients.
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The Ottawa Sports Awards honours the finest in the Ottawa amateur sports community. Click here to view our past winners!