Bison year-end awards recognize talent, volunteers and community leadership

More than 350 student-athletes, coaches and special guests gathered in the Manitoba Room on Saturday, March 24 for the annual Brown and Gold Awards Banquet to recognize the achievements of the University of Manitoba Bisons during the 2017-18 season.

The program was packed with brown and gold content. Emceed by University of Manitoba and Bison alumna, Michelle Sawatzky-Koop [B.Mus. (Perf)/93], the audience was treated to welcomes from government officials including Manitoba’s Minister of Education and Training Ian Wishart, federal MP for Winnipeg South Terry Duguid and Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, who shared his own pride of his days as Bison student-athlete (swimming).

U of M President David Barnard and Canadian Football League (CFL) Commissioner, Randy Ambrosie [BComm(Hons)/87] capped off the formal program with their address to student-athletes, appealing for them to invest in their roles not only as athletes but also as future leaders in the community.

It was only appropriate then that the first award presented Saturday afternoon was for Leadership and Community Development. Three student-athletes, Alana Serhan (hockey), Brett Stovin (hockey) and Gee-ef Nkwonta (track and field), all members of the University of Manitoba Athletic Council, were recognized for their leadership qualities and community impact of their efforts.

Among the major awards, Venla Hovi (hockey) was presented as the Bison Female Athlete of the Year. Hovi, in her fourth year as a Bison, won an Olympic bronze medal with Team Finland at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang and later became a key contributor that led her team to the U SPORTS Women’s Hockey National Championship.

Justus Alleyn (basketball) earned the Bison Male Athlete of the Year honour after finishing his fifth and final year of eligibility as the Canada West scoring leader. Alleyn was also selected as his team’s Most Valuable Player. In April, Alleyn will represent Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Volunteers were honoured through two major awards. The Pat Gill Legacy Award, given in memory of the former Bison Football Manager was awarded to Dr. Mike McKay for his long-standing service to the men’s hockey team since 1986.

Alanna Boudreau, recipient of the newly added Assistant Coach of the Year has provided her expertise and service to the Bison Track and Field team as a jumps coach. Two athletes under her tutelage earned medals at the 2018 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships.

Full list of Brown and Gold award winners

Major awards

2017-18 BISON SPORTS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Female: Venla Hovi – Hockey

Male: Justus Alleyn – Basketball

2017-18 BISON SPORTS COACH OF THE YEAR

Jon Rempel – Hockey (women’s)

2017-18 BISON SPORTS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Female: Lauren Taraschuk – Hockey

Male: Brendan Warren – Volleyball

2017-18 BISON SPORTS STUDENT-ATHLETE LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AWARD

Female: Alana Serhan – Hockey

Male: Gee-ef Nkwonta – Track and Field and Brett Stovin – Hockey

2017-18 BISON SPORTS PAT GILL LEGACY AWARD

Dr. Mike McKay – Team physician for Bison men’s hockey

2017-18 BISON SPORTS ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

Alanna Boudreau – Track and Field

Bison Sports Team MVPs for the 2017-18 season

Women’s Basketball – Taylor Randall

Men’s Basketball – Justus Alleyn

Women’s Cross Country – Rebekah Sass

Men’s Cross Country – Abduselam Yussuf

Football – Jamel Lyles

Men’s Golf – Devon Schade

Women’s Golf – Marissa Naylor

Women’s Hockey – Jordyn Zacharias

Men’s Hockey – Byron Spriggs

Women’s Soccer – Hailey Lavarias

Women’s Swimming – Kelsey Wog

Men’s Swimming – Anthony Iliouchetchev

Women’s Track & Field – Tegan Turner

Men’s Track & Field – Oyinko Akinola

Women’s Volleyball – Cassie Bujan

Men’s Volleyball – Adam DeJonckheere

UM Today Staff