Several standout student-athletes named OUA Players of the Year in 2016-17

BURLINGTON, Ont. – With another #BannerSeason in the books, let’s take a look back at the amazing accomplishments of  the league’s top student-athletes from the 2016-17 season. 

Each OUA Player of the Year or MVP will receive a customized ring from Baron Championship Rings, the “Official Championship Ring of the OUA.” 

In addition, several other rings will be award to standout student-athletes, coaches and administrators at the upcoming OUA Honour Awards Banquet on May 10, 2017.

OUA FOOTBALL: DEREK WENDEL – OTTAWA GEE-GEES

In his fifth and final season, uOttawa Gee-Gees quarterback Derek Wendel (Belleville, Ont.) was named OUA Most Valuable Player and the conference nominee for U SPORTS Hec Crighton Trophy.

Wendel, a fifth-year philosophy major, for a second consecutive season set new OUA single season attempts and completions records, completing 232 of 347 attempts for 2936 yards, which ranked seventh all-time on the U SPORTS single season passing yards list.

Starting all eight games for uOttawa, the Belleville, Ont. native also finished first in the conference in completion percentage (66.9), yards per game (367) and touchdowns (22).  With Wendel under centre, the Gee-Gees led OUA with a red zone percentage of 91%, while passing for 135 1^st downs during the regular season.

After throwing 8863 yards over his five seasons in the garnet and grey, Wendel ended his career as the Gee-Gees second leading passer of all-time, trailing only former uOttawa quarterback Josh Sacobie, while his 67 career touchdown passes rank him fourth all-time in OUA history.

Wendel became the first Gee-Gees player to be named Most Valuable Player since former quarterback turned Ottawa REDBLACKS receiver Brad Sinopoli earned the honours following the 2010 season.  He also is only the fourth different Gee-Gees player to win the award, joining the aforementioned Sinopoli (2010) and Sacobie (2007), as well as running back Mike Murphy (1976) and three-time MVP Neil Lumdsen (1972-1973, 1975).

OUA MEN’S BASKETBALL: CONNOR WOOD – CARLETON RAVENS

Carleton Ravens guard Connor Wood (Guelph, Ont.) was one of the top shooters in the province (if not the country) and was named the 2016-17 OUA Player of the Year in his fifth and final season.

Shooting 50 percent from downtown this season, Wood led OUA with 76 made three-pointers and finished tied for fourth overall averaging 19.1 points per game.  Wood also received his inaugural OUA first-team nod this season after being named to the second-team in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Wood became the first Carleton player to win the award since former Ravens standout Phil Scrubb was named OUA East Division MVP back in 2013-14.

OUA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: DANIELLE BOIAGO – McMASTER MARAUDERS

One of the best players in the conference, if not the entire country, in her fifth and final season, Danielle Boiago (Hamilton, Ont.) was named OUA Player of the Year, and a first-team all-star for a third consecutive season. 

Appearing in all 19 games this year, Boiago led the conference averaging 25.5 points per 40 minutes.  In addition she also finished third overall in several additional offensive categories, including: assists (81) and three-pointers made (51).  Boiago becomes the first Marauders player to win the award since Lindsay Degroot won the award in back in 2008.

Not only did Boiago lead the league in steals (63) but she also ranked inside the top ten in rebounds per game (7.0).

Boiago, who finishes her McMaster career as their all-time leading scorer with 1,719 points, became the second-consecutive winner of both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

OUA EAST DIVISION MEN’S HOCKEY: MARTIN LEFEBVRE – UQTR PATRIOTES

UQTR Patriotes defenceman Martin Lefebvre (Terrebonne, Que.), who is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, became the ninth Patriotes player to win the award since 1991-92 and the second consecutive from UQTR after forward Guillaume Asselin earned the honours a season ago.

In his fourth season with the Patriotes, Lefebvre finished third amongst defencemen with 25 points in 22 games.  The Terrebonne, Que. native also finished third on the Patriotes in scoring with eight goals and 17 assists.

One of the most disciplined players in the conference, Lefebvre only picked up one minor penalty this season, but found the back of the net four times while on the man-advantage. 

Lefebvre was also selected as an OUA first-time all-star for the first time in his career after being named to the second-team last year.

OUA WEST DIVISION MEN’S HOCKEY: DEREK SHEPPARD – YORK LIONS

Derek Sheppard (Ajax, Ont.), a third-year defenceman from the York Lions became just the fourth York player to be named OUA MVP since 1988 and the first since former Lion Derek Dolson captured the award following the 2002-03 season.

The 6-foot-1, 215 lbs defenceman led his position with 32 points while appearing in all 28 games during the regular season with the Lions.  Hailing from nearby Ajax, Ont., Sheppard also finished first in goals (12) and second in assists (20) by a defenceman.

Now in his second year of studying History at York University, Sheppard also led all blueliners with four game-winning goals for the Lions this season.

Sheppard was also named an OUA first-team all-star for a second consecutive season.

OUA WOMEN’S HOCKEY: KRYSTIN LAWRENCE – WINDSOR LANCERS

Following a season that saw her lead the conference in scoring, Windsor Lancers forward Krystin Lawrence (Tecumseh, Ont.) was named OUA Player of the Year.  In her third season with the Lancers, Lawrence scored 23 goals in 24 games this season and finished the year with a league-high 32 points.

The Tecumseh, Ont. native was also named an OUA first-team all-star for the first time in her career after being named to the second-team a season ago and a member of the all-rookie team back in 2014-15.

Lawrence, who was also named an OUA West Division women's soccer first-team all-star, was the first Windsor student-athlete to be named OUA Player of the Year since former Lancer Jenny MacKnight earned the honours following the 2013-14 season.

OUA EAST DIVISION MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: ALEX DUNCAN-THIBAULT – YORK LIONS

Alex Duncan-Thibault (Scarborough, Ont.), a fifth-year middle from the York Lions becomes the first Lions player to be named OUA East Division Player of the Year after he led the league, averaging 4.50 kills per set.

The 6-foot-7, 205 lbs middle also finished first in the league in both blocks (72) and points (355.5).  In addition, the Scarborough, Ont. native also ranked inside the top 10 in several key statistical categories, including: attacks (553), hitting percentage (.371) and aces (23).

Duncan-Thibault was instrumental in the Lions success this season, as York put together a 15-3 regular season record and finished atop the OUA East Division.

In addition to being named OUA East Division Player of the Year and a first-team all-star, Duncan-Thibault was also honoured with the prestigious Dale Iwanoczko Sportsman Award for his contributions off the court.  

OUA WEST DIVISION MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: DANNY DEMYANENKO – McMASTER MARAUDERS

For the second time in his career, Danny Demyanenko (Toronto, Ont.), a fifth-year middle was named the Player of the Year after he finished the season second in hitting percentage (.507) and fourth averaging 0.48 service aces per set.

As a member of the powerhouse Marauders, the Toronto, Ont. native also ranked inside the top ten with 0.98 blocks per set, while committing only one blocking error all season long.  In 16 matches this season for McMaster, Demyanenko finished just outside the top 10 averaging 3.7 points per set.

Demyanenko is the fourth straight Marauders player to capture the award and first person to earn the honours twice in their career since former Ryerson Ram Ryan Vandenburg did so in back-to-back seasons from 2004-2006.

OUA WEST DIVISION WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: ALINA DORMANN – TORONTO VARSITY BLUES

For the second time in as many seasons, University of Toronto Varsity Blues right side Alina Dormann (Ottawa, Ont.) was named the OUA East Division Player of the Year and a first-team all-star after she led the conference and finished second in the country in both kills (4.39) and points (5.3) per set.

Appearing in 19 matches this season for the Blues, Dormann, who is studying Life Science at the University of Toronto, recorded double-digit points in every game.  The Ottawa, Ont. native established a new career high with 31.5 points in a 3-2 win over the crosstown rival Rams back on Nov. 25.

Dormann, who was also named OUA Rookie of the Year a season ago, led Toronto with 36 blocks and 30 service aces this season, further establishing herself as one of the most dangerous players in the entire country.

This was the third straight season a member of the Varsity Blues has been named OUA East Division Player of the Year after Dormann was recognized last year and former University of Toronto standout Charlotte Sider in 2014-15.

OUA WEST DIVISION WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: KELSEY VELTMAN – WESTERN MUSTANGS

For the third time in as many seasons, Western Mustangs middle Kelsey Veltman (Brampton, Ont.) was recognized following another outstanding season with the OUA West Division Player of the Year Award.

Veltman, a 6-foot-2 middle, led the conference with 353.5 total points and finished second behind Toronto's Dormann, the OUA East Division Player of the Year, with 5.2 points-per-set.  Just 0.1 point separated the two conference leaders.  

She also finished second with 1.35 blocks-per-set and third with 3.81 kills-per-frame.

The Brampton, Ont., native has now captured the award in each of her three seasons in the conference and also has earned first team all-stars honours each year as well.

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