April 15, 2014
CIS: Philip Scrubb, Khamica Bingham named Ontario University Athletics' 2014 BLG Nominees
OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport and national law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) announced Tuesday the eight finalists for the 22nd Annual BLG Awards.
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Official BLG Awards website: www.blg.com/blgawards
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The BLG Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with CIS.
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On Monday, April 28, the eight national nominees will be honoured at the EPCOR Centre’s Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary. One female and one male winner will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship, while all finalists will return home with a commemorative gold ring.
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Calgary has played host to the awards gala on 18 occasions in the past, including the 20th anniversary edition in 2012. The event was also held in Toronto last year and in 2009, while Vancouver was the site of the 2011 ceremony.Â
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The 2014 awards show will premiere nationally on Sportsnet 360 on Thursday, May 15, at 9 p.m. EDT. A replay is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. EDT, also on Sportsnet 360.
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“We are extremely excited to be hosting the 22nd BLG Awards in Calgary,” said Doug Mitchell, National Co-Chair of BLG. “We continue to be amazed by the talents and accomplishments of these outstanding athletes. Each year, as we follow the past winners and hear about their accomplishments or what they are involved in, we realize how important their university sports background has been to them. We congratulate the universities who have provided the great education and athletic programs for these students to succeed in their careers.”
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“A key part of our mission is to help develop Canada’s next generation of leaders and these exceptional student-athletes are prime examples of the greatness that can be found at our Canadian universities,” said Pierre Lafontaine, chief executive officer of CIS. “To be nominated for a BLG Award is one of the most prestigious honours our 11,000 student-athletes can aspire to in their university careers. This is a very special honour not only for the eight finalists but also for their coaches, teammates, families, and anyone who contributed to their success.”
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The 2014 nominees for the Jim Thompson Trophy presented to the female BLG Award recipient are hockey player Katia Clément-Heydra from McGill University, track and field standout Khamica Bingham from York University, volleyball player Lisa Barclay from the University of British Columbia, as well as basketball player Justine Colley from Saint Mary’s University, who was also nominated a year ago.
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Colley, a fifth-year guard from East Preston, N.S., was named CIS player of the year in women’s basketball for the second straight season after she led the Atlantic conference in scoring for the fourth campaign in a row. The commerce student guided the Huskies to a perfect 20-0 regular season, a second consecutive AUS title and a program-best silver medal at the CIS championship.
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Clément-Heydra, a fourth-year centre from St. Bruno de Montarville, Que., was voted CIS MVP in women’s hockey thanks to her 40 points (13-27-40) in only 20 league games, good for first in Quebec and second in the nation. The industrial relations major added 15 points in eight post-season contests as she helped the Martlets capture their first CIS banner since 2011.
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Bingham, a second-year sprinter from Brampton, Ont., was named the OUA athlete of the year in track events and went on to pick up female-MVP honours at the CIS championships. The humanities student claimed three gold medals at the national meet, including a new record of 7.26 seconds in the marquee event, the 60-metre sprint.Â
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Barclay, a fourth-year outside hitter from Brandon, Man., was named CIS MVP in women’s volleyball after she led the country in kills (4.26) and points (4.99) per set. After guiding UBC to the CIS title in each of her first three campaigns with the team, the kinesiology student once again helped the Thunderbirds reach the national final, where they settled for silver.  Â
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On the men’s side, the finalists for the Doug Mitchell Trophy are hockey player Liam Heelis from Acadia University, football player Jordan Heather from Bishop’s University, basketball player Philip Scrubb from Carleton University and hockey player Derek Hulak from the University of Saskatchewan.
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Heelis, a third-year forward from Georgetown, Ont., earned CIS MVP honours in men’s hockey after he won the AUS scoring crown with 42 points, including a CIS-leading 24 goals in only 26 league games. The science student then guided the Axemen to their first Atlantic conference title since 2006 and their first University Cup championship appearance in eight years.
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Heather, a fifth-year quarterback from Oromocto, N.B., merited the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in the country after he shattered one of the most prestigious single-season records in CIS football thanks to an astounding 3,132 passing yards in eight regular season games. The history student also set an RSEQ season mark with 20 touchdown passes and completed a team-record 199 passes while leading the Gaiters to their first six-win campaign (6-2) since 1993.
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Scrubb, a fourth-year guard from Richmond, B.C., became the first player in history to be named CIS MVP for the third time in men’s basketball. The commerce student, who led Carleton in points (18.6) and assists (4.9) per game during league play, guided the Ravens to an unblemished 22-0 regular campaign and to their fourth CIS title in as many years with the team.Â
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Hulak, a fourth-year forward from Saskatoon, was named Canada West MVP and won the conference scoring race by 12 points over a 28-game schedule thanks to his 48 points (13-25-48), which ranked second in the country. The business student guided the Huskies to a second-place finish at the University Cup and, despite a heartbreaking loss to Alberta in the final, earned MVP honours after leading the three-game tournament in goals (4) and points (6). Â Â
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The BLG Awards are based on athletic accomplishments, outstanding sportsmanship and leadership. Each of the 54 CIS schools selects one female and one male athlete of the year. From these nominees, one female and one male athlete are chosen within each of the four regional associations: Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA). To be eligible, a student-athlete must have competed in a CIS sport for a minimum of two years and cannot be a previous recipient of a BLG Award.
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All nominees receive a commemorative gold ring and winners are presented with a trophy and a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Canadian university graduate school. Winners are selected by the Canadian Athletic Foundation, a not-for-profit board established for the purpose of administering the BLG Awards and protecting the integrity of the selection process. The CAF Board of Trustees consists of 20 members from five Canadian cities representing major corporations from across the country who are committed to ensuring that Canadian university athletes receive the recognition they deserve.
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2014 Female BLG Award Nominees (Jim Thompson Trophy):
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AUS: Justine Colley, basketball, Saint Mary’s (East Preston, N.S.)
RSEQ: Katia Clément-Heydra, hockey, McGill (St. Bruno de Montarville, Que.)
OUA: Khamica Bingham, track & field, York (Brampton, Ont.)
CWUAA: Lisa Barclay, volleyball, UBC (Brandon, Man.)
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2014 Male BLG Award Nominees (Doug Mitchell Trophy):
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AUS: Liam Heelis, hockey, Acadia (Georgetown, Ont.)
RSEQ: Jordan Heather, football, Bishop’s (Oromocto, N.B.)
OUA: Philip Scrubb, basketball, Carleton (Richmond, B.C.)
CWUAA: Derek Hulak, hockey, Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Sask.)
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Past BLG Award Winners:
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2012-13: Shanice Marcelle - UBC (volleyball) / Kyle Quinlan - McMaster (football)
2011-12: Ann-Sophie Bettez - McGill (hockey) / Marc-André Dorion - McGill (hockey)
2010-11: Jessica Clemençon - Windsor (basketball) / Tyson Hinz - Carleton (basketball)
2009-10: Liz Cordonier - UBC (volleyball) / Erik Glavic - Calgary (football)
2008-09: Annamay Pierse - UBC (swimming) / Joel Schmuland - Alberta (volleyball)
2007-08: Laetitia Tchoualack - Montreal (volleyball) / Rob Hennigar - UNB (hockey)
2006-07: Jessica Zelinka - Calgary (track & field) / Josh Howatson - Trinity Western (volleyball)
2005-06: Marylène Laplante - Laval (volleyball) / Osvaldo Jeanty - Carleton (basketball)
2004-05: Adrienne Power - Dalhousie (track & field) / Jesse Lumsden - McMaster (football)
2003-04: Joanna Niemczewska - Calgary (volleyball) / Adam Ens - Saskatchewan (volleyball)
2002-03: Kim St-Pierre - McGill (hockey) / Ryan McKenzie - Windsor (cross country & T&F)
2001-02: Elizabeth Warden - Toronto (swimming) / Brian Johns - UBC (swimming)
2000-01: Leighann Doan - Calgary (basketball) / Kojo Aidoo - McMaster (football)
1999-00: Jenny Cartmell - Alberta (volleyball) / Michael Potts - Western (soccer)
1998-99: Corinne Swirsky - Concordia (hockey) / Alexandre Marchand - Sherbrooke (T&F)
1997-98: Foy Williams - Toronto (track & field) / Titus Channer - McMaster (basketball)
1996-97: Terri-Lee Johannesson - Manitoba (basketball) / Curtis Myden - Calgary (swimming)
1995-96: Justine Ellison - Toronto (basketball) / Don Blair - Calgary (football)
1994-95: Linda Thyer - McGill (track & field) / Bill Kubas - Wilfrid Laurier (football)
1993-94: Sandra Carroll - Winnipeg (basketball) / Tim Tindale - Western (football)
1992-93: Diane Scott - Winnipeg (volleyball) / Andy Cameron - Calgary (volleyball)
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York University
Sport: Track & Field
Year of eligibility: 2
Academic program: Humanities
Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
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To say that Khamica Bingham was dominant in her first season with York University’s track and field team would be an understatement.   Â
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The standout from Brampton, Ont., who started her university career a year ago with the Toronto Varsity Blues, was named the OUA female athlete of the year in track events in her Lions debut. The 19-year-old was under the spotlight heading into the conference and national championships, and did she ever live up to the hype.   Â
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At the OUA championships in Toronto, Bingham set a meet and school record of 7.23 seconds in the marquee event, the 60-metre final, and also claimed gold in the 4x200 relay. Two weeks later in Edmonton, at the CIS year-end meet, she added three more gold medals, including a new championship mark in the 60m (7.26) and the best times in the country this season in the 300m (38.36) and 4x200 (1:38.53).
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She had already captured CIS gold in the 60m and 4x200 in her rookie campaign with the UofT in 2013.
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Of course, Bingham’s domination on the university circuit comes as no surprise to regular followers of Canadian athletics. Last summer, a few weeks after she represented Canada at the World University Games, she ran the anchor leg of the 4x100 relay team that broke the senior national record at the IAAF world championships in Russia (42.99). The talented sprinter had already caught the attention of international connoisseurs at the 2012 IAAF World Juniors in Spain, where she missed the podium by .01 seconds in the 100m, and at the 2011 world youth championships in France, where she was part of a bronze medal-winning relay.    Â
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A national level gymnast before she took up track and field, the humanities student now hopes to add another honour to her impressive resume as she could become the first York athlete to hoist a BLG Award. The school’s only previous nominees were basketball player Karen Jackson (1997) and soccer player Francesco Bruno (2009). Â
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“Khamica is an extremely talented student-athlete whose ability on the track speaks for itself. She has already re-written the CIS record book in just two years and I believe there is still plenty more to come,” says York head coach Colin Inglis. “She has the ability to be one of the top female sprinters Canada has ever produced, and it is great to see her competing in CIS to help her develop as a runner.”
Philip Scrubb
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Official BLG Awards website: www.blg.com/blgawards
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The BLG Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with CIS.
Â
On Monday, April 28, the eight national nominees will be honoured at the EPCOR Centre’s Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary. One female and one male winner will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship, while all finalists will return home with a commemorative gold ring.
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Calgary has played host to the awards gala on 18 occasions in the past, including the 20th anniversary edition in 2012. The event was also held in Toronto last year and in 2009, while Vancouver was the site of the 2011 ceremony.Â
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The 2014 awards show will premiere nationally on Sportsnet 360 on Thursday, May 15, at 9 p.m. EDT. A replay is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. EDT, also on Sportsnet 360.
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“We are extremely excited to be hosting the 22nd BLG Awards in Calgary,” said Doug Mitchell, National Co-Chair of BLG. “We continue to be amazed by the talents and accomplishments of these outstanding athletes. Each year, as we follow the past winners and hear about their accomplishments or what they are involved in, we realize how important their university sports background has been to them. We congratulate the universities who have provided the great education and athletic programs for these students to succeed in their careers.”
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“A key part of our mission is to help develop Canada’s next generation of leaders and these exceptional student-athletes are prime examples of the greatness that can be found at our Canadian universities,” said Pierre Lafontaine, chief executive officer of CIS. “To be nominated for a BLG Award is one of the most prestigious honours our 11,000 student-athletes can aspire to in their university careers. This is a very special honour not only for the eight finalists but also for their coaches, teammates, families, and anyone who contributed to their success.”
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The 2014 nominees for the Jim Thompson Trophy presented to the female BLG Award recipient are hockey player Katia Clément-Heydra from McGill University, track and field standout Khamica Bingham from York University, volleyball player Lisa Barclay from the University of British Columbia, as well as basketball player Justine Colley from Saint Mary’s University, who was also nominated a year ago.
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Colley, a fifth-year guard from East Preston, N.S., was named CIS player of the year in women’s basketball for the second straight season after she led the Atlantic conference in scoring for the fourth campaign in a row. The commerce student guided the Huskies to a perfect 20-0 regular season, a second consecutive AUS title and a program-best silver medal at the CIS championship.
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Clément-Heydra, a fourth-year centre from St. Bruno de Montarville, Que., was voted CIS MVP in women’s hockey thanks to her 40 points (13-27-40) in only 20 league games, good for first in Quebec and second in the nation. The industrial relations major added 15 points in eight post-season contests as she helped the Martlets capture their first CIS banner since 2011.
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Bingham, a second-year sprinter from Brampton, Ont., was named the OUA athlete of the year in track events and went on to pick up female-MVP honours at the CIS championships. The humanities student claimed three gold medals at the national meet, including a new record of 7.26 seconds in the marquee event, the 60-metre sprint.Â
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Barclay, a fourth-year outside hitter from Brandon, Man., was named CIS MVP in women’s volleyball after she led the country in kills (4.26) and points (4.99) per set. After guiding UBC to the CIS title in each of her first three campaigns with the team, the kinesiology student once again helped the Thunderbirds reach the national final, where they settled for silver.  Â
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On the men’s side, the finalists for the Doug Mitchell Trophy are hockey player Liam Heelis from Acadia University, football player Jordan Heather from Bishop’s University, basketball player Philip Scrubb from Carleton University and hockey player Derek Hulak from the University of Saskatchewan.
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Heelis, a third-year forward from Georgetown, Ont., earned CIS MVP honours in men’s hockey after he won the AUS scoring crown with 42 points, including a CIS-leading 24 goals in only 26 league games. The science student then guided the Axemen to their first Atlantic conference title since 2006 and their first University Cup championship appearance in eight years.
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Heather, a fifth-year quarterback from Oromocto, N.B., merited the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in the country after he shattered one of the most prestigious single-season records in CIS football thanks to an astounding 3,132 passing yards in eight regular season games. The history student also set an RSEQ season mark with 20 touchdown passes and completed a team-record 199 passes while leading the Gaiters to their first six-win campaign (6-2) since 1993.
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Scrubb, a fourth-year guard from Richmond, B.C., became the first player in history to be named CIS MVP for the third time in men’s basketball. The commerce student, who led Carleton in points (18.6) and assists (4.9) per game during league play, guided the Ravens to an unblemished 22-0 regular campaign and to their fourth CIS title in as many years with the team.Â
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Hulak, a fourth-year forward from Saskatoon, was named Canada West MVP and won the conference scoring race by 12 points over a 28-game schedule thanks to his 48 points (13-25-48), which ranked second in the country. The business student guided the Huskies to a second-place finish at the University Cup and, despite a heartbreaking loss to Alberta in the final, earned MVP honours after leading the three-game tournament in goals (4) and points (6). Â Â
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The BLG Awards are based on athletic accomplishments, outstanding sportsmanship and leadership. Each of the 54 CIS schools selects one female and one male athlete of the year. From these nominees, one female and one male athlete are chosen within each of the four regional associations: Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA). To be eligible, a student-athlete must have competed in a CIS sport for a minimum of two years and cannot be a previous recipient of a BLG Award.
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All nominees receive a commemorative gold ring and winners are presented with a trophy and a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Canadian university graduate school. Winners are selected by the Canadian Athletic Foundation, a not-for-profit board established for the purpose of administering the BLG Awards and protecting the integrity of the selection process. The CAF Board of Trustees consists of 20 members from five Canadian cities representing major corporations from across the country who are committed to ensuring that Canadian university athletes receive the recognition they deserve.
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2014 Female BLG Award Nominees (Jim Thompson Trophy):
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AUS: Justine Colley, basketball, Saint Mary’s (East Preston, N.S.)
RSEQ: Katia Clément-Heydra, hockey, McGill (St. Bruno de Montarville, Que.)
OUA: Khamica Bingham, track & field, York (Brampton, Ont.)
CWUAA: Lisa Barclay, volleyball, UBC (Brandon, Man.)
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2014 Male BLG Award Nominees (Doug Mitchell Trophy):
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AUS: Liam Heelis, hockey, Acadia (Georgetown, Ont.)
RSEQ: Jordan Heather, football, Bishop’s (Oromocto, N.B.)
OUA: Philip Scrubb, basketball, Carleton (Richmond, B.C.)
CWUAA: Derek Hulak, hockey, Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Sask.)
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Past BLG Award Winners:
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2012-13: Shanice Marcelle - UBC (volleyball) / Kyle Quinlan - McMaster (football)
2011-12: Ann-Sophie Bettez - McGill (hockey) / Marc-André Dorion - McGill (hockey)
2010-11: Jessica Clemençon - Windsor (basketball) / Tyson Hinz - Carleton (basketball)
2009-10: Liz Cordonier - UBC (volleyball) / Erik Glavic - Calgary (football)
2008-09: Annamay Pierse - UBC (swimming) / Joel Schmuland - Alberta (volleyball)
2007-08: Laetitia Tchoualack - Montreal (volleyball) / Rob Hennigar - UNB (hockey)
2006-07: Jessica Zelinka - Calgary (track & field) / Josh Howatson - Trinity Western (volleyball)
2005-06: Marylène Laplante - Laval (volleyball) / Osvaldo Jeanty - Carleton (basketball)
2004-05: Adrienne Power - Dalhousie (track & field) / Jesse Lumsden - McMaster (football)
2003-04: Joanna Niemczewska - Calgary (volleyball) / Adam Ens - Saskatchewan (volleyball)
2002-03: Kim St-Pierre - McGill (hockey) / Ryan McKenzie - Windsor (cross country & T&F)
2001-02: Elizabeth Warden - Toronto (swimming) / Brian Johns - UBC (swimming)
2000-01: Leighann Doan - Calgary (basketball) / Kojo Aidoo - McMaster (football)
1999-00: Jenny Cartmell - Alberta (volleyball) / Michael Potts - Western (soccer)
1998-99: Corinne Swirsky - Concordia (hockey) / Alexandre Marchand - Sherbrooke (T&F)
1997-98: Foy Williams - Toronto (track & field) / Titus Channer - McMaster (basketball)
1996-97: Terri-Lee Johannesson - Manitoba (basketball) / Curtis Myden - Calgary (swimming)
1995-96: Justine Ellison - Toronto (basketball) / Don Blair - Calgary (football)
1994-95: Linda Thyer - McGill (track & field) / Bill Kubas - Wilfrid Laurier (football)
1993-94: Sandra Carroll - Winnipeg (basketball) / Tim Tindale - Western (football)
1992-93: Diane Scott - Winnipeg (volleyball) / Andy Cameron - Calgary (volleyball)
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2013-14 OUA Nominees
Khamica BinghamYork University
Sport: Track & Field
Year of eligibility: 2
Academic program: Humanities
Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
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To say that Khamica Bingham was dominant in her first season with York University’s track and field team would be an understatement.   Â
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The standout from Brampton, Ont., who started her university career a year ago with the Toronto Varsity Blues, was named the OUA female athlete of the year in track events in her Lions debut. The 19-year-old was under the spotlight heading into the conference and national championships, and did she ever live up to the hype.   Â
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At the OUA championships in Toronto, Bingham set a meet and school record of 7.23 seconds in the marquee event, the 60-metre final, and also claimed gold in the 4x200 relay. Two weeks later in Edmonton, at the CIS year-end meet, she added three more gold medals, including a new championship mark in the 60m (7.26) and the best times in the country this season in the 300m (38.36) and 4x200 (1:38.53).
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She had already captured CIS gold in the 60m and 4x200 in her rookie campaign with the UofT in 2013.
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Of course, Bingham’s domination on the university circuit comes as no surprise to regular followers of Canadian athletics. Last summer, a few weeks after she represented Canada at the World University Games, she ran the anchor leg of the 4x100 relay team that broke the senior national record at the IAAF world championships in Russia (42.99). The talented sprinter had already caught the attention of international connoisseurs at the 2012 IAAF World Juniors in Spain, where she missed the podium by .01 seconds in the 100m, and at the 2011 world youth championships in France, where she was part of a bronze medal-winning relay.    Â
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A national level gymnast before she took up track and field, the humanities student now hopes to add another honour to her impressive resume as she could become the first York athlete to hoist a BLG Award. The school’s only previous nominees were basketball player Karen Jackson (1997) and soccer player Francesco Bruno (2009). Â
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“Khamica is an extremely talented student-athlete whose ability on the track speaks for itself. She has already re-written the CIS record book in just two years and I believe there is still plenty more to come,” says York head coach Colin Inglis. “She has the ability to be one of the top female sprinters Canada has ever produced, and it is great to see her competing in CIS to help her develop as a runner.”
Philip Scrubb
Carleton University
Sport: Basketball
Year of eligibility: 4
Academic program: Commerce
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.
Philip Scrubb was heavily recruited out of Vancouver College back in 2010 and all the Richmond, B.C., native has done since is prove he was well worth the hype.
After landing with the powerhouse Carleton University Ravens, the 6-foot-3 guard launched his CIS basketball career with a bang when he was named MVP of his first university pre-season tournament in Quebec City following a 35-point explosion in the gold-medal final. At the end of his freshman campaign, he was voted CIS rookie of the year, becoming the first-ever Raven to earn the honour.
A year later, the commerce student won his first Mike Moser Memorial Trophy as CIS player of the year. A second MVP award followed in 2013 and then a third this season, making the 21-year-old the only three-time recipient of the Moser Trophy in history.
Not surprisingly, having the best player in the country on their roster didn’t hurt the Ravens over the past four years. Carleton has captured the CIS banner every season since Scrubb joined the program.
In 2013-14, Scrubb once again led his team in points (18.6) and assists (4.9) per game and ranked in the top 10 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, three-point shooting, free-throw percentage, assists, as well as points per 40 minutes (27.0). On their way to winning their record 10th national title – all in the past 12 years – the Ravens compiled a remarkable 33-1 overall mark against CIS opponents.
Many predict a successful professional career is in Scrubb’s future. He has already represented Canada at numerous international competitions, including the under-19 world championship (2011), Pan American Games (2011) and World University Games (2013). Last summer, he was the only active CIS player – and the youngest overall - invited to the Canadian senior national team camp.
One of the secrets to his success? Basketball runs in the family. His older brother Thomas, also a star with the Ravens, was named CIS defensive MVP this season and played alongside Philip at last summer’s Universiade in Russia. Both their parents played university hoops, their mother at Bishop’s and their father at UBC and Victoria.
“Phil is a highly talented and well accomplished player. His ability speaks for itself in his success,” says Carleton head coach Dave Smart. “He is a humble and selfless individual regarding the team. He is an extremely good student, balancing his dedication to the team and sport with his academics.”
 Source: CISÂ
