Queen’s Larocca honoured as ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS athlete of the week

OTTAWA (CIS) – Hockey players Nadia Larocca from Queen's University and Dylan Tait from the University of Lethbridge are the ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS female and male athletes of the week for the period ending Oct. 12, 2015.

Larocca, a third-year religious and political studies student from Mississauga, Ont., scored three of her team's four goals, including both game-winners, to help the Gaels kick off conference play with back-to-back home wins over Brock and York. On Friday night, with the season opener tied at 0-0 late in the third period, the junior forward scored twice in the final 74 seconds of regulation to lead Queen's to a 2-0 victory. The following night, she broke a 1-1 tie at 12:12 of the middle stanza to give the Gaels a 2-1 win.

Acadia rugby player Gillian Bergsma, Montreal swimmer Sophie Marois and Calgary soccer player Jordan Smith were also nominated for the women's award.

Tait, a fifth-year arts and science student from Lethbridge, Alta., was sensational on Thanksgiving weekend as he turned aside 79 of 82 shots to help the Pronghorns open league play with a two-game split against reigning national champion and top-ranked Alberta. In Friday's Canada West opener, the former WHL goaltender stopped 28 of 29 pucks in a 2-0 loss and kept the high-scoring Golden Bears off the scoreboard until the 52nd minute of play. In Saturday's rematch, Tait, who missed almost all of last season following a testicular cancer diagnosis, added 51 saves in a thrilling 3-2 double overtime win, including 17 stops in the third period and 10 more in extra time.

StFX hockey player Drew Owsley, Montreal swimmer Thibault Delecluse and York soccer player Joey Cicchillo were the other male nominees.

Female nominees:
AUS: Gillian Bergsma, rugby, Acadia
RSEQ: Sophie Marois, swimming, Montreal
OUA: Nadia Larocca, hockey, Queen's (recipient)
CWUAA: Jordan Smith, soccer, Calgary

Male nominees:
AUS: Drew Owsley, hockey, StFX
RSEQ: Thibault Delecluse, swimming, Montreal
OUA: Joey Cicchillo, soccer, York
CWUAA: Dylan Tait, hockey, Lethbridge (recipient)

Source: CIS