MVPs make it back-to-back honours to cap off productive provincial campaigns
Burlington, Ont. – It was just one year ago that Simon Lafrance and Jacob Roach took home top conference honours for their respective divisions. But with yet another productive provincial season in tow for the talented duo, their names are called once again to receive MVP accolades, with the back-to-back winners headlining the award winners and all-stars from the 2023-24 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men’s hockey season.
Most Valuable Player (East) – Simon Lafrance, UQTR
In a season that saw the two-time defending champions rely on a large influx of rookies, UQTR was still able to rely on their constant force up front – Simon Lafrance – to do what he does best.
Coming off an MVP season a year ago as well, Lafrance was right back at it again this season for the East Division’s second-seeded Patriotes. This marks the second consecutive season he has led the OUA in points, netting 25 goals and adding 20 assists for a 45-point total. The first team all-star had six multi-goal games in his 26 games played, including a hat trick on November 24 against Lakehead.
Consistency was also the name of the game for Lafrance, as he went only four games without a point throughout the course of his productive campaign, including four consecutive three-point games from October 27th to November 5th and a pair of four point games as well.
Lafrance, now the two-time recipient of the honour, marks the ninth time a UQTR Patriotes player has done so in program history.
Most Valuable Player (West) – Jacob Roach, Brock
For a second consecutive season, Jacob Roach has topped his divisional counterparts with an MVP-calibre season, adding to an already loaded OUA resume with his third consecutive award-winning season.
It is no surprise to see Roach register the type of numbers he did yet again, as his ability to drive the play and bring the passion to every game he plays was integral to the Brock offence. The success becomes that much more remarkable when recognizing the top defensive pairings and shut down lines that Roach is often tasked with countering.
When all was said and done, the third-year forward from Brooklin, Ont. finished fourth in the OUA with his 40 points, which was also good enough for the 10th in U SPORTS. His 24 assists were enough for second in the conference (11th in U SPORTS), to go along with his 16 goals. He went just three games without a point in his 26 games played, which included a pair of hat tricks and a pair of four-point games.
The first team all-star is now back-to-back West Division MVP and remains the lone Badgers player to earn the accolade for the St. Catharines squad.
Defenceman of the Year (East) – David Noel, UQTR
Anchoring the back end for a young team, David Noel was a mainstay on the UQTR blueline to top his divisional peers as the OUA East’s defenceman of the year.
Beyond being a lynchpin in his own end, helping his Patriotes surrender the OUA’s second-fewest goals against this season (60), the Quebec City, Que. native was a threat on the offensive side as well. Noel finished with 12 goals and 13 assists on the year, good for 25 points overall, serving as the quarterback on the back end.
Among the highlights of that nearly point-per-game campaign was a pair of hat tricks – to kick off December against RMC and to help defeat Nipissing in January – but his most memorable may have been his final tally of the year. By netting his 12th goal against Ottawa on February 4th, the kinesiology major become the program’s new record-holder for goals scored by a defenceman in a season.
On the heels of his record-setting campaign, Noel becomes the fourth UQTR defender to be tabbed as one of the OUA’s best blueliners.
Defenceman of the Year (West) – Zach Taylor, Brock
The top blueliner for the Badgers has brought his play to the top of the provincial pack, being named the OUA’s defenceman of the year in the West Division.
Tied for fifth among OUA defenceman scoring with seven goals and 16 assists, good for 23 points, Taylor was an anchor on the Badgers’ back end. A calm and composed presence, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. local was able to assert himself at the right moment, and did so on several occasions for the division-leading Brock squad. Part of his impeccable offensive acumen, meanwhile, comes from his ability to create at both even strength and on the powerplay, with three of his tallies coming with the man advantage.
Not only is this the first OUA accolade for the third-year rearguard, but the first team all-star’s standout 2023-24 campaign helps him become the first defenceman of the year selection for the Brock program overall.
Goaltender of the Year (East) & Rookie of the Year (East) – Francesco Lapenna, Ottawa
In his rookie season in the Garnet and Grey, netminder Francesco Lapenna was a brick wall between the pipes en route to a pair of provincial honours.
Lapenna, a native of Laval, Que., made a major splash in his foray onto the varsity ice, quickly becoming one of the most effective goalies in the country. Lapenna led the OUA and all of U SPORTS in save percentage, checking in at .942, and led the conference with a 1.72 goals-against average. The first year management student also tied the Gee-Gees team record for GAA.
There was no easing in for Lapenna in his rookie season, as he started 26 of his team’s 28 games and led the nation in minutes placed. As part of his time in the blue crease, he recorded 19 wins, ranked second in both the province and country in that regard.
For his decorated campaign, Lapenna becomes the first Gee-Gee in program history to win the goaltender of the year award, while picking up Ottawa’s fourth rookie of the year selection.
Goaltender of the Year (West) & Rookie of the Year (West) – Connor Ungar, Brock
Much like his counterpart in the East, Connor Ungar stepped into the net for his rookie season and didn’t look back en route to racking up not one, but two OUA awards as a result.
Ungar, a product of Calgary, Alta., was a steadying presence between the pipes for the high-flying Badgers team. His 2.15 goals-against average and .932 save percentage were both good for fourth in the OUA and top-10 in the country, while he led the way among his fellow provincial and national netminders with 20 wins. Much of his success came from his professionalism in preparation and development, and using those traits to perform in high level situations game in and game out.
The social sciences student was able to put pressure on the opposition with his imposing play between the pipes, and he was able to shut out his opponents on three occasions, including two in his team’s final five games down the home stretch of the regular season.
This marks the third time that a Brock goalie has earned the top netminder award, joining Clint Windsor and current Vegas Golden Knights goalie Logan Thompson, while also joining the latter and three others as Badgers to win the rookie of the year.
Coach of the Year (East) – David Urquhart, McGill
The top team in the East during the regular season also boasts the top coach, with McGill’s David Urquhart named the division’s coach of the year.
A native of Thorold, Ont., Urquhart guided his troops to a division-leading 21-5-2 record and a berth at the U SPORTS national championship tournament. His special teams boasted the top penalty-killing (89.2%) and power-play (34.0 %) units in the OUA, which also ranked first and second, respectively, in the country.
A 2018 inductee to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame, Urquhart was appointed in 2021 as the 30th bench boss in team history and the 13th former McGill player to take the helm of the historic program, which was 147 years ago in 1877. A graduate of McGill's Desautels school of management in 2008, Urquhart played defence (2004-2008), while majoring in finance and entrepreneurship. In 2019, he completed a master's degree in sports psychology at McGill. He began his coaching career as a full-time associate coach under Kelly Nobes at McGill (2014-2018), followed by a three-year stint as an assistant with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls (2018-2021).
This is the eighth time that a McGill hockey coach has merited this OUA award.
Coach of the Year (West) – TJ Manastersky, Brock
In his second season behind the Brock bench, TJ Manastersky has been tabbed the West Division’s top coach, leading his Badgers to the top of the standings therein.
Despite it being just his second season, Manastersky, who credits any personal accolades to team success, made sure it was a year for the record books, as the team’s 21 wins anchored their most successful regular season in Brock’s history. His team was among the top five offensively, with 3.79 goals per game, while also surrendering the third-fewest goals against (2.39 per game). The team reeled off six straight wins and 14 victories in their first 15 outings overall to start the season, placing them at the top of the West for much of the campaign.
The Brock bench boss also sparked individual success from several of his players, seeing four major awards, four all-stars, and three all-rookie selections headline the team’s accolades this season. This also marks the seventh time a Brock coach has been honoured with the conference recognition.
Randy Gregg Award (East) – Alexandre Gagnon, McGill
Alexandre Gagnon is the OUA recipient of the student-athlete community service award, marking the seventh time that a McGill player has merited the OUA’s Randy Gregg Award.
On the ice, the defensive forward scored six goals and 17 points in 24 league games this season, with only six penalty minutes. He played a key role on McGill’s stifling penalty-killing unit which led the nation with an 89 per cent success rate.
Gagnon, who won the team’s Albert Fyon Trophy as most improved player last season, has served as the team representative on the Varsity Council in the capacity of VP-Community Affairs. He also volunteered as project leader for the team’s McGill-24 Crowdfunding project in 2023, represented the hockey team at the Residence Welcome Week event, served as a team mentor for the younger players, was chosen for the University’s National Philanthropy Day video, and volunteered for a “McGill Athletics Thank-a-thon”, which involved calling donors to the hockey program.
An alternate captain, the physical and health education senior from Gatineau, Que. has achieved a lofty 3.97 cumulative grade point average (out of 4) to earn academic all-Canadian honours and a berth on the Principal’s Student-athlete Honour Roll. Gagnon is also the recipient of multiple academic honours, including the 2023 Walter & Mary Marsh Scholarship (community involvement and outstanding leadership), the Tomlinson Undergraduate Award (academic excellence and mentorship), the Phi Delta Kappa Prize (exceptional extra-curricular and community involvement), a Minister of Education Excellence Scholarship (MEES Award), the John Chomay Award (academic and athletic excellence) and a 1938 Champions Award (leadership, academic excellence, athletic achievement).
Randy Gregg Award (West) – Cole Purboo, Toronto
Awarded to the player who exhibits outstanding achievement in hockey, academics, and community involvement, Purboo becomes the third Varsity Blues player to receive the OUA's Randy Gregg Award.
A true leader on the ice, Purboo served as the Varsity Blues team captain this season, helping Toronto to another postseason appearance therein. The powerful forward appeared in all 28 regular season games, tying for the team lead with 12 goals, while also setting new career highs in assists (11) and points (23).
Purboo has also excelled in the classroom, where the commerce student has been named a U SPORTS academic all-Canadian on multiple occasions during his Varsity Blues career. Additionally, he has been an active participant in his community, volunteering with several community groups that reflect his own passions including the Hockey Diversity Alliance (HDA).
Champion of EDI Award (West) – Amanda Stefanile, Lakehead
Amanda Stefanile’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is evident in her innovative approach to addressing barriers faced by Indigenous youth in accessing higher education.
Under her guidance, Lakehead’s Achievement Program has enrolled over 400 youth of whom the majority is Indigenous, providing them with invaluable support and resources to overcome challenges on their journey towards a university degree. One of the program’s most notable initiatives is offering first-year tuition for students in the program from grade 4 to grade 12 who are actively involved in athletic programming, a testament to Amanda’s dedication to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities.
Stefanile’s leadership extends beyond program development, as exemplified by her initiative to organize the Indigenous Celebration Night presented by the Achievement Program at a Thunderwolves hockey game. This event, attended by over 3,700 individuals, including 1,000 directly involved in the Achievement Program, served as a powerful platform to showcase Indigenous culture and foster community engagement. From featuring Indigenous languages in the national anthem and game play-by-play on OUA.tv to traditional performances by Indigenous students and the community, Stefanile ensured that the event was not only inclusive but also deeply meaningful.
In addition to her impactful programming, Stefanile actively advocates for EDI awareness and advocacy, engages in relationship building and support with underrepresented members of the school community, and consistently demonstrates inclusive leadership in implementing policies and procedures that advance diversity and inclusion.
True Sport Award (East) – Scott Walford, McGill
Scott Walford of the McGill Redbirds has merited the OUA East True Sport Award and received first-team all-star honours, winning both laureates for a second consecutive season.
An economics senior from Coquitlam, B.C., impressive defenceman was a third-round draft choice by Montreal Canadiens in 2017 and was invited last summer to participate in two rookie camps with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. This season, Walford averaged over 25 minutes of ice time per contest and led all OUA rearguards with 1.20 points per game. Despite missing eight games due to a preseason injury, he posted a 4-20-24 record with 26 penalty minutes in 20 games, only one point shy of being the league’s top-scoring defencemen.
Perhaps the most impressive statistic was that three of his four goals were overtime winners. An alternate captain and two-time team MVP, Walford tied for second among OUA defencemen this season with 12 power-play points. He was selected to play for a U SPORTS all-star squad in a two-game series against the Canadian world junior hopefuls last December.
Over his three seasons at McGill, the workhorse blueliner has only been penalized 14 times in 59 OUA games. An Academic All-Canadian and member of the Principal’s Student-athlete Honour Roll, Walford was a recipient of McGill’s 1938 Champions Award, presented for combining leadership with athletic and academic excellence. Among Walford's off-ice contributions was organizing team participation in a "Run for the Cure" fundraiser, in honour of his roommate's mother who passed away from cancer. He served as team mentor for freshmen and volunteered for a McGill Athletics "thank-a-thon", calling donors to thank them for their support.
True Sport Award (West) – Chris Playfair, TMU
TMU’s leader and all-around standout, Chris Playfair has been named the recipient of the West Division’s True Sport Award .
Playfair, a veteran forward from Waterloo, Ont., leads by example and is involved not only on the ice, but off of it. As part of a Queen’s Cup-bound Bold team, the captain plays in all situations and was a significant part of the team’s regular season success. He picked up 19 points in 22 games played (6 G, 13 A), including eight points with the man advantage and a pair of game-winning goals. But more than his impact on the scoresheet, he also played the game the right way, picking up just eight penalty minutes on the year and earning the respect of his teammates and opponents alike.
An academic all-Canadian, Playfair also boasts the top GPA on the TMU squad (4.13), and even beyond the classroom, is actively involved in both the Toronto and Kitchener communities. Playfair helped organize TMU’s Regent Park Community Skate, where he and his teammates donated equipment to community members in need. He also worked to organize partnerships to provide food and drinks during the event, as part of a hugely successful day for the program and all involved.
The complete list of 2023-24 OUA men’s hockey award winners and all-stars is as follows:
Most Valuable Player (East) – Simon Lafrance, UQTR
Most Valuable Player (West) – Jacob Roach, Brock
Defenceman of the Year (East) – David Noel, UQTR
Defenceman of the Year (West) – Zach Taylor, Brock
Goaltender of the Year (East) – Francesco Lapenna, Ottawa
Goaltender of the Year (West) – Connor Ungar, Brock
Rookie of the Year (East) – Francesco Lapenna, Ottawa
Rookie of the Year (West) – Connor Ungar, Brock
Coach of the Year (East) – David Urquhart, McGill
Coach of the Year (West) – TJ Manastersky, Brock
Randy Gregg Award (East) – Alexandre Gagnon, McGill
Randy Gregg Award (West) – Cole Purboo, Toronto
Champion of EDI Award (West) – Amanda Stefanile, Lakehead
True Sport Award (East) – Scott Walford, McGill
True Sport Award (West) – Chris Playfair, TMU
First Team All-Stars (East)
F – Simon Lafrance, UQTR
F – William Rouleau, McGill
F – Dalton Duhart, Queen’s
D – David Noel, UQTR
D – Scott Walford, McGill
G – Francesco Lapenna, Ottawa
First Team All-Stars (West)
F – Jacob Roach, Brock
F – Kyle Bollers, TMU
F – Nick Wong, Toronto
D – Zach Taylor, Brock
D – Holden Wale, Windsor
G – Connor Ungar, Brock
Second Team All-Stars (East)
F – Luka Verreault, Ottawa
F – Jonathan Yantsis, Queen’s
F – Eric Uba, McGill
D – Sean Larochelle, Concordia
D – Jacob Paquette, Queen’s
G – Alexis Gravel, UQTR
Second Team All-Stars (West)
F – Harrison Caines, Nipissing
F – Jake Durham, Windsor
F – Tyler Burnie, Brock
D – Aaron Hyman, TMU
D – Colin Van Den Hurk, Lakehead
G – Kai Edmonds, TMU
All-Rookie Team (East)
F – Luka Verreault, Ottawa
F – Pier-Olivier Roy, UQTR
F – Derek Hamilton, Queen’s
D – Edouard Cournoyer, UQTR
D – Nolan Seed, Carleton
G – Francesco Lapenna, Ottawa
All-Rookie Team (West)
F – Nick DeGrazia, Lakehead
F – Riley Gannon, Brock
F – Daniil Grigorev, TMU
D – Jonah Boria, Brock
D – Isaac Sookal, Wilfrid Laurier
G – Connor Ungar, Brock
