November 7, 2014

OUA Announces 2014 Men's Rugby Major Awards and All-Stars

The Queen’s Gaels led the way in the standings and in all-star voting this season. As the team prepares to face the Guelph Gryphons this weekend in the OUA Championship, six Gaels have been named to the OUA All-Star team.

(Photo: Ian MacAlpine / Guelph Gryphons)

HAMILTON, Ont - The Queen's Gaels led the way in the standings and in all-star voting this season. As the team prepares to face the Guelph Gryphons this weekend in the OUA Championship, six Gaels have been named to the OUA All-Star team.

Leading the way for Queen's is fifth-year prop Jacob Rumball (Toronto, Ont.). Along with being named an OUA All-Star, Rumball also took home the Most Valuable Player Award for his strong defensive play, leadership, and playmaking this season. Joining him on the all-star roster are Gaels teammates lock Tommy Kirkham (Vancouver, B.C.), flanker Brendan Sloan (Peterborough, Ont.), lock James Dent (Toronto, Ont.), fullback David Worsley (Vancouver, B.C.), and wing Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, Ont.).

Worsley led the team and finished fourth in the league scoring 78 points off six tries, two penalty goals, and 21 conversions. Lloyd led the team and ranked fourth in the league scoring nine tries.

The Guelph Gryphons finished 7-1 in regular season play and are heading to the OUA Championship as well. The strong season landed five players from its roster OUA All-Star honours. Eight-man Jeremy Wright (Fenelon Falls, Ont.) won OUA's All Around Player Award and he was named an all-star. He scored 35 points off of seven tries this season, while providing the team with excellent defensive play. Fullback Joe Newman (Waterdown, Ont.) finished first on the team and second in the league with 93 points and receives all-star honours. Flanker Eric Charest-Pekeski (Barrie, Ont.), hooker Eric Howard, and scrum half Byron Boville (Barrie, Ont.) round out Guelph's all-star selections. Also taking home a major award was wing Brandon McLeod (Baltimore, USA) who won the OUA Rookie of the Year Award for his strong play in just his first season.

Brock fullback Connor Fitzsimmons (Markham, Ont.) was the only player to reach 100 points this season, landing right on the century mark to lead the league in scoring. He, along with four other Badgers, made the OUA All-Star team. Hooker Tyler Mirco (Brantford, Ont.), scrum half Chris Gladney (Leaskdale, Ont.), outside centre Matt Mufandaedza (Yellowknife, NWT), and flanker Ben Thompson (Whitby, Ont.) round out Brock's all-stars. Brock takes on McMaster in the OUA bronze medal game this weekend.

The Western Mustangs finished fourth in the OUA standings, and have four players named OUA All-Stars. Flanker Peter Milazzo (Toronto, Ont.), hooker Eric Selvaggi (Woodbridge, Ont.), fly half Mike Turnbull (Oakville, Ont.), and centre James Ojo (Whitby, Ont.) led the Mustangs this season with excellent two-way play and have been named all-stars as a result.

The McMaster Marauders are playing for a bronze medal this Saturday, and lay claim to four all-stars along with the OUA Coach of the Year. Head coach Dan Pletch receives the Coach of the Year Award after leading McMaster to a 5-3 record this season, including a win against the Queen's Gaels, who had not lost in over two years. Lock Kieran Hurst (Mississauga, Ont.), lock Aaron Mabbott (Oakville, Ont.), 8-man Mitchell Salisbury (Stoney Creek, Ont.), and wing Casey Bouk (Brantford, Ont.) were named OUA All-Stars; Hurst led the all-star quartet scoring three tries this season.

Laurier's 8-man Andrew Thomson (Pickering, Ont.) finished third in the league with nine tries despite only playing in six of his team's games. He was named an OUA All-Star along with teammates hooker Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, Ont.) and prop Jeff Wood (Stratford, Ont.).

RMC Paladins fullback Matthew Courtney (Brockville, Ont.) finished sixth in the league scoring a team-leading 56 points. He receives OUA All-Star honours along with teammates centre Matt Taylor (Bridgewater, Ont.) and second row Alex Markovic (Ottawa, Ont.).

It was a tough season for the Toronto Varsity Blues and Waterloo Warriors, but each squad still had two players apiece named OUA All-Stars.

Eight-man Kyle Kraemer (St. Clements, Ont.) carried the Warriors offence this season, scoring 11 tries which ranked second in OUA. Forward Mike Baumung (Cambridge, Ont.) finished second on the team with three tries, and joins Kraemer as an OUA All-Star.

From Toronto, flanker John Stewart (Whitby, Ont.) and fly half Scott Maguire (Mississauga, Ont.) are the team's all-star representatives.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Jacob Rumball – Prop – Queen's

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Brandon McLeod – Wing – Guelph

ALL-AROUND PLAYER

Jeremy Wright – 8-man – Guelph

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Pletch – McMaster

OUA ALL-STARS

Jacob Rumball – Prop – Queen's

Tommy Kirkham – Lock – Queen's