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Nominees unveiled for 2022 Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athletes of the Year Awards

06 May 2022, 12:45 PM 06 May 2022, 12:45 PM

U SPORTS Staff

U SPORTS proudly announced Thursday the eight finalists for the Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athletes of the Year Awards Presented by Makadiff SPORTS, honouring the Athletes of the Year for the 2021-22 season after a season-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 nominees for U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Year are basketball player Osman Omar of the Cape Breton Capers, Waterloo Warriors football player Tre Ford, Derek Epp of the Trinity Western volleyball team and Montreal Carabins soccer player Guy-Frank Essomé Penda.

On the women’s side, the finalists for the U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year are long jumper Lexie Shannon of the UNB REDS track and field team, Queen’s Gaels rugby and basketball player Sophie de Goede, Calgary Dinos soccer player Montana Leonard and cross country runner and track and field athlete Jessy Lacourse of the Laval Rouge et Or.

Each of the eight nominees have been chosen to represent their respective conferences - Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Ontario University Athletics (OUA), Canada West (CW) and Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) – as Athletes of the Year or national finalists.

Celebrating their 29^th year, the awards are championed once again by His Honour Doug Mitchell and Her Honour, the Honourable Lois Mitchell.

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The winners will be determined by a combined vote of the Canadian Athletic Foundation – a not-for-profit board, chaired by His Honour Doug Mitchell – and the public on USPORTS.ca.

Profiles of each nominee are available below. For the all-time Lois and Doug Award nominees and winners, click here.

2021-22 NOMINEES

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ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT (AUS)

Osman Omar

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Osman Omar

Cape Breton Capers
Basketball, Guard
Mississauga, Ont.
Eligibility: 4th year
Community Studies

Osman Omar, a fourth-year guard with the Cape Breton University Capers men’s basketball team, is the 2021-22 AUS Male Athlete of the Year and nominee for the U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Year.

Omar finished his season with the Capers as a U SPORTS first-team all-star, the AUS most valuable player for 2021-22 and the recipient of the AUS student-athlete community service award. He was also honoured as the Capers’ men’s basketball team MVP and was a co-recipient of CBU’s Male Athlete of the Year.

A community studies student from Mississauga, Ontario, Omar led the AUS in scoring during the regular season, averaging 24.5 points per game—the fourth-most in the country. He was also an AUS leader in field goals made, with 120, and free throws made, completing 106 of 124 attempts from the line. He finished fourth in the conference in steals, with 1.7 per game and averaged 34.3 minutes per game for the Capers.

Off the court, Omar gives back to the community as an advocate and creative, telling the stories of fellow athletes via his Purejumper Media and teaming up with organizations like Justice Fund TO and Mending a Crack in the Sky, a Somali-Canadian founded program aimed at supporting families impacted by gun violence. He is the first player in AUS history to win both the MVP and student-athlete community service awards.

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“Osman has acquired all the necessary skills through his participation in sport to allow him to be successful in his next phase of his life which will be in filmmaking through his current company, Pure Jumper,” said John Ryan, CBU Athletic Director. “Ozzy's work ethic has made him excel in all aspects of his life and especially on the basketball court as one of the best Men's Basketball players in the country. Ozzy has overcome a number of challenges in his life and through determination, passion, and a great work ethic and commitment he has achieved a great deal to date but many more great things are still to come. Ozzy has acquired all the necessary skills and experience through Sport to position himself for success after graduation.”

Lexie Shannon

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Lexie Shannon

UNB REDS
Track and Field, Long Jump and Triple Jump
Fredericton, N.B.
Eligibility: 3rd year
Arts

In her third year of eligibility with the UNB REDS track and field team, Lexie Shannon was named the 2021-22 AUS Female Athlete of the Year and nominee for the U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year.

A fourth-year arts student from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Shannon won the gold medal in the women's triple jump at the 2022 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships in Saint John, New Brunswick and was named a U SPORTS first-team All-Canadian. Her 12.16-metre gold medal jump not only set a new record for the REDS and the AUS, but also marked the first national-level gold medal in UNB track and field history.

This year Shannon was named the 2022 AUS female field athlete of the year after capturing a gold medal in the triple jump and bronze in the long jump, leading the UNB REDS women’s team to a second-place finish at the AUS championship. She was named the REDS’ track and field team MVP and was honoured as UNB’s 2021-22 Female Athlete of the Year.

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“Lexie is a special athlete and person. Her talent is only overshadowed by her determination and work ethic,” said UNB REDS Track and Field Head Coach, Chris Belof. “Lexie has worked incredibly hard to return from an injury in the 2019-20 season. She is a gracious champion and fierce competitor. Lexie is a leader and an outstanding teammate in a sport where individuality is paramount. Her care for others is infectious. Lexie plays a positive role with her teammates and coaches and makes the people around her better. She has carried the UNB Women's Track and Field program to new heights, and continues to challenge herself to be better, every day. Lexie has been a program builder and someone who our women's team has rallied around. Lexie has demonstrated that she can perform on the biggest stages and in the biggest moments.”

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ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)

Tre Ford

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Tre Ford

Waterloo Warriors
Football, Quarterback / Track and Field, Short Distance
Niagara Falls, Ont.
5^th Year
Recreation and Leisure

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Tre Ford has made his mark on the gridiron throughout his time with the Warriors, but he saved his best for last with another dazzling campaign for the black and gold.

Since joining the Waterloo football program and helping to turn the program during his tenure, the generational talent from Niagara Falls, Ont. wreaked havoc on the OUA competition as a perennial dual-threat pivot. This season was no different, as Ford ranked second in the conference in passing yards (1,465) and completions (118), first in touchdowns (10), and atop the league with 244.2 yards per game. If that’s not enough, Ford also racked up 629 yards on 59 carries and three touchdowns on the ground, putting him third in yardage therein.

After stuffing the stat sheet all season, Ford earned OUA MVP honours and a first-team all-star selection, before being awarded the 2021 Hec Crighton recipient as the U SPORTS MVP.

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The all-Canadian finishes his varsity career as the Warriors’ all-time leader in passing years with 6,952 and passing touchdowns with 54. Not to be outdone, he is also fourth on the program’s all-time rushing list with 2,434 yards on the ground. With his time at the University of Waterloo now complete, Ford is looking ahead to the next steps in his football journey. The talented quarterback has recently been invited to the Baltimore Ravens rookie mini-camp and was selected in the first round (8th overall) in the 2022 CFL Draft, making him the first quarterback taken that high since 1980.

Ford also competed with the track and field team this year, finishing fifth in the 60m dash at the national championships.

Sophie de Goede

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Sophie de Goede

Queen’s Gaels
Rugby, No. 8 / Basketball, Forward
Toronto, Ont.
Eligibility: 5^th Year
Commerce

Sophie de Goede is a two-sport star for Queen’s, excelling in both rugby and basketball, and she capped off her incredible career with the Gaels by helping them win national medals in both sports.

de Goede led the Gaels to their first USPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship Gold Medal in program history, finishing the tournament second in scoring with 42 points (two tries, seven converts, and six penalty converts). de Goede was named the tournament MVP. Her year-end honours included being named the U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Player of the Year, a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian, OUA Women’s Rugby Player of the Year, and OUA Shiels Division All-Star.

As if her triumphs on the pitch weren’t enough, after her rugby season, de Goede joined the women’s basketball team and helped the Gaels win a bronze medal at the U SPORTS Women’s Final 8 Championship, also hosted on the Queen’s home court.

For her year on the hardwood, de Goede led the OUA in rebounding, averaging 12.1 per game while adding 9.8 points per contest to finish just shy of a double-double mark. She also averaged 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the Gaels on the year.

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When de Goede wasn’t starring for the Gaels, she has represented Canada as a member of the National Senior Women's Rugby program at multiple competitions in the past five years, including earning a spot on the tournament All-Star team at the World Rugby Super Series in 2019, as well as multiple player of the match honours. She will also be a key member of the Rugby World Cup team competing in the Fall of 2022 in New Zealand.

During the COVID-cancelled 2020-21 season, played for professional team Saracens Women in London, England.

CANADA WEST (CW)

Derek Epp

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Derek Epp

Trinity Western
Volleyball, Setter
Saskatoon, Sask.
Eligibility: 5^th Year
Human Kinetics

Two-time First Team All-Canadian and reigning U SPORTS Volleyball Player of the Year, Derek Epp of the Trinity Western Spartans was named the 2021-22 Canada West Athlete of the year and nominated for the U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Year.

Epp's unique blend of preparation and creativity made him the centrepiece of the country's top-ranked Trinity Western Spartans. Epp stood out in a strong program as the setter in a 6-2 system where he commanded the conference's most efficient offence while converting effectively as a hitter as well.

The Saskatoon, SK product captained his team to a 15-1 regular season record (the lone loss coming when Epp and other starters did not play) and a perfect 7-0 CW post season mark. The Canada West Champions went on to win silver at nationals.

Epp’s prowess on the court is rivaled only by his ability in the classroom, where he is a three-time Academic All-Canadian.

Following his time with TWU, Epp will be pursuing a professional volleyball career abroad. This summer, he is set to return to Canada’s senior men’s volleyball program, as the national team prepares for the Volleyball Nations League and, later the summer, the World Championship.

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“He's truly one of the great setters that has ever played this game at the U SPORTS level, and I think that is a product of his preparation, his film study, and his dedication to his craft. Derek is tireless in the way he trains and the details that he focuses on,” said Head Coach Ben Josephson. “So many times, the great technicians of the game lack the flare in the creativity to go along with their skills, but Derek has that as well. On top of being this incredibly disciplined setter, he has this creative way to play that creates unbelievable opportunities for his spikers and creates highlights all over the place. He is just truly one of those remarkable athletes and a once-in-a-lifetime generational talent that I was honoured and blessed to coach and Trinity Western was honoured and blessed to have played for us and the Spartans.”

Montana Leonard

Montana Leonard

Calgary Dinos
Soccer, Midfield
Richmond, B.C.
Eligibilty: 5^th Year
Open Studies

Montana Leonard's historic season in Canada West, the fifth-year midfielder for the Calgary Dinos soccer team earned CW Athlete of the Year and a nomination for the U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year – on the heels of a U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Player of the Year Award.

Leonard was also named the Canada West Player of the Year, earning First Team All-Canadian and Canada West First Team All-Star honours to go along with a U SPORTS Athlete of the Week nod.

Leonard scored 17 goals on the year, setting a new Canada West conference record in the process. Leonard led the country in goals, points (19) and shots on goal (64).

Thriving under pressure, the attacking midfielder scored five game-winning goals on the season, leading Canada West.

Leonard's record-breaking season helped the Dinos to a 9-2-1 mark during the regular season, and a second-place finish in the conference's Central Division.

The Richmond, BC product also stood out off the field as a two-time Academic All-Canadian.

Less than two months after receiving the Chantal Navert Memorial Award as U SPORTS women's soccer player of the year, Leonard signed a professional contract to play with the Launceston United Soccer Club in Australia.

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“Montana’s 2021 season was truly historic, and she is a worthy representative for Canada West in the national athlete of the year selections,” said Ben Matchett, Calgary Dinos Director of Athletic. “She embodies the very best of a student-athlete, and she remained committed to coming back for one more season after graduating to have the ending she deserved with her teammates. She leaves the University of Calgary and the Dinos soccer program in a better place than she found it.”

RÉSEAU DU SPORT ÉTUDIANT DU QUÉBEC (RSEQ)

Guy-Frank Essomé Penda

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Guy-Frank Essomé Penda

Montréal Carabins
Soccer, Forward
Almetyevsk, Russia
Eligibility: 5^th year
Computer Engineering

Since joining the Carabins as a walk-on in 2016, Guy-Frank Essomé Penda he has reached the highest peaks of U SPORTS soccer. The talented striker was named RSEQ Athlete of the Year and has earned a nomination for the U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Year.

This season, he was the driving force of the Carabins' success as they won the regular season championship, the RSEQ championship and the U SPORTS championship. The Blues have also taken part in the last four national finals, winning the title twice with Essomé Penda at the heart of the squad.

On the RSEQ circuit, he was elected to the first team of stars as well as player par excellence. He did it again nationally by winning those same two honors on the national level.

At the U SPORTS National Championship, he showed his worth by scoring the game-winning goal in each of the Carabins' three games, including a banner-winning shootout goal to secure the national title. He earned player of the tournament for his heroics with the game on the line.

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"Guy-Frank's career speaks for itself, he has shown so much effort year after year that we can only be delighted with what is happening to him," said Carabins Head Coach Pat Raimondo. “Through his play on the field, his leadership and his warrior spirit, he strongly influenced his teammates to elevate their games. We could not have achieved such success without him.”

Even more impressive, Essomé Penda shone just as much in the classroom. In the fall of 2021, he obtained a perfect mark of 4.0 out of 4.0 in his master's program in Computer Engineering.

Jessy Lacourse

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Jessy Lacourse

Laval Rouge et Or
Cross Country/ Track and Field, middle distance
Québec, Que.
Eligibility: 5^th year
Educational Psychology

Jessy Lacourse, a fifth-year cross country and track and field distance athlete was dominant in her craft, earning the RSEQ Athlete of the Year and a nomination for the 2021-22 U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year.

In her fifth season with the Rouge et Or, Lacourse first had a perfect cross-country season, winning all four races she started, including the RSEQ Championship and the U SPORTS Championship. Her performance allowed the Rouge et Or to win a fifth provincial banner in seven years as well as the second Canadian title in the history of the club, after that of 2018 in which she had also been an integral part.

“Jessy had an outstanding cross country season. She was able to show character during the U SPORTS championships by being combative until the end of the event to succeed in winning in addition to contributing to the victory of the Rouge et Or in the team standings. This national victory at home on the Plains of Abraham is definitely one of the highlights of her career,” said Laval cross country coach Félix-Antoine Lapointe.

Lacourse's dominance continued into the track and field season. The middle-distance runner collected four gold medals during the RSEQ championship, over the distances of 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, and in the 4x800m relay receiving a nod as the championship’s top performer while contributing to the Rouge et Or's fourth consecutive banner. At the U SPORTS Championships, Lacourse won the silver medal in the 3000m, just five days after taking fifth place in the Pan Am Cross Country Championship in Sierra, Brazil.

Another feat: at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston on February 12, Jessy Lacourse broke her own senior Quebec record by 17 seconds by running the 3000m, cracking the nine-minute milestone (8:59.26).

The Quebec City native, who received the prestigious honor of Canadian track athlete of the year, helped Laval finish fourth at the U SPORTS Championships.

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“Jessy represents the values of excellence of the Rouge et Or organization and the track and field team. She has an impeccable work ethic and is a true role model for our recruits. She is an exceptional student-athlete,” said Laval head track coach Sylvain Cloutier.

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Nominees unveiled for 2022 Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athletes of the Year Awards

2021-22 NOMINEES

ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT (AUS)

ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)

CANADA WEST (CW)

RÉSEAU DU SPORT ÉTUDIANT DU QUÉBEC (RSEQ)

Carleton’s Pandi headlines U SPORTS men’s basketball major award winners