Kaelan Watson, Kyesia O’Neale and Hannah Tighe of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues were named all-Canadians as the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) announced its 2009 major award winners on Wednesday, November 4.
A second-year defender, Watson is the lone Varsity Blue named to the first team. The Richmond B.C. native played in all 16 games and scored two goals as the Varsity Blues went 10-1-3 in regular season action this season. This is Watson’s second consecutive all-Canadian honour as she was named to the second team last season.
“Kaelan is mature beyond her years,” said head coach John DeSouza. “Her vision and innate instincts are second to none. She has been the rock in the midfield with a talented offensive mind to move our offence in the right direction.”
O’Neale and Tighe earn their first CIS recognition as second team all-Canadians. A fourth-year forward, O’Neale (Mississauga, Ont.) wreaks havoc in the oppositions end and generates most of the team’s goal scoring opportunities. She was ranked ninth in OUA scoring with six goals and four assists.
A third-year midfielder, Tighe (Penticton, B.C.), has been the key to solidifying the Blues defence and also tallied three goals this season.
“Hannah is the calm in the storm,” added DeSouza. “She is a great midfielder who has come into her own this season. Her work ethic is impeccable and her tenacity in undeniable.”
Third-year University of Guelph forward Brienne Stairs was named player of the year in Canadian Interuniversity Sport women’s field hockey, Wednesday night.
The native of Kitchener, Ont., became the first Gryphon to claim the Liz Hoffman award since the inception of the trophy in 1992.
The other CIS major award winners announced during the All-Canadian Gala were UBC’s Abigail Raye of Kelowna, B.C., who captured the Joyce Slipp award as the nation’s best rookie, Alberta’s Jennifer Foster of Pincher Creek, Alta., who received the Gail Wilson Outstanding Contributor award, and Saint Mary’s Sharon Rajaraman, who was named coach of the year and received the Marina van der Merwe award.
The 2009 CIS championship gets under way on Thursday at the University of Victoria. The gold-medal final is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Pacific Time.
2009 CIS WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS
Liz Hoffman award (player of the year): Brienne Stairs, Guelph
Joyce Slipp award (rookie of the year): Abigail Raye, UBC
Gail Wilson award (outstanding contributor): Jennifer Foster, Alberta
Marina van der Merwe award (coach of the year): Sharon Rajaraman, Saint Mary’s
First Team All-Canadians
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Player
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University
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Hometown
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Mandy Avery
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Saint Mary’s
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Halifax, N.S.
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Katie Collison
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Victoria
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Duncan, B.C.
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Mikaela Ellis
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UPEI
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Charlottetown, P.E.I.
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Kristyn Harrington
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UBC
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West Vancouver, B.C.
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Elise Milosevich
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UBC
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Duncan, B.C.
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Robyn Pendleton
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UBC
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Victoria, B.C.
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Effie Petrou
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York
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Oakville, Ont.
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Brienne Stairs
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Guelph
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Kitchener, Ont.
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Jacqueline Trautman
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Alberta
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Delta, B.C.
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Kaelan Watson
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Toronto
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Richmond, B.C.
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Kristine Wishart
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Guelph
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Hamilton, Ont.
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Second Team All-Canadians
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Player
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University
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Hometown
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Brittney Blount
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York
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Manotick, Ont.
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Arron Bonin
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Saint Mary’s
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Halifax, N.S.
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Perri Espeseth
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Victoria
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Duncan, B.C.
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Alex Turrif
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Dalhousie
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Vancouver, B.C.
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Bunny Hughes
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Alberta
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Victoria, B.C.
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Angela Lancaster
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Guelph
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Burlington, Ont.
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Kyesia O’Neale
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Toronto
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Mississauga, Ont.
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Carolina Romeo
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Calgary
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Calgary, Alta.
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Hannah Tighe
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Toronto
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Penticton, B.C.
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Michelle Weber
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Western
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Ilderton, Ont.
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Kaitlyn Williams
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Victoria
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White Rock, B.C.
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