It was an award-filled Thursday for the Varsity Blues women's hockey team as the OUA announced their major award winners and all-star selections on (Mar. 18).

Leading the Blues major award winners was defenceman Gabrielle De Serres, who earned both the OUA East most valuable player and defenceman of the year. The fourth-year management major was a rock on defence for Toronto and is a big reason why the Blues finished with the best record in the conference (12-0-2-2). De Serres led the team and the OUA in assists (10) in the regular season, finishing with a 13 points, good for second on the team and ninth in the conference. The Ville Mont-Royal, Que., native was also selected to be part of the Team Canada for the 2021 FISU Winter Universiade (that was cancelled) and was named to the OUA East all-star team in 2019-20 as well as the OUA and U SPORTS rookie teams in 2017-18.

Joining De Serres are Erica Fryer and Abby Howland, who were named OUA East goaltender of the year and rookie of the year, respectively. Fryer was dominant in net all season, winning 12 games between the pipes for Toronto recording four shutouts and only one loss, which came in overtime. The kinesiology major had previously been an OUA second team all-star and all-rookie team member but has now earned her first major OUA award. During the regular season, Fryer ranked first in the OUA in wins (12), second in goals against average (0.99) and third in save percentage (.954). Howland meanwhile, burst onto the scene for the Blues, putting up two goals and five assists in her debut. The first-year forward earned both OUA rookie of the year and OUA all-rookie team and played in every regular season game for the Blues in 2021-22.

Coach Vicky Sunohara celebrates her second OUA coach of the year award as her Blues had a remarkable regular season. Toronto did not suffer a regulation loss during the season and ranked in the U SPORTS Top 10 for six straight weeks. Sunohara was previously the U SPORTS coach of the year in 2019-20 and is a former two-time all-star as a player for the Blues (1990-92).

Captain Laura Ellis was named the Marion Hillard award winner for outstanding achievement in the areas of hockey, academics and community involvement. The kinesiology major volunteers with the Blues Buddy Up program and at the Sunnybrook Holland Centre. Ellis served as the Blues captain during her senior year, while also contributing four goals and six assists.

Fryer and De Serres would also be named OUA first team all-stars and are joined by forward Taylor Trussler. The Ayr, Ont., native was featured on Rogers Hometown Hockey this past season and leads the Blues in goals (9) and points (16), finishing second in the conference in both categories. The third-year kinesiology major earned her first OUA all-star selection after being named to the OUA all-rookie team in 2018-19.

Fourth-year forward Celine Frappier earned a second team all-star selection, finishing second on the team in goals (6) and points (11) and sixth and ninth in the conference, respectively. The transfer form Mercyhurst University, a Division I school, has fit in nicely with the Blues, and helped the team as a reliable forward throughout the season.

Joining Howland as a second team all-star selection is defenceman Emma Potter. The kinesiology major played in 12 regular season contests, contributing three points to the Blues attack. The Angus, Ont., product is part of an upstart group of 10 rookies that have each played in over 11 regular season games for the Blues.  

Award Winners

East Division
Most Valuable Player – Gabrielle De Serres, Toronto
Rookie of the Year – Abby Howland, Toronto
Coach of the Year – Vicky Sunohara, Toronto / Justin Caruana, Ontario Tech
Forward of the Year – Maria Dominico, Nipissing
Defender of the Year – Gabrielle De Serres, Toronto
Goaltender of the Year – Erica Fryer, Toronto
Most Sportsmanlike Award – Megan Johnston, Ontario Tech
Marion Hilliard Award – Laura Ellis, Toronto

West Division
Most Valuable Player – Carley Olivier, Waterloo
Rookie of the Year – Keiara Raitt, Waterloo
Coach of the Year – Shaun Reagan, Waterloo
Forward of the Year – Leah Herrfort, Waterloo
Defender of the Year – Carley Olivier, Waterloo
Goaltender of the Year – Mikayla Schnarr, Waterloo
Most Sportsmanlike Award – Megan Fergusson, Waterloo / Lauren Ianni, Guelph
Marion Hilliard Award – Sophie Young, Western

All-Stars

East Division

First Team
Forward – Maria Dominico, Nipissing
Forward – Taylor Trussler, Toronto
Forward – Savannah Bouzide, Rams
Defence – Gabrielle De Serres, Toronto
Defence – Madison Laberge, Nipissing
Goaltender – Erica Fryer, Toronto

Second Team
Forward – Brianna Gaffney, Nipissing
Forward – Natalie Wozney, Ontario Tech
Forward – Céline Frappier, Toronto
Defence – Nicole Posesorski, Queen's
Defence – Caroline Eagles, York
Goaltender – Makenzy Arsenault, Queen's
Goaltender – Brooke Vial, Ontario Tech

All-Rookies
Forward – Abby Howland, Toronto
Forward – Katie Chomiak, Nipissing
Forward – Sophie Hudson, Queen's
Defence – Emma Potter, Toronto
Defence – Sara McLennan, York
Goaltender – Zoe McGee, Ontario Tech

West Division

First Team
Forward – Leah Herrfort, Waterloo
Forward – Cassidy Maplethorpe, Brock
Forward – Megan Fergusson, Waterloo
Defence – Carley Olivier, Waterloo
Defence – Rylee Davison, Guelph
Goaltender – Mikayla Schnarr, Waterloo

Second Team
Forward – Maggie Peterson, Windsor
Forward – Lauren Ianni, Guelph
Forward – Krystin Lawrence, Waterloo
Defence – Ashley Maitre, Windsor
Defence – Trisha Cho, Waterloo
Goaltender – Cohen Myers, Wilfrid Laurier

All-Rookies
Forward – Keiara Raitt, Waterloo
Forward – Jaime Magoffin, Guelph
Forward – Madelaine DesRosier, Western
Defence – Emily Ignagni, Western
Defence – Lyndsy Acheson, Waterloo
Goaltender – Martina Fedel, Guelph