17吃瓜

17吃瓜鈥檚 Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the 2022鈥�23 season at the annual 17吃瓜 Panther Celebration鈥擜thletic Awards Gala on Thursday, March 30, recognizing outstanding student-athletes who have excelled in sport, the classroom, and the community. 

This year, the 17吃瓜 Alumni Association鈥檚 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award went to Brinten Comeau of the 17吃瓜 Women鈥檚 Rugby team. The Male Athlete of the Year is Elijah Miller of the 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Basketball team. 

The event, held at the PEI Brewing Company, included student-athletes, coaches, and team staff from both varsity and club sport programs along with members of the University community. 17吃瓜鈥檚 varsity program includes Men鈥檚 Soccer, Women鈥檚 Soccer, Women鈥檚 Rugby, Men鈥檚 Hockey, Women鈥檚 Hockey, Men鈥檚 Basketball, Women鈥檚 Basketball, Cross Country, Women鈥檚 Curling, and Track and Field, while 17吃瓜 club sport teams include Men鈥檚 Rugby, Women鈥檚 Field Hockey, Men鈥檚 Lacrosse, Ultimate, Equestrian, and Cheer. 

鈥淐ompetitive sport is an integral aspect of education and a vital part of a full university experience,鈥� said Jane Vessey, 17吃瓜 Director of Athletics and Recreation. 鈥淚 am so proud of our student-athletes鈥� accomplishments. They have made this past season one of the most memorable and competitive seasons in Panther history.鈥� 

The W.A. Ledwell Award is presented annually to a student who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability in the intercollegiate program, academic excellence, and the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and citizenship. This year鈥檚 recipient was Troy Lajeunesse of the 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Hockey team. 

The Gordon and Muriel Bennett Award is presented to a male or female student athlete who, over four years, has best combined athletic achievement and academic excellence. This year鈥檚 winner was Zach Wilson of 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Track and Field. 

In addition to the overall awards, varsity and competitive club team awards were also presented. These included the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Rookie of the Year, J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place, and Principles of Panther Pride awards. 

The J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Awards are presented by the 17吃瓜 Student Union to varsity team student-athletes who contributed to student leadership on their team and on campus. Each coach presents the Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award to the student-athlete on their team, who best exemplify purpose, preparation, respect for people, positivity, professionalism, presence, passion, and perseverance. 

Team Award Winners for 2022鈥�2023 

Varsity

Men鈥檚 Soccer: Kasper Lasia (MVP), Jacob Tweel (Rookie of the Year), Colin Curran (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Jonathan MacKenzie (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Women鈥檚 Soccer: Mia Martell (MVP), Lydia Hamill (Rookie of the Year), Camille King (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Madi Fisher (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Women鈥檚 Rugby: Brinten Comeau (MVP), Ria Johnston (Rookie of the Year), Tessa Hood (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Agustina Cohen (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Men鈥檚 Hockey: Troy Lajeunesse (MVP and Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award), Zac Beauregard (Rookie of the Year), Carson MacKinnon (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award )

Women鈥檚 Hockey: Sarah Forsythe (MVP), Orianna MacNeil (Rookie of the Year), Ruby Loughton (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Lexie Murphy (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Men鈥檚 Basketball: Elijah Miller (MVP), Cameron Brown (Rookie of the Year), John Alex Vos (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Kamari Scott (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award) 

Women鈥檚 Basketball: Lauren Rainford (MVP), Samantha Zoffranieri (Rookie of the Year), Reilly Sullivan (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Sydney Cummins (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Cross Country (women): Katie Richard (MVP), Stefania Angona (Rookie of the Year), Mary Teresa Pitre/Riley Fitzpatrick (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Grace Richard (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Cross Country (men): Jack Roberts (MVP), Campbell Brown (Rookie of the Year), Matt Kozma (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Track and Field (women): Helena Ikpotokin (MVP) and Bianca Boutilier (Rookie of the Year)

Track and Field (men): Zach Wilson (MVP and J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Colin Blanchard and Nathan Mahar (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award) 

Club

Men鈥檚 Rugby: Adam Fitzpatrick (MVP), Riley DesRoches (Rookie of the Year), Chris Knap (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Faris Zakem (Warhorse Award)

Women鈥檚 Field Hockey: Alexis Wood (MVP), Lindsey Doiron and Kali Smith (Co-Rookies of the Year), Jessica Watts (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Men鈥檚 Lacrosse: Top Senior-Logan Saulnier (MVP), Top Freshman-Tyler Dill (Rookie of the Year), Alex Stokes (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Joe Hansen (Defensive Player of the Year), Alex Stokes (Coach鈥檚 Leadership Award)

Ultimate: Christian d'Entremont and Danielle Hayes (MVPs), Adam Conklin and Maddy Cronin (Spirit of the Game), Luke McCarvill (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award )

Cheer: Chlo毛 Betts (MVP), Jessica Tutton (Rookie of the Year), Sarah Comeau (Most Improved) 

Equestrian: Kassie Colavecchia (MVP), Amelia Ritcey (Rookie of the Year), Madison Delorey (Sportsmanship), Hannah Mowat (Coach鈥檚 Choice) 

About the 17吃瓜 Athletes of the Year 

Elijah Miller returned after a stellar 2021鈥�22 campaign and accomplished even more in 2022鈥�23. The third-year floor general posted career highs in points (19.7), assists (6.0), and rebounds (5.3), en route to being named Atlantic University Sports鈥� (AUS) Most Valuable Player鈥攖he first of his career. He was also named an AUS First Team All-Star and a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. Miller broke 17吃瓜鈥檚 record for most assists in a season with 120, passing current head coach Darrell Glenn鈥檚 mark of 118 set in the 1992鈥�93 season. He guided the Panthers to a second-place finish with a 15-5 record and another trip to the AUS final. The team also earned a spot in the U SPORTS Final 8 and nearly upset the top-ranked Victoria Vikes in a 93-92 loss. Miller was an assist shy of a triple-double in his first appearance on the national stage, as he finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. 

Brinten Comeau was a star the moment she put on a 17吃瓜 jersey, but in 2022鈥�23 the accolades really followed her. The fourth-year flanker was named the AUS MVP after guiding the Panthers to a 4-2 record in which they outscored their opponents by a combined score of 246-42. Comeau was also named an AUS First Team All-Star and a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian and finished the regular season with an AUS-best eight tries. But above all, she can now call herself a champion as the Panthers captured their first AUS title after defeating the Acadia Axewomen in a 33-12 thriller. Comeau scored a try to kickstart a dominant second half of the historic win. The team later traveled to Victoria, BC, to compete in the U SPORTS Women鈥檚 Rugby Championship for just the second time in the 17吃瓜 program鈥檚 history. 

Go Panthers Go!