Lavoie, Lanteigne Take Home Coastal Graphics Athlete of the Year

Lavoie, Lanteigne Take Home Coastal Graphics Athlete of the Year

The St. Thomas University Athletics Banquet was held at the Fredericton Inn on March 22, as the Tommies celebrated yet another successful season. The Tommies hosted two ACAA Championships and brought home two ACAA silver medals. During the banquet, STU Athletics named their major award winners and team award winners, such as the Costal Graphics Athletes of the Year, LeRoy Washburn Community Service Award and more. 

Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year

Abby Lanteigne (Fredericton, NB) of the Women's Volleyball team took home the 2022-23 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year Award after a sensational season in her second year as a Tommie. Her 2022-23 campaign earned her a spot on the ACAA All-Conference team, a CCAA All-Canadian and the ACAA Player of the Year. 

Abby quietly put up some of the best numbers in the ACAA while on track to leading the Tommies to the best record at 14-4. In 18 games, Abby recorded two and a half kills per set, ranking eighth in the league. Her 0.246 hitting percentage placed her fourth while her 3.02 digs per set had her third. Finally, her three points per set also had her in the top-10.   

Her progression has noticeably come along way after winning the 2021-22 ACAA Rookie of the Year while also making the ACAA All-Conference Second Team. Her stats improved in nearly every category, including 48 more points this season.  

  

Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year

Geoffrey Lavoie (Ottawa, ON) of the Men's Basketball team was named the 2022-23 Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year, adding to an impressive list of accomplishments throughout his career as a Tommie. This season alone, Lavoie was named to the ACAA All-Conference team, a CCAA All-Canadian and ACAA Player of the Year. 

Geoffrey ended the season strong to help the Tommies to the best record in the ACAA. In February, Lavoie scored at least 15 points in each game which included a 31-point performance against the UNBSJ Seawolves. Lavoie’s total stats to end the season consisted of 17 points per game, sixth in the ACAA, along with 6 rebounds per game.  

Lavoie, in four seasons, has two ACAA All-Canadian awards, as well as two ACAA All-Conference appearances, ACAA All-Conference Second team and ACAA Player of the Year. 

LeRoy Washburn Community Service Award

Named after former St. Thomas Director of Athletics LeRoy Washbrun, who was an extremely active member of the community, this award goes to the team that makes the greatest impact in the community. This year's LeRoy Washburn Community Service Award was awarded to the Women's Soccer team. This year, the Women's Soccer helped the community by: 

  • Served as field marshals at the Wanderers Friendship Cup U12 Soccer Tournament   

  • Served as field marshals at the NBIAA Provincial Soccer Championship   

  • Coached FDSA youth summer soccer teams   

  • Helped run activities at the FDSA Mini Soccer Jamboree (6 players, 4hrs)  

  • Volunteered at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery's Nutcracker Tea   

  • Volunteered at and helped prepare for the Union of Municipalities NB Annual Conference   

  • Coached youth at the Multicultural Association of Fredericton   

  • Coached youth at Kingsclear Consolidated School   

  • Collected goods for STU Food Drive   

  

John Frederick Walls Award

The John Frederick Walls Memorial Award is presented to a male of good character who has actively participated in university athletics, maintained a good academic standing and represented the athletic ideal.  The award honors the memory of John Frederick Walls, a Chatham NB native who attended St. Thomas University from 1970 to 1974.  Walls was a goaltender with the junior varsity hockey Tommies, active in intramurals and a dedicated student.  He was killed in an automobile accident in the summer of 1974, shortly after his graduation. 

Adam McDougall (Calgary, AB) of the Men's Volleyball team was named this season's John Frederick Walls Award winner. McDougall served as the Tommies' co-captain this season. McDougall was vital to the Tommies' success, a Dean’s List student, a leader on his team and a member of STUSAC. 

  

Cathy Wadden Commitment Award

The Cathy Wadden Commitment Award is presented to a female student-athlete of good character that has actively participated in university athletics, maintained a good academic standing and represented the athletic ideal. The award honors St. Thomas Athletics’ Department Office Coordinator Cathy Wadden for her 25+ years of dedicated service to STU student athletes.  

This season's recipient was Caroline Pietroski (Etobicoke, ON) of the Women's Hockey team. Pietroski, a goaltender, was a Dean’s List student, a leader on her team, co-President of STUSAC and one of the best goalies in the Atlantic University Sport throughout her time as a Tommie. 

  

Team Awards

 

Cross Country

  • Most Valuable Athlete - Tristan Eisnor (Miramichi, NB) 

Women's Rugby

  • Rookie of the Year - Alexis Falconer (Miramichi, NB) 
  • Most Improved Player - Savannah Simon (Eel Ground First Nation, NB) 

  • Heather Leonard Memorial Award - Cassidy Gordon (Mermaide, PE) 

  • Most Valuable Player - Sarah Hetherington (Saint John, NB) 

Women's Soccer 

  • Rookie of the Year - Rachel Haanstra (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Unsung Hero - Virginia Phillips (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Mary Cronin Memorial Leadership Award - Abby Cameron (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Most Valuable Player - Kaleigh Roberts (Moncton, NB) 

Men's Soccer 

  • Rookie of the Year - Samuel Choiniere (Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QU) 

  • Unsung Hero - Chidubem Nkoloagu (Burnaby, BC) 

  • Leadership Award - Josh Oakes (Kitchener, ON) 

  • Most Valuable Player - Brett Springer (Bamberg, ON) 

Women's Hockey

  • Rookie of the Year - Amy Dvernichuk (Regina, SK) 

  • Most Improved Player - Natalie McKay (Salmon River, NS) 

  • Top Defensive Player - Aislynn Byers (Melancthon, ON) 

  • Most Valuable Player - Caroline Pietroski (Etobicoke, ON) 

Men's Volleyball 

  • Rookie of the Year - Raph Fiset (Calgary, AB) 

  • Most Improved Player - Mason Brewster (Bathurst, NB) 

  • Most Valuable Player - Adam McDougall (Calgary, AB) 

Women's Volleyball 

  • Rookie of the Year - Kathleen Boyle (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Coach's Choice Award - Julia Campbell (Sussex, NB) & Danica Godin (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Unsung Hero - Madison MacGregor (Truro, NS) 

  • Most Valuable Player - Abby Lanteigne (Fredericton, NB) 

Women's Basketball 

  • Rookie of the Year - Charlee Connors (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Leadership Award - Emily Owens (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Top Defensive Player - Vanessa Soffee (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Most Valuable Player - Vanessa Soffee (Fredericton, NB) 

Men's Basketball 

  • Rookie of the Year - Tre Campbell (Scarborough, ON) 

  • Most Improved Player - Harrison Florean (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Top Defensive Player - Gayo Isaya (Fredericton, NB) 

  • Most Valuable Player - Geoffrey Lavoie (Ottawa, ON)