OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport and national law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) announced Wednesday the eight finalists for the 21st Annual BLG Awards.
Official BLG Awards website: www.blg.com/blgawards
The BLG Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with CIS.
On Monday, April 29, the eight national nominees will be honoured at the John Bassett Theatre, in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. One female and one male winner will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship, while all finalists will return home with a commemorative gold ring.
The only previous presentation of the event in Toronto, in 2009, proved a resounding success, as more than 1,000 guests were on hand at the John Bassett Theatre. Calgary has played host to the awards gala on 18 occasions, including last year’s 20th anniversary edition, while Vancouver was the site of the 2011 ceremony.
The awards show will premiere on Sportsnet on Tuesday, May 28 (see schedule below).
East: 7 p.m. ET (before Can Soccer)
Ontario: 7 p.m. ET (before Can Soccer)
West: 9 p.m. MT (after Can Soccer / Connected)
Pacific: 9 p.m. PT (after Can Soccer / Connected)
ONE: 10 p.m. ET
“We are extremely excited to be hosting the 21st BLG Awards in Toronto,” said Doug Mitchell, National Co-Chair of BLG, which created the Awards. “We continue to be amazed by the talents and accomplishments of these outstanding athletes. Each year, as we follow the past winners and hear about their accomplishments or what they are involved in, we realize how important their university sports background has been to them. We congratulate the universities who have provided the great education and athletic programs for these students to succeed in their careers.”
“To be nominated for the BLG Awards is one of the most prestigious honours our 11,000 student-athletes can aspire to in their university careers,” said Pierre Lafontaine, chief executive officer of CIS. “This year’s nominees are all exceptional athletes who are also leaders on their campuses and in their communities, and they are truly the future of our country.”
The 2013 nominees for the Jim Thompson Trophy presented to the female BLG Award recipient are basketball player Justine Colley from Saint Mary’s University, hockey player Mélodie Daoust from McGill University, rugby player Britt Benn from the University of Guelph, as well as volleyball player Shanice Marcelle from the University of British Columbia, who was also nominated in 2011.
Colley, a fourth-year guard from East Preston, N.S., was named CIS player of the year in women’s basketball after she led the country in scoring for the third straight season with a remarkable average of 28.2 points per game. The commerce student guided the Huskies to the AUS title and a program-best third-place finish at the CIS championship.
Daoust, a second-year forward from Valleyfield, Que., became the first player in CIS women’s hockey history to be named the nation’s top rookie and player of the year in back-to-back seasons. The physical and health education sophomore captured the CIS scoring crown with a Quebec conference record 54 points in 20 games, guiding the Martlets to a perfect 20-0 mark in league play.
Benn, a fifth-year centre from Napanee, Ont., was voted CIS MVP in women’s rugby after she tallied an OUA-best 80 points and 16 tries in only six conference matches. In the playoffs, the sociology student helped the Gryphons claim the OUA banner and a silver medal at the CIS championship.
Marcelle, a fifth-year outside hitter from Victoria, wrapped up one of the most decorated careers in CIS women’s volleyball history. After being named CIS player of the year for the second time in three seasons, the kinesiology student guided the Thunderbirds to a fifth national title in as many campaigns with the team and was voted a CIS championship all-star for the fifth time.
On the men’s side, the finalists for the Doug Mitchell Trophy are hockey player Lucas Bloodoff from Saint Mary’s, wrestler David Tremblay from Concordia University, soccer player Gagan Dosanjh from UBC, as well as football player Kyle Quinlan from McMaster University, who is nominated for the second straight year.
Bloodoff, a third-year forward from Castlegar, B.C., earned CIS MVP honours in men’s hockey after he led the AUS with 20 goals and 38 points in 28 league games, including a CIS-leading 12 power play markers. The commerce student then helped the Huskies to a pair of second-place finishes at the conference and national championships.
Tremblay, a fifth-year senior from Stoney Point, Ont., wrapped up an unblemished varsity career this winter when he became only the fourth male wrestler in CIS history to claim a fifth gold medal in as many seasons at the national championship. The arts student earned his second CIS male wrestler-of-the-year award and finished his career with an 80-0 record at Canadian university meets.
Dosanjh, a third-year striker from Abbotsford, B.C., led Canada West in goals (12) and points (21) in 14 leagues games en route to conference player-of-the-year honours. The kinesiology student then scored a tournament-high four goals in three matches at the CIS championship and was named MVP of the competition after he guided the T-Birds to the national title.
Quinlan, a fifth-year quarterback from South Woodslee, Ont., claimed the Hec Crighton Trophy after he led the country with 19 touchdown passes in eight conference games while adding seven rushing majors, tops among CIS pivots. The economics student helped the Marauders repeat as OUA champions and reach the Vanier Cup national final for the second consecutive year.
The BLG Awards are based on athletic accomplishments, outstanding sportsmanship and leadership. Each of the 54 CIS schools selects one female and one male athlete of the year. From these nominees, one female and one male athlete are chosen within each of the four regional associations: Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA). To be eligible, a student-athlete must have competed in a CIS sport for a minimum of two years and cannot be a previous recipient of a BLG Award.
All nominees receive a commemorative gold ring and winners are presented with a trophy and a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Canadian university graduate school. Winners are selected by the Canadian Athletic Foundation, a not-for-profit board established for the purpose of administering the BLG Awards and protecting the integrity of the selection process. The CAF Board of Trustees consists of 21 members from five Canadian cities representing major corporations from across the country who are committed to ensuring that Canadian university athletes receive the recognition they deserve.
BLG AWARDS PREMIERE ON SPORTSNET: TUESDAY, MAY 28
East: 7 p.m. ET (before Can Soccer)
Ontario: 7 p.m. ET (before Can Soccer)
West: 9 p.m. MT (after Can Soccer / Connected)
Pacific: 9 p.m. PT (after Can Soccer / Connected)
ONE: 10 p.m. ET
2013 Female BLG Award Nominees (Jim Thompson Trophy):
AUS: Justine Colley, basketball, Saint Mary’s (East Preston, N.S.)
RSEQ: Mélodie Daoust, hockey, McGill (Valleyfield, Que.)
OUA: Britt Benn, rugby, Guelph (Napanee, Ont.)
CWUAA: Shanice Marcelle, volleyball, UBC (Victoria, B.C.)
2013 Male BLG Award Nominees (Doug Mitchell Trophy):
AUS: Lucas Bloodoff, hockey, Saint Mary’s (Castlegar, B.C.)
RSEQ: David Tremblay, wrestling, Concordia (Stoney Point, Ont.)
OUA: Kyle Quinlan, football, McMaster (South Woodslee, Ont.)
CWUAA: Gagan Dosanjh, soccer, UBC (Abbotsford, B.C.)
Past BLG Award Winners:
2011-12: Ann-Sophie Bettez (McGill – hockey) / Marc-André Dorion (McGill – hockey)
2010-11: Jessica Clemençon (Windsor – basketball) / Tyson Hinz (Carleton – basketball)
2009-10: Liz Cordonier (UBC – volleyball) / Erik Glavic (Calgary – football)
2008-09: Annamay Pierse (UBC - swimming) / Joel Schmuland (Alberta - volleyball)
2007-08: Laetitia Tchoualack (Montreal - volleyball) / Rob Hennigar (UNB - hockey)
2006-07: Jessica Zelinka (Calgary - track & field) / Josh Howatson (Trinity Western - volleyball)
2005-06: Marylène Laplante (Laval - volleyball) / Osvaldo Jeanty (Carleton - basketball)
2004-05: Adrienne Power (Dalhousie - track & field) / Jesse Lumsden (McMaster - football)
2003-04: Joanna Niemczewska (Calgary - volleyball) / Adam Ens (Saskatchewan - volleyball)
2002-03: Kim St-Pierre (McGill - hockey) / Ryan McKenzie (Windsor - cross country & track)
2001-02: Elizabeth Warden (Toronto - swimming) / Brian Johns (UBC - swimming)
2000-01: Leighann Doan (Calgary - basketball) / Kojo Aidoo (McMaster - football)
1999-00: Jenny Cartmell (Alberta - volleyball) / Michael Potts (Western Ontario - soccer)
1998-99: Corinne Swirsky (Concordia - hockey) / Alexandre Marchand (Sherbrooke - track)
1997-98: Foy Williams (Toronto - track & field) / Titus Channer (McMaster - basketball)
1996-97: Terri-Lee Johannesson (Manitoba - basketball) / Curtis Myden (Calgary - swimming)
1995-96: Justine Ellison (Toronto - basketball) / Don Blair (Calgary - football)
1994-95: Linda Thyer (McGill - track & field) / Bill Kubas (Wilfrid Laurier - football)
1993-94: Sandra Carroll (Winnipeg - basketball) / Tim Tindale (Western Ontario - football)
1992-93: Diane Scott (Winnipeg - volleyball) / Andy Cameron (Calgary - volleyball)
VIDEO: Nominee highlights
2012-2013 FEMALE BLG AWARD NOMINEES (Jim Thompson Trophy)
Atlantic University Sport (AUS)
Justine Colley
Saint Mary’s University
Sport: Basketball
Year of eligibility: 4
Academic program: Commerce
Hometown: East Preston, N.S.
To say that Justine Colley had one of the best seasons in CIS women’s basketball history might be an understatement. And by the time she wraps up her university career a year from now, the native of East Preston, N.S., will without a doubt be considered one of the all-time CIS greats.
The 5-foot-9 guard averaged a mindboggling 28.2 points per game in league play in 2012-13, an Atlantic conference record and the highest total in the country since former BLG Award winner Sandra Carroll of Winnipeg set a CIS standard with 30.3 per contest back in ‘94-95. It marked Colley’s third consecutive national scoring crown since she placed third in her university debut in ‘09-10, en route to AUS rookie-of-the-year honours. That’s as many scoring titles as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James combined in 27 NBA campaigns.
The youngest of five children (two boys and three girls), Colley played a multitude of other sports in junior high and high school, including volleyball, track and field, cross-country running and badminton. Head coach Scott Munro, who previously coached one of her sisters at Halifax-based University of King’s College, is one of many people at Saint Mary’s who are thrilled Justine ended up picking basketball as her discipline of choice.
In addition to her scoring prowess this season, the commerce student led the country in steals and was tops in her conference in assists, statistics that helped her become the first AUS player in history to claim the Nan Copp Award as CIS MVP. More importantly, she guided the Huskies to their first AUS title since 1977 and to a program-best third-place finish at the national championship. Fittingly, the 21-year-old tallied 33 points and eight steals – both tournament highs - in the CIS bronze-medal match against Calgary.
The all-time Saint Mary’s scoring leader in only four campaigns, Colley has represented Canada at numerous international competitions over the years, including the 2009 junior world championship, as well as the Pan American Games and Summer Universiade in 2011. She should be on the radar once again in the coming weeks as Team Canada selects its roster for the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, Russia (July 6-17).
“Justine’s impact on our team and a basketball game goes far beyond the stats,” says Munro. “She is simply one of the best leaders I have ever been around. Her desire to compete and win separates her from any other student-athlete I have coached. These people who have the total package only come around once in a while.”
Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ)
Mélodie Daoust
McGill University
Sport: Hockey
Year of eligibility: 2
Academic program: Physical & Health Education
Hometown: Valleyfield, Que.
Peter Smith, long-time head coach of the McGill University women’s hockey program, must have an eye for talent. How else can you explain that forward Mélodie Daoust is the third member of the Martlets in five years – and the fourth overall - to be nominated for the BLG Award? The native of Valleyfield, Que., follows in the footsteps of former teammate Ann-Sophie Bettez, who claimed the trophy a year ago, as well as 2009 nominee Charline Labonté and 2003 winner Kim St-Pierre.
There was no sophomore jinx this season for Daoust, who took the CIS women’s hockey world by storm a year ago when she won the RSEQ scoring race as a freshman – and finished third in the country - with 43 points in only 18 league games. In her second university campaign, the 5-foot-6 centre claimed her first CIS scoring crown with a remarkable 54 points in 20 contests, which tied the Quebec conference single-season record set by Bettez in 2008-09. Her 21 goals were good for second in the nation, while her 33 assists were a CIS best and set a new Quebec mark.
Thanks to those eye-popping statistics, Daoust merited the Brodrick Trophy as CIS player of the year. She became the first player in CIS women’s hockey history to be named rookie of the year and MVP in back-to-back campaigns. Behind her stellar play, the Martlets were the only team in the country to maintain an unblemished record in the regular season (20-0).
Daoust, a physical and health education major, has also starred for Canada over the years and is no doubt a future candidate for the senior national team. The 21-year-old scored the winning goal in overtime in the gold-medal game of the 2010 IIHF under-18 world championship in Chicago, Ill., and last January helped the under-22 program triumph at the Meco Cup tournament in Germany. She attended the senior squad camp last September and played in the Fall Festival in Calgary.
“Mélodie is a gifted player and possesses an unbelievable skill set combined with a great mind for the game,” says Smith, who served seven years with the national women’s program and was an assistant coach on the team that won Olympic gold in 2010. “She sees the game as well as any player I’ve coached. Although she scores a lot of goals, her real strength is as a playmaker. A strong leader by example, she practices, prepares and plays with tremendous intensity and focus.”
Ontario University Athletics (OUA)
Britt Benn
University of Guelph
Sport: Rugby
Year of eligibility: 5
Academic program: Sociology
Hometown: Napanee, Ont.
Growing up with three brothers in Napanee, Ont., Britt Benn was subjected to a very competitive environment at an early age. No doubt that healthy dose of “brotherly love” explains in part why she chose the extremely physically demanding sport of rugby.
Like many Canadians, Benn’s first love was hockey. The 24-year-old started playing competitively at age three and kept on going until she was 18, leading her high school team in scoring along the way. It was in Grade 9 that she started to stand out more on the rugby pitch than on the ice. Soon, she was playing for Team Ontario, winning five national championships in the last seven years, and began touring overseas with the Canadian development squad. Last summer, she earned her first cap with the rugby sevens senior national team at the NACRA World Qualifier in Ottawa, helping Canada win the tournament and advance to the 2013 World Cup, which will be held in Moscow from June 28-30.
For the past five years, the Guelph Gryphons were also the beneficiaries of Benn’s exceptional talent. The 5-foot-6 outside centre guided the Gryphons to the CIS podium in each of her five campaigns with the team, including a Monilex Trophy triumph in 2011 and a return trip to the national final last fall. In her final varsity season, the sociology student led the OUA conference with 80 points and 16 tries in only six league games on her way to CIS MVP honours, succeeding former Guelph teammate and 2012 BLG Award nominee Jacey Murphy as the top university player in the country.
Benn ended her remarkable CIS career with five selections as an OUA all-star, four OUA scoring titles and four all-Canadian nods.
Since the end of the last CIS season, the Gryphons standout has starred at two more rugby sevens competitions, helping Canada win the Las Vegas International tournament in February and claiming MVP honours at Rugby Canada’s national university championship in Langford, B.C., in early March.
“Britt is a fantastic athlete who enjoys and excels at the one-on-one battles in the game,” says Gryphons head coach Colette McAuley. “She was able to score at will this season but greatly improved on putting the wingers away as well. She has a lot of passion for the sport and for her teammates and carries a lot of pressure on her shoulders. Her leadership skills have improved immensely over the last few years and she makes a lot of time for the rookies of the squad.”
Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA)
Shanice Marcelle
University of British Columbia
Sport: Volleyball
Year of eligibility: 5
Academic program: Kinesiology
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
Only a few weeks after she wrapped up one of the most decorated careers in CIS women’s volleyball history, Shanice Marcelle will get another crack at winning one of the few awards missing from her impressive university resume.
With her second BLG Award nomination in three years, the Toronto native, who moved to Victoria at the age of seven, extends UBC’s remarkable streak to five consecutive finalists for the Jim Thompson Trophy, including swimmer Annamay Pierse in 2009 (winner), volleyball player and former teammate Liz Cordonier in 2010 (winner), Marcelle herself in 2011, as well as field hockey player Robyn Pendleton a year ago.
In her fifth and final season with UBC, the 6-foot outside hitter was chosen CIS MVP for the second time in three campaigns, was voted to the first all-Canadian team for the third straight year, led the Thunderbirds to the CIS title for the fifth time (their sixth straight overall) and was named a CIS championship all-star for the fifth consecutive year, a sequence that includes a tournament MVP nod in 2011.
Marcelle was as dominant as ever in 2012-13 and once again excelled in all areas of the game, finishing fourth in the Canada West conference in kills (3.33) and points (4.16) per set, sixth in hitting percentage (.302) and seventh in service aces (0.46), while also contributing defensively with 166 digs, good for second on the team. She finished her career as the leading active player in Canada West in kills.
The kinesiology senior makes no secret that one of her dreams is to represent Canada at the Olympics. A long-time member of the national team programs, she has worn the Maple Leaf on numerous occasions in the past, including the youth world beach championship in 2007, junior world beach championship in 2010, Summer Universiade (indoor) in 2011 and Pan American Cup (indoor) with the senior national squad last summer. She should be strongly considered when Volleyball Canada selects its roster for the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, Russia (July 6-17).
“Shanice was instrumental in our team capturing the national championship, not just this season but in all five years that she has been a varsity athlete,” says UBC head coach Doug Reimer. “She has been selected an all-star at the CIS championship in all five seasons, which is an absolutely phenomenal accomplishment. This season was her best as a T-Bird. Her tremendous on court play in all areas was enhanced by her emergence as a strong team leader.”
2012-2013 MALE BLG AWARD NOMINEES (Doug Mitchell Trophy)
Atlantic University Sport (AUS)
Lucas Bloodoff
Saint Mary’s University
Sport: Hockey
Year of eligibility: 3
Academic program: Commerce
Hometown: Castlegar, B.C.
Whether it’s close to home or at the other end of the country, hockey success seems to follow Lucas Bloodoff wherever he steps on the ice.
After playing his major junior career with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, a short three-hour drive from his hometown of Castlegar, B.C., the 6-foot-2, 230-pound forward moved 5,700 kilometres away to Halifax in the fall of 2010 to join the Saint Mary’s University Huskies. Different locations, same result: a trip to the national championship game.
Following back-to-back eight-goal campaigns, the 23-year-old exploded this year in his third university season with 20 goals – including a CIS-leading 12 power play markers - and 38 points in 28 league games, both tops in the AUS conference. His strong all-round game caught the eye of CIS coaches, who rewarded him with the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as the best player in the country.
Under Bloodoff’s leadership, the Huskies went on to reach the University Cup final in Saskatoon, four years after Kelowna’s appearance in the Memorial Cup title match in Rimouski, Que.
Those CHL days bring back special memories for Bloodoff, who got to play alongside younger brother Evan for four seasons with the Rockets. Evan was drafted by the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes in 2009 and is currently playing in the team’s farm system.
Hockey is not the only sport that is a family affair in the Bloodoff household. Both brothers and older sister Vanessa were competitive swimmers growing up, with Lucas still holding regional and club records to this day.
The Huskies standout credits Saint Mary’s head coach Trevor Stienburg for helping him adapt to his new life in Halifax.
“Moving literally from coast to coast was a very big move and Trevor moved out of his home for a month, so I could live there and get on my feet,” Bloodoff says.
“Lucas has an incredible skill set as a hockey player but all his gifts in this regard are fuelled by an incredible conviction to make his team win and show his loyalty to his people. His passion to lead and influence others in pursuit of the team’s best interest is beyond selfless,” says Stienburg of his pupil, who was named humanitarian of the year by the Kelowna Rockets in both 2009 and 2010. “He is a great example of what I consider to be the “perfect son” with his good will, compassion and desire to sacrifice beyond what is expected.”
Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ)
David Tremblay
Concordia University
Sport: Wrestling
Year of eligibility: 5
Academic program: Arts (Leisure Sciences major)
Hometown: Stoney Point, Ont.
If there is such a thing as perfection, Olympian David Tremblay became one of the few CIS student-athletes to achieve it in 2012-13 as he wrote the final chapter of his exceptional university career.
Competing in his fifth and final year of eligibility, the native of Windsor, Ont., who calls neighbouring Stoney Point home, became only the sixth wrestler in history – and the fourth male – to claim a fifth individual gold medal in as many appearances at the CIS championship when he dominated Alberta’s Dylan Williams 7-0 and 9-2 in the final of the 61-kilogram division. Following the national meet, Tremblay was named CIS’ most outstanding male wrestler for the second time, four years after he merited the honour as a freshman.
Thanks to this latest triumph, the arts student completed his varsity career with an unblemished record of 80-0 in Canadian university meets, including a 10-0 mark over a reduced schedule in his final season due to intense training and multiple commitments associated with the London Olympics. In 2011 and 2012, his performances also helped the Concordia men capture back-to-back CIS team titles.
Making his final CIS championship even more special this winter was the fact two of Tremblay’s siblings, younger brother Noel and younger sister Josée, were also competing in the event. Noel finished sixth in his weight category for the Stingers, while Josée claimed silver at 48 kg for the Calgary Dinos. No doubt they all made David Sr., a well-known wrestling coach in the Windsor area, very proud.
Unfortunately for David Jr., his Olympic dream didn’t last as long as he would have hoped last summer as he dropped a heartbreaking 1-0, 1-1 decision against Turkey’s Ahmet Peker in the opening round of the 55 kg tournament. The 25-year-old had punched his ticket for the Games thanks to a dominating showing at the FILA Pan American qualifying tourney in Florida, where he defeated a rival from Colombia and an opponent from Honduras by combined scores of 24-0.
“I’ve coached David for seven years and he’s the ideal student-athlete,” says Concordia head coach Victor Zilberman. “He is committed, highly coachable and leads both on and off the mat. He mentors younger wrestlers, either here at Concordia or at the national training centre, providing them with encouragement and advice. He is a true ambassador for the sport of wrestling and university sport in particular.”
Ontario University Athletics (OUA)
Kyle Quinlan
McMaster University
Sport: Football
Year of eligibility: 5
Academic program: Economics
Hometown: South Woodslee, Ont.
When Kyle Quinlan reflects on his final two years of university football, he might want to pinch himself to make sure he’s not dreaming. Simply put, the standout quarterback from South Woodslee, Ont., followed up on a memorable 2011 campaign with one of the best seasons in CIS history in 2012.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound pivot broke onto the national scene in the fall of 2011 when he led the Marauders to their first CIS championship game since 1967 and the first Vanier Cup title in program history. During a magical playoff run, the economics student merited three straight game-MVP selections, including at the Vanier Cup. He would later earn his first nomination for the BLG Award.
It was a tough act to follow going into his final varsity campaign last fall but Quinlan delivered... and more. In eight regular season contests, he led the country with 19 touchdown passes against only two interceptions. He ranked second in the nation in both passing yards per game (307.1) and completion percentage, with a new single-season OUA record of 68.9. The ultimate dual threat, he also led all CIS quarterbacks with seven majors and 550 yards on the ground. In the process, he set team records for most completions (162), passing yards and TD passes in a single campaign.
Armed with those exceptional statistics, Quinlan was a logical choice for the Hec Crighton Trophy as CIS player of the year. His stellar play helped the Marauders to their first 8-0 regular season since 2003 and a return trip to the Vanier Cup final, which ended in a loss to archrival Laval in front of a record crowd of 37,098 at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Not surprisingly, the 24-year-old has attracted interest from the professional ranks and now hopes to leave his mark on the CFL. After attending the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes’ training camps in 2011 and 2012, respectively, he signed a new contract with the Alouettes in December and will report to his third pro camp later this spring.
“As dominant as Kyle has been on the playing surface, his statistics and output are a small part of why he was the most valuable player on our football team,” says McMaster head coach Stefan Ptaszek. “He is a leader in every sense of the word. His drive and commitment to excellence willed us back to our second consecutive national championship game. I do not have the words to describe how proud we are of Kyle Quinlan. It has been a privilege to work with him over the past five years.”
Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA)
Gagan Dosanjh
University of British Columbia
Sport: Soccer
Year of eligibility: 3
Academic program: Kinesiology
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C.
Gagan Dosanjh might only have three university seasons under his belt but based on his overall soccer experience, he is regarded by his UBC teammates as a savvy veteran.
Before joining the Thunderbirds in the fall of 2010, the native of Abbotsford, B.C., played two years in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC residency program. He was then loaned out to Germany’s Energie Cottbus and spent one season with their under-23 team before returning to Canada to suit up for the Whitecaps Premier Development League (PDL) squad and the T-Birds.
Dosanjh has also represented Canada internationally on three occasions, including at the 2011 Summer Universiade in China, the 2010 World Cup qualifying tournament with the senior national beach team, as well as a World Cup qualifier with the U-17 national squad.
The speedy striker – whom UBC co-captain Marco Visintin calls “the fastest guy I’ve ever played with” – made an immediate impact in his university debut three years ago when he tied for second in the Canada West conference with nine goals and helped the T-Birds to a second-place finish at the CIS championship. Following a subpar 2011 campaign that saw him find the back of the net only twice in 12 league matches, the 22-year-old was determined to bounce back in his junior season. And bounce back he did.
In 14 conference games last fall, Dosanjh led Canada West in goals (12), assists (9) and points (21), en route to league MVP honours and a spot on the first all-Canadian team. He added five goals in as many playoff contests, including a tournament-best four markers at the CIS championship in Quebec City, where he was named MVP of the competition after guiding UBC to the national title.
Growing up, Dosanjh played for the Abbotsford Soccer Association under the tutelage of former Canadian national team player Colin Miller, who was the club’s technical director. Miller has been his mentor throughout his career. His uncle Rav was his first-ever coach, while his dad, Pavinder, was an assistant coach on a number of his teams.
“Gagan had a terrific year as an individual in what was an amazing year for our team,” says UBC head coach Mike Mosher. “He is obviously a talented and valuable member of our team, but the intangibles that he brings are what make him really special: team first, outstanding work ethic, bravery, and humility. When a star player possesses the qualities as a teammate that Gagan possesses, you have a very special individual.”
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