2010-11 AUS major awards and all-stars announced

Photo credit Saint Mary's Athletics

HALIFAX, N.S. - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2010-11 AUS men's hockey major award winners and all-stars as selected by the conference's eight head coaches following regular season play. Fourth-year Saint Mary's defenceman Andrew Hotham was named the Atlantic University Sport most valuable player.

Other AUS major award winners announced today were StFX's Jason Bast of Moose Jaw, Sask., who was named rookie of the year; Cam Fergus of the Saint Mary's Huskies, who was selected as the most sportsmanlike player; Acadia's Kristopher Westblom of Meadow Lake, Sask., who received the student-athlete community service award; and Saint Mary's head coach Trevor Stienburg, who was named the AUS coach of the year for the third time in his career.

THE KELLY TROPHY (most valuable player): Andrew Hotham, Saint Mary's

The Atlantic University Sport men's hockey most valuable player is Andrew Hotham of the Saint Mary's Huskies.

Hotham, a fourth-year defenceman from Barrie, Ont., led all blue-liners in the nation in scoring for the third year in a row. This season, he scored eight goals and added 29 assists for a team-high 37 points, ranking him fifth in overall AUS scoring.

Andrew, selected as the most valuable player at the 2010 CIS University Cup, was the quarterback of the Saint Mary's power-play this year for the second-place Huskies, with seven of his eight goals coming with the man advantage. He finished with a +18 plus/minus rating and his 29 assists led all Atlantic conference players.

A first-team AUS all-star now in each of the past three seasons, Andrew earned first-team all-Canadian status in 2009-10 and was named a second team all-Canadian in 2008-09.

In four seasons of university hockey, Hotham has already racked up 148 career points in 109 career regular season games played.

Hotham season-by-season (regular season only):

2010-11: 27 GP, 8 goals, 29 assists, 37 points
2009-10: 27 GP, 6-33-39
2008-09: 28 GP, 13-30-43
2007-08: 27 GP, 7-22-29
CAREER: 109 GP, 34-114-148

"I have never coached a player with such incredible hockey instincts for the game," said Saint Mary's head coach Trevor Stienburg, "His skill and sacrifice to win are second to none. He truly changed the dynamics on our team."

Andrew will represent the conference at the CIS Championship banquet this month as the AUS nominee for the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as the nation's top player. The Atlantic conference has claimed the past three CIS player of the year awards, including Hotham's former teammate Marc Rancourt, who won the award in 2008-09.

A.J. MacADAM TROPHY (rookie of the year): Jason Bast, StFX

The Atlantic conference rookie of the year and recipient of the A.J. MacAdam Trophy for 2010-11 is StFX X-Men forward Jason Bast.

In just his first year with the StFX program, Jason, a native of Moose Jaw, Sask., played in all 24 games for the third place X-Men, finishing fourth in team scoring with 3 goals and 24 assists for 27 points.

Bast, who's 24 assists ranked second on the team and fifth overall in the Atlantic conference, also scored two power-play goals this season.

"Jason has had a tremendous first season for us, playing in all key situations both even strength and special teams," said StFX head coach Brad Peddle. "He played big minutes each night against many of the opposing teams top checkers. He is an individual of high character and one of the hardest working players on our team both on and off the ice. He has been an outstanding addition to the X-Men hockey program and has already made a case in just his first season as a top end player in the AUS conference."

Jason, who played his junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, becomes the first StFX player to be named the conference's top rookie since 1995-96 when goalie Shawn Silver won the award.

Bast will now look to become just the second StFX player to even be selected as the CIS rookie of the year. Former StFX star Peter Lisy won the CIS award following the 1987-88 season.

THE BOB BOUCHER TROPHY (coach of the year): Trevor Stienburg, Saint Mary's

In his 14th season as head coach, Trevor Stienburg has been selected by his peers as the 2010-11 AUS coach of the year.

Coming off a win at the 2010 CIS University Cup and the loss of several veteran players, Stienburg guided the Huskies to an 18-9-1 regular season record this season and a second place finish in the Atlantic conference standings with 37 points.

Since taking over the Saint Mary's University hockey program in 1997-98, he has led the Huskies to three AUS crowns (2001-02, 2008-09 and 2009-10), claimed two CIS coach of the year awards (1998-99 and 1999-00) and in 2007 he was the head coach of the AUS team that represented Canada and won gold at the 2007 World University Games in Torino, Italy.

Trevor was also the head coach of the 2001 AUS squad that claimed silver at the World University Games in Poland.

This is Stienburg's third AUS coach of the year award and earlier this season, he picked up his 200th career regular season win. His regular season coaching record now stands at 212-154-22.

"Trevor is an intense competitor and does an amazing job balancing the roles of being a player's coach and a firm disciplinarian," said Saint Mary's Director of Athletics Steve Sarty. "He is extremely accomplished and respected, and we are so proud to have him leading our team."

Stienburg and former Huskies' head coach Bob Boucher are the only SMU head coaches to win the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award as the CIS coach of the year. Boucher was named the nation's top coach in 1972-73 as well as 1976-77.

THE DON WELLS TROPHY: (most sportsmanlike player): Cam Fergus, Saint Mary's

For the third year in a row, Saint Mary's forward Cam Fergus has been chosen as the Atlantic University Sport most sportsmanlike player and recipient of the Don Wells Trophy.

Fergus, a fourth-year forward from Brantford, Ont., finished tied for seventh in AUS scoring with 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 28 games this season.

His season included five power-play goals, three short-handed markers, two game-winning goals and a hat-trick.

In four seasons with the Huskies, Fergus has already climbed into the top-50 on the all-time AUS scoring list with 160 points in 108 career regular season games.

Fergus often receives a significant amount of attention from opposing teams as one of the league's top players, yet remains very disciplined. Cam picked up just three minor penalties this season.

"Cam performs as a top player in the country and consistently demonstrates a level of sportsmanship and integrity that has instilled the confidence in our conference to support and nominate him for this award the past three years," says Huskies head coach Trevor Stienburg. "His sportsmanship and integrity are second to none."

THE GODFREY AWARD (student-athlete and community service): Kristopher Westblom, Acadia

Acadia's Kristopher Westblom is 2010-11 Atlantic conference recipient of the Godfrey Award. The Godfrey Award, named after Dr. Bill Godfrey, is given annually to the player who best represents the spirit of intercollegiate hockey by his leadership both on and off the ice and by his conduct throughout the season.

Westblom, a third-year goalie from Meadow Lake Sask., started in 24 of the Axemen's 28 games this season, finishing with a 12-12 record and a goals against average of 3.25. He takes a full course load in the Business Administration program at Acadia, maintains a 3.5 GPA and is an academic all-Canadian.

In addition to his academic and athletic commitments, Kris skates once a week with five and six year-old kids in Acadia minor hockey development nights at the Acadia Arena, a program which runs once a week from October to the end of February. He also works with young goalies in Acadia Minor Hockey on a regular basis and is a driving force in cultivating the relationship between the Axemen program and minor hockey in the area.

He is a volunteer official for the 'Tim Horton's Timbit Jamboree' each year and helps out with the annual Hannah Miller Memorial Hockey tournament, which tournament raises thousands of dollars for minor hockey so children who cannot afford to play hockey can have their enrollment fees paid.

Kris visits local schools throughout the year whether it is to stop in and talk to kids in a classroom with a literacy night or to talk about fair play. He participates in the Terry Fox Run, raising money for cancer research as well as the Annual Axemen Christmas Pancake breakfasts which not only provide a breakfast to the community, but also help generate funds for local schools as well as for the charities that the school supports.

Westblom also volunteers with the 'Hearts on Ice' Cardiac Rehabilitation Fundraiser. This event raised over forty thousand dollars last year to go towards the local Kentville Valley Regional Hospital Cardiac Unit.

"Kris epitomizes what a true CIS student-athlete should be. His efforts on the ice have enabled us to be a competitive team in the AUS the past three seasons," said Acadia head coach Darren Burns. "Off the ice, he is the consummate role model for his peers and the children in the community. Kris is always willing to volunteer his time to give back to the community and never hesitates to take a lead role in helping those around him. He no doubt is an individual that you want representing your university team on campus and in the community. His volunteer resume and academic results are truly amazing. As a parent of a young son I have been fortunate to have an individual like Kris here for my son to be able to follow over the past three seasons."

FIRST AND SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

The Atlantic University Sport first and second team all-stars were also announced today, along with this year's all-rookie team.

First Team All-Stars:
Goalie: Neil Conway, Saint Mary's (2nd year - Painesville, Ohio)
Defence: Andrew Hotham, Saint Mary's (4th year - Barrie, Ont.)
Defence: Spencer McAvoy, StFX (2nd year - St. Albert, Alta.)
Forward: Hunter Tremblay, UNB (4th year - Timmins, Ont.)
Forward: Matt Carter, UPEI (3rd year - Mississauga, Ont.)
Forward: Benjamin Breault, Dalhousie (2nd year - St. Jean, Que.)

Second Team All-Stars:
Goalie: Joseph Perricone, StFX (3rd year - San Juan Capistrano, California)
Defence: Bretton Stamler, UNB (3rd year - Edmonton, Alta.)
Defence: David MacDonald, Saint Mary's (4th year - Baddeck, N.S.)
Forward: Chris Hulit, StFX (5th year - Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.)
Forward: Cam Fergus, Saint Mary's (4th year - Brantford, Ont.)
Forward: Chris Culligan, UNB (2nd year - Howie Center, N.S.)

All Rookie Team:
Goalie: Mark Guggenberger, UPEI (Richfield, Minnesota)
Defence: Christopher Owens, Acadia (St. John's, Nfld.)
Defence: Cullen Morin, Acadia (Meadow Lake, Sask.)
Forward: Jason Bast, StFX (Moose Jaw, Sask.)
Forward: Chris MacKinnon, Saint Mary's (Richmond Hill, Ont.)
Forward: Nick MacNeil, UNB (Creignish, N.S.)

The 2011 Subway Atlantic University Sport Men's Hockey Championship continues tonight at StFX University in Antigonish, N.S.

The UNB Varsity Reds lead the best three-of-five championship series 2-1 can capture its first conference championship since 2008 with a victory tonight. Game five has been scheduled for Friday at 7:00pm at the Aitken Centre in Fredericton, if necessary.

Tonight's game four (and game five if necessary) are available live via webcast at www.ssncanada.ca/games/ .