The Ubyssey and the Thunderbird Athletic Council takes a look at the best players of the year from (almost) all of the UBC's 25 varsity from the past season. How many of the player of the year awards do you agree with?
Women's Hockey
The Ubyssey: Danielle Dube
Her record this year was impeccable, second only to Alberta's goalie, and in the semifinal game she played with two slipped disks in her neck. She's also a role model for UBC students — living proof that you can do anything as long as you set your mind to it!
Men's Hockey
The Ubyssey: Anthony Bardaro
While injuries and inconsistencies were an issue for men’s hockey this season, Bardaro was able to maintain his scoring touch. In his third season as a Thunderbird, Bardaro racked up a team-leading 27 points and was the only player to average more than a point per game.
Women's Field Hockey
The Ubyssey: Hannah Haughn.
Winning five straight national titles is spectacular in and of itself and everyone on this team deserves an honourable mention. But player of the year definitely goes to rockstar midfielder Hannah Haughn, who has not only won every top award as a collegiate field hockey player — from Canada West Player of the year to CIS Championship MVP — but is also on the Canadian national team and has played nearly 100 international matches.
Women's Volleyball
The Ubyssey: Danielle Brisebois.
In the CIS bronze medal match against UBC Okanagan, which the T-Birds lost, she made 23 kills and finished the tournament second in kills per set. She was named to the 2016 CIS Women's Volleyball Championship All-Stars lineup. The sharpshooting had a substantial impact on her team, and her absence is always notably felt.
Men's Volleyball
The Ubyssey: Alex Russell
In Russell's final year as a 'Bird, he was named to both the first Team All-Canadian by the CIS and the Canada West First Team All-Star. He led the CIS in hitting percentage and scored 276.5 points this season
Women's Soccer
The Ubyssey: Jasmin Dhanda.
She scored eight goals in the Canada West, the second most at the end of the regular season, and was named to the all-Canadian second team. While she isn’t the only player that deserves props— midfielder Taylor Shannik was in a three way tie for most assists in the CIS — she played an important role in keeping the team above water at several points in the season.
Men's soccer
The Ubyssey: Gagan Dosanjh
Following a brief professional stint with FC Edmonton, Dosanjh decided to take his talents to UBC and he didnt disappoint. Throughout this year’s campaign, Dosanjh recorded a whopping 53 shots, scored 7 times and was a big contributor to his team’s third place finish at nationals.
Football
The Ubyssey: Quinn van Gylswyk
The 2015 season was an indescribable success for the T-Birds and van Gyslwyk’s role was crucial. The first-team All-Canadian kicker placed third of all CIS kickers in points and scored field goals for T-Birds when it mattered the most, including the game winner at the Vanier Cup.
Women's Rugby
The Ubyssey: Ciara Malone
Even when the 'Birds weren't shinning, Malone was. Most recently she helped the 'Birds to their first ever Canadian University Sevens championship, scoring three tries in the 33-26 win over McMaster.
Men's Rugby
The Ubyssey: Brock Staller
Staller has been a consistent offensive threat from the 'Birds all year long. He scored 17 of the 'Birds 20 points in their opening game of the the World University Rugby Cup, dominated in both legs of UBC's matchup against the Cal Bears and earned his first Canadian national team cap in the Americas Rugby Championship.
Women's Swimming
The Ubyssey: Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson
Ignore everything Seltenreich-Hodgson has done with the 'Birds this year and the third year swimmer has still had an impressive year. Hodgson will join a number of other T-Birds in Rio, competing in the 200 IM.
Men's Swimming
The Ubyssey: Keegan Zanatta
Zanatta has been winning races and awards all year long. He won both the CanWest and CIS male athlete of the week, earning the second after swimming for four-medals in the CIS National Championships in February.
Women’s Basketball
The Ubyssey: Kara Spotton
The leading scorer for UBC this season, Spotton’s performance on the court earned her the title of Canada West All-Star and allowed her team to make a recovery after the departure of star seniors Kris Young and Harleen Sidhu.
Men's Basketball
The Ubyssey: Connor Morgan
The third year, 6'9" guard and forward averaged 16 points per game and had a season high 34 against Hope International in January. Morgan also dominated defensively, especially in UBC's fifth place finish at the CIS Final 8.
Softball
The Ubyssey: Shayla Kaplen
Kaplen's stats speach for themselves. She has 27 runs on 34 hits and 19 RBIs. She's batting a flat .400 and has one home run.
Baseball
The Ubyssey: Alex Webb
The Academic All-American of 2015, Webb’s performance on the pitching mound has been nothing short of instrumental for the baseball team. With a 1.53 ERA and 80 strikeouts this season, the right-handed pitcher has helped the T-Birds come out on top against various NAIA West teams, including powerful ones like Lewis-Clark State.
Women's Cross Country and Track and Field
The Ubyssey: Kirsten Lee
Lee was consistently a top contender during the cross country season. She was the second T-Bird across the finish line at the NAIA cross country championship meet and has qualified for the Guilf Shore meet in the 1500m.
Men's Cross Country and Track and Field
The Ubyssey: Jesse Hooton
Hooton was consistently UBC's top finisher during the cross country season, finishing tenth in the eight-kilometre race at NAIA championships, earning himself All-American honours.
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