(HALIFAX, N.S.) – Atlantic University Sport held its 2014
annual general meeting earlier this month in Halifax, N.S. The AUS
office hosted the annual meetings, attended by representatives of
all 11 member institutions, at the Four Points by Sheraton
Halifax.
Phil Currie, executive director of Atlantic University Sport,
chaired the meetings, which were preceded by a one-day marketing
symposium. Accomplished scholar and active business professional
Norm O’Reilly opened the symposium, attended by marketing
representatives from each member institution, with a presentation
on sponsorship and sport marketing.
Several longtime contributors to university sport were honoured at
a recognition dinner following the symposium. UNB sports
information director Maureen Sparks will be retiring at the end of
this AUS season after 33 years in university sport. Retiring
athletic directors Karen Moore (Dalhousie) and Dr. David Murphy
(Saint Mary’s) were also recognized by the membership and
thanked for their tireless contributions.
This year’s annual general meeting followed. Each AGM
includes receiving reports from the various AUS committees,
discussion on any motions coming forward for the 2014 CIS AGM
scheduled for June 9-13 in Vancouver, B.C., finalizing the 2014-15
AUS playing schedules and reviewing sport-specific motions that
come from the coaches’ associations of the winter sports.
“Our Atlantic University Sport annual general meetings are
always a productive time for our conference,” said AUS
executive director Phil Currie. “Now two years into our
strategic plan, our office and our 11 member institutions are more
determined than ever to achieve the goals we have outlined and
succeed in creating Canada’s ultimate student-athlete
experience in Atlantic Canada. We had some very positive dialogue
at this year’s meetings and I am confident that we are
continuing to make strides and positive changes which will benefit
our student-athletes, our fans and all of our
stakeholders.”
Kevin Dickie, director of athletics for Acadia University,
officially began his term as president of the AUS management
council, while Marc Boudreau, director of athletics at the
Université de Moncton, wrapped up a three-year term as
president and remains on the executive committee as past president.
After stepping down last year following a typical two-year term as
AUS president, Boudreau resumed the position for an additional year
following the departure Memorial University athletic director
Michelle Healey from university athletics and the AUS
presidency.
In addition to the above, highlights of other items discussed at
these meetings are as follows:
Men’s hockey playoff format set
Beginning in the 2014-15 season, the AUS men’s hockey
championship format will consist of a best-of-three final playoff
series during the years when the Atlantic conference has two
guaranteed berths in the CIS championship.
During the years when the AUS is guaranteed two or more berths at
the national championship, the AUS championship quarterfinal series
will be a best-of-three, semifinals a best-of-five, and finals a
best-of-three.
The Atlantic conference is guaranteed three berths in the next two
CIS championships being hosted in Halifax. As a result, it is
possible a best-of-three consolation final series will be required
to determine the third AUS team.
If StFX (in 2015) or Saint Mary’s (in 2016) reach the AUS
final series, a consolation series will take place concurrent to
the final series.
Women’s basketball award to be renamed
AUS women’s basketball coach of the year award will be
renamed in recognition of retired Dalhousie women’s
basketball coach Dr. Carolyn Savoy.
Following seven years as head coach of the StFX X-Women, Dr. Savoy
began a 32-year career as the Dalhousie Tigers women’s
basketball coach in 1977. She was named AUS coach of the year four
times (1982, 2001, 2005 and 2007) and under her leadership,
Dalhousie teams won nine regular season AUS titles and five AUS
championship banners.
In 2011, she was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.
The decision to rename the AUS award was brought forward by the
conference’s women’s basketball coaches and passed
unanimously.
2015 Winter AUS championship hosts announced:
The scheduling for the 2014-15 season was concluded and the
following dates and locations have been confirmed for the winter
AUS championship events:
- Dalhousie University will host the 2015 Subway AUS swimming
championship, February 6-8, 2015.
- University of New Brunswick will host the 2015 Subway AUS
women’s volleyball championship, February 13-15, 2015.
- Université de Moncton will host the 2015 Subway AUS track
& field championship, February 28-March 1, 2015.
- Atlantic University Sport will host the 2015 Subway AUS
men’s and women’s basketball championships, February
26-March 1, 2015.
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For further information, visit www.atlanticuniversitysport.com
2014 AUS Annual General Meeting Highlights
Posted: May 21, 2014