Normore named AUS MVP, Synishin AUS coach of the year
2012-13 AUS Women's Hockey Awards and All-Stars Announced
StFX's Normore named MVP for second year in a row
(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2012-13 AUS women's hockey all-stars and major award winners as selected by the conference's head coaches following regular season play.
Third-year StFX forward Alex Normore was named the Atlantic University Sport most valuable player for the second consecutive season.
Other AUS major award winners announced during the awards banquet this morning at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., were Saint Mary’s University’s Sienna Cooke from Surrey, B.C., who was named rookie of the year; Ashlyn Somers of the Mount Allison Mounties, who was selected as the most sportsmanlike player; St. Thomas forward Kayla Blackmore of Fredericton, N.B., who received the student-athlete community service award; and StFX X-Women head coach David Synishin, who was named the AUS coach of the year.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Alex Normore, StFX
For the second year in a row, the Atlantic University Sport women's hockey most valuable player is Alex Normore of the StFX X-Women.
The Bedford, N.S., native led the AUS conference in scoring once again in 2012-13, tallying 29 points in 21 games played. Her 13 goals and 16 assists were tops in the Atlantic conference, as was her +22 plus/minus rating and total shots on goal (98).
The 2011 CIS rookie of the year, Alex also led the AUS with four power-play markers and was tied for third overall in the country with five game-winning goals. A three-time AUS first team all-star, Normore helped lead the CIS No. 5 ranked X-Women to a first place finish atop the AUS conference with a 23-1-0 record.
“Although this has been her toughest year with regards to injuries and sickness, Alex once again had a huge impact on our team and conference,” said StFX head coach David Synishi. “She continues to set the pace of play and standard for our team, with a relentless work ethic and positive attitude.”
Normore is a two-time CIS all-Canadian and becomes only the second X-Woman to be named the AUS most valuable player.
Brayden Ferguson was the only other StFX player to win the award back in 2007-08. Ferguson is also the only AUS player to win the CIS player of the year award in the same 2007-08 campaign.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Sienna Cooke, Saint Mary’s
Sienna Cooke, a first-year goalie from Surrey, B.C., is the AUS women’s hockey rookie of the year.
Cooke, also named a first team all-star today, started in 19 games this season for the Huskies, posting a 10-9 record and a 1.86 goals against average. She led all AUS goalies in minutes played (1160:10), total saves (506) and her 0.934 save percentage ranked third in the conference.
Sienna was in goal for 10 of the 12 Saint Mary’s wins this season as the Huskies rebounded from a 1-22-1 campaign in 2011-12 to finish in third place this year with a 12-8-4 record.
“Cookie has a real passion and love for the game that is contagious,” says Saint Mary’s head coach Chris Larade. “She has come in and just ran with the challenge she was given. She is very coachable and is also on pace to become an Academic all-Canadian in her rookie year. She has been a great addition to our program both on and off the ice.”
Sienna becomes the third Saint Mary’s player to be named the conference's top rookie, joining Courtney Schriver (2004-05) and Lindsay Taylor who won the award in 2002-03.
Cooke will look to become the fourth Atlantic conference player to be selected as the CIS rookie of the year. StFX's Alex Normore (2010-11) and former Saint Mary's players Taylor (2002-03) and Schriver (2004-05) are the only AUS players to have won the CIS award.
COACH OF THE YEAR: David Synishin, StFX
StFX X-Women head coach David Synishin has been selected by his peers as the 2012-13 AUS coach of the year.
This is the fourth time Synishin, in his 11th season at the helm of the X-Women program, has won the award, taking home the same honour in 2007-08, 2004-05 and 2003-04.
An Antigonish, N.S., native and former X-Men hockey player, Synishin led the CIS No. 5-ranked X-Women to their third consecutive first place finish atop the AUS conference with a near perfect record at 23-1-0.
His StFX squad scored a conference leading 77 goals for, while only allowing just 23 goals against, the fewest goals allowed in the country. The X-Women also ranked first overall in AUS in goals against average (1.09), power-play goals (18), power-play percentage (29.0) and second in penalty kill percentage (90.7).
“David continues to challenge himself as a coach to get better every day, and in the process he continues to build a national championship calibre program at StFX,” comments StFX Director of Athletics and Recreation Leo MacPherson. “Much of his success can be attributed to his focus on our student-athletes, to learn about them, to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and to work with them to further develop their leadership skills.”
Ranked in the CIS Top-10 all season, Synishin has now guided his X-Women into the AUS post-season in all 11 years behind the bench, winning four conference titles along the way (2011, 2005, 2006 and 2008).
He has had two undefeated seasons (2010-11 and 2007-08) and has led the X-Women to seven CIS championship appearances. His X-Women won a CIS silver medal in 2011, the first ever national medal in team history and best result to date for any AUS team at the national stage.
Coach Synishin has a career regular season coaching record of 200-25-3, with an overall record (regular season, AUS and CIS playoffs) of 219-44-3 heading into this year’s Subway AUS women’s hockey championship.
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER: Ashlyn Somers of the Mount Allison
The Atlantic University Sport most sportsmanlike player is once again Mount Allison forward Ashlyn Somers.
This award recognizes an individual who maintains the standards of fair play and treats those around her with respect at all times.
Somers, a fourth-year senior from Murray River, P.E.I., was the first-ever Mount Allison player to be recognized with this award last season.
“Ashlyn has been a quality player for the Mounties over her four seasons and is a great leader,” says Mount Allison head coach Zach Ball. “She plays the game with all the qualities the Most Sportsmanlike Player award represents, and is a very deserving recipient. I am extremely happy that she has been honoured with this award for the second year in a row and we will definitely miss her next year.”
Somers appeared in 22 regular season games this year, picking up four assists and just three minor penalties.
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Kayla Blackmore, St. Thomas
For the second consecutive season, St. Thomas forward Kayla Blackmore of Fredericton, N.B., has been selected as the AUS student-athlete community service award recipient. This award honours the individual who best combines academics, athletics and community involvement.
Also named a first team AUS all-star this morning, Kayla is a four-time Academic all-Canadian and was chosen as the league’s most sportsmanlike player in 2010-11.
She is a past recipient of the Dr. Tony Rhinelander Nature of History Prize for commitment to the field of history and research, and currently maintains a 4.0 GPA in a demanding Education program.
Blackmore, the Tommies team captain, also finished second in AUS scoring this season with 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points.
Kayla also finds time for numerous community projects. She took part in the Brendon Oreto Hockey School, coached the Team New Brunswick Under-17 squad this past year to a gold medal finish and was the driving force behind the ‘You Can Play’ initiative that was launched this year at St. Thomas University as a means of bringing awareness to homophobic discrimination in sport. This program has been very well received and there is talk of the initiative being launched in local high schools as well.
Kayla also led and participated in a number fundraisers throughout the season at home games, including events for breast cancer awareness, mental health and for seven-year-old Hailey Fitzgerald of Fredericton and the Hailey’s Dreams charity.
Blackmore will now represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the CIS Marion Hilliard Award.
FIRST AND SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
The Atlantic University Sport first and second team all-stars were also announced Friday, along with this year's all-rookie team.
First team all-stars:
Goaltender: Sienna Cooke, Saint Mary’s (1st year – Surrey, B.C.)
Defence: Jenna Downey, StFX (4th year – Stratford, Ont.)
Defence: Keirstin Visser, UPEI (3rd year – Crapaud, P.E.I.)
Forward: Alex Normore, StFX (3rd year – Bedford, N.S.)
Forward: Kayla Blackmore, St. Thomas (5th year – Fredericton, N.B.)
Forward: Marie-Pier Arsenault, Moncton (2nd year – Bonaventure, Que.)
Second team all-stars:
Goaltender: Kristy Garrow, StFX (3rd year – London, Ont.)
Defence: Jenna Pitts, StFX (3rd year – Antigonish, N.S.)
Defence: Emily van Diepen, Mount Allison (2nd year – Morell, P.E.I.)
Forward: Katie Brewster, St. Thomas (4th year – Sackville, N.B.)
Forward: Kaitlyn Gallaway, Moncton (2nd year – Stratford, P.E.I.)
Forward: Taylor Dale, StFX (1st year – Oromocto, N.B.)
All-Rookie Team:
Goaltender: Sienna Cooke, Saint Mary’s (Surrey, B.C.)
Defence: Eliza Snider, St. Thomas (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.)
Defence: Natacha Bergeron, Moncton (Berthier, Que.)
Forward: Taylor Dale, StFX (Oromocto, N.B.)
Forward: Schyler Campbell, StFX (Galloway, N.B.)
Forward: Brianna Soper, Saint Mary’s (Oshawa, Ont.)
The 2013 Subway Atlantic University Sport women's hockey championship is being hosted by Mount Allison University, February 21-24, 2013 in Sackville, N.B.
The six participating teams have been separated into two pools based on the final regular season standings.
Pool “A”
1. StFX
4. UPEI
6. Mount Allison
Pool “B”
2. St. Thomas
3. Saint Mary’s
5. Moncton
The 2013 tournament schedule is as follows:
Thursday, February 21st
Game #1: St. Thomas 3, Moncton 2
Game #2: StFX 3, Mount Allison 1
Friday, February 22nd
Game #3: Saint Mary’s vs. Moncton, 3:00pm.
Game #4: UPEI vs. Mount Allison, 6:00pm.
Saturday, February 23rd
Game #5: Saint Mary’s vs. St. Thomas, 3:00pm .
Game #6: UPEI vs. StFX, 6:00pm.
Sunday, February 24th
Championship Game: Pool “A” winner vs. Pool “B” winner, 4:00pm.
All games of the 2013 Subway AUS women’s hockey championship will be available live via webcast at www.AUStv.ca.
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