Concordia's Rajotte headlines U SPORTS women's rugby major award winners

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. (U SPORTS) – Concordia centre Frédérique Rajotte was honoured as the U SPORTS women's rugby Player of the Year Thursday morning, as the national award winners were celebrated at the annual All-Canadian breakfast.

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Past Award Winners 

Queen's Gaels No.8 Sophie De Goede captured Rookie of the Year, while Victoria's Angela Thompson earned the Student-Athlete Community Service Award for her outstanding contribution both on and off the playing field and Guelph's head coach Colette McAuley received the Jim Atkinson Award as Coach of the Year.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Frédérique Rajotte, Concordia

Frédérique Rajotte, a fifth-year outside centre, three-time U SPORTS all-Canadian and a two-time RSEQ MVP, scored 15 tries in seven games this season. She is the third-leading scorer in the Quebec conference and the top try scorer.

"This season Fred has been a leader with her play on the pitch, especially on defence where her cover tackles have kept the opposition off our try line," said Stingers head coach Graeme McGravie. "On attack, she continues to be an explosive runner with the ball, leading the league with tries scored. Her support runs have added another dimension to her attacking abilities."

"She's fast and she's shifty," adds McGravie. "She has great all-round skills for her position. She's a smart player. The way she sees the game, her vision, she's head and shoulders above other players."

The 23-year-old native of Markham, Ont., has been part of national team programs for a number of years. Most recently she represented Canada at the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland. Canada finished fifth at the championship.

Nominees
CW: DaLeaka Menin, Calgary
OUA: Sara Svoboda, McMaster
AUS: Joanna Alphonso, StFX 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Sophie De Goede, Queen's

A two-sport athlete in rugby and basketball, Sophie de Goede got her rugby career in U SPORTS off to a tremendous start. Despite missing one conference game while competing for the Canadian 7s team at the Commonwealth Youth Games, de Goede still finished as the team leader in points with 34 while tying for the team lead in tries with four.

After earning a conference all-star nod and being named the OUA rookie of the year, she broke out in the playoffs with a 26-point effort in the conference quarter-final victory against Trent. The daughter of former national Canadian rugby men's captain Hans de Goede and women's Canadian captain Stephanie White, the future is bright for Sophie de Goede.

"Sophie's transition to OUA and U SPORTS rugby has been seamless," said Gaels coach Dan Valley. "Her work ethic is tireless, her desire to improve is almost insatiable, and her competitive nature has a very positive impact on her teammates and consistently elevates the quality of our daily training environment.  It's pretty exciting to think about where her game will be at in four years."   

Nominees
CW: Courtney Holtkamp, Alberta
RSEQ: Lauren Minns, Ottawa
AUS: Danielle Franada, StFX 

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Angela Thompson, Victoria

Angela Thompson's passion for service, academics, and sport has made her a shining example of what it means to be a student-athlete.

The fourth-year education student has been involved in numerous volunteer organizations during her time with Victoria, including Best Buddies, which creates opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to connect through one-to-one friendships with other community members.

Thompson's work with Best Buddies motivated the Regina, Sask., native to pursue a career path aimed at working with people who live with disabilities and work towards building communities that are accessible to everyone. This work has continued with the Canucks Autism Network, where Thompson worked as a support worker to assist, program and encourage children living with autism to participate and feel comfortable within physically active environments.

Along with her contributions to the broader community, Thompson has also been active on the University of Victoria campus as part of the Varsity Council – a group of student leaders playing varsity sports for the Vikes. Academically, Thompson sported a GPA of 6.69 (nine-point scale) last season, and was named a 2016-17 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian.

In addition to all this work, Thompson has also given back to the game of rugby as a coach, leading the Oak Bay High School girls' rugby team to a city and provincial championship.

"Angela has shown great commitment to the Vikes women's rugby program, to community service, and to academics," said Vikes head coach Brittany Waters. "She has successfully balanced a 15 hour/week training schedule, making honour roll, student varsity council commitments, volunteering with people with disabilities, and giving back to the rugby community as a coach. As Vikes, we strive to excel in everything we do, and Angela has embodied this mission over her years as a Vike."

Nominees
OUA: Arielle Dubissette-Borrice, Western
RSEQ: Camille Bergeron, Sherbrooke
AUS: Sidney Corrigan, UPEI 

JIM ATKINSON AWARD (Coach of the Year): Colette McAuley, Guelph

Colette McAuley played for Guelph, was an assistant coach for 10 years, and in her last 11 seasons at the helm, the program has flourished. The Gryphons have won eight OUA championships with her as head coach. Guelph finished the OUA season undefeated at 6-0 and rose to No. 2 in the U SPORTS Top 10.

Currently serving as the Rugby Canada assistant coach for the national senior women's 15s program, McAuley had a busy summer prior to the Gryphons' banner 2017 season. In June, she went on a tour in New Zealand with the Senior 15s and in August, she assisted with the Team Canada side that finished fifth in the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland. She also traveled to Las Vegas in March as an assistant with the Maple Leafs 7s, who played in the International invitational. In August 2014, McAuley was an assistant coach with the silver medal Canadian team at the Women's Rugby World Cup in France.

"Coach McAuley has been an excellent resource for us in identifying and developing young players that have the ability to represent Canada both now and in the future," said Canadian national senior coach John Tait. "She has worked closely with Team Canada and Maple Leafs over the last couple of years, to not only our benefit but to ensure her own coaching development and that Guelph continues to remain cutting edge with their practice. Coach McAuley runs an athlete-centred program that focuses on helping her players reach their potential, while also ensuring that her team continues to remain one of the most successful in the country."

Nominees
CW: Simon Chi, Calgary
RSEQ: Jennifer Boyd, Ottawa
AUS: Mike Cavanagh, StFX 

2017 U SPORTS WOMEN'S RUGBY ALL-CANADIANS

First Team

Second Team