Koyote and Akpan earn U SPORTS all-Canadian honours

CHARLOTTETOWN (U SPORTS) – Aurora Bowie of the Ottawa Gee-Gees has been named the 2024 U SPORTS women's rugby player of the year. The announcement was made on Thursday evening at the All-Canadian awards ceremony in Charlottetown, host of the 2024 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship.

Other major award winners include Kennedi Stevenson of Queen's, who was named rookie of the year; Willow Beyea of Calgary, who won the student-athlete community service award; and Duncan McNaughton of Ottawa, who won the Jim Atkinson Award as the Fox40 Coach of the Year. In addition to the major award winners, the first and second team All-Canadians were announced. A list of those honorees is included at the end of this release.

Action resumes on Friday as the championship semifinals are set for 1 and 3 p.m. at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place, with the consolation semifinals following at 5 and 7 p.m. on the UPEI Turf Field. Tickets for the event are currently on sale at usportstickets.caand the entire championship can be viewed on CBC Sports digital platforms in English, and RadioCanada.ca/Sports and usports.cain French.

Player of the year – Aurora Bowie, Ottawa

Bowie, a fifth-year fullback, led the RSEQ in points with 88, recording two tries, 36 converts and two penalty goals in six games played. Her 36 conversions set a new Gee-Gees program single-season record, while her points total ranks second in team history for a single season. A product of Stouffville, Ont., and a Master's student in Education, Bowie finished her Gee-Gees career third in program history with a total of 154 points scored in regular season play.

Bowie is the first Gee-Gee to win national player of the year honours, and her first All-Canadian nod, to go along with the four Academic All-Canadian honours she has won previously.

Other nominees: Skye Koyote (STFX), Adelaide Holmes (Guelph), Rachel Smith (UBC).

Rookie of the Year  – Kennedi Stevenson, Queen's

Kennedi Stevenson, an Arts & Sciences major from Glen Williams, Ont., led Queen's in tries, and was tied for fourth in the OUA, with seven on the season. Stevenson's 35 points were second on the Gaels, behind only Lizzie Gibson's conference-leading 100 points, and tied for 10th in the league. Stevenson helped the Gaels to their fifth straight undefeated regular season, going 6-0 in 2024 and outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 455-36.

Stevenson, who was also named a First Team OUA All-Star, is the third Gael to win national rookie of the year honours, following Gibson in 2019 and Sophie de Goede in 2017.

Other nominees: Rowan Gallagher (UPEI), Sierra Hasse (Carleton), Mya Koleba (UBC)

Student-Athlete Community Service Award – Willow Beyea (Calgary)

Willow Beyea's dedication to bettering her community has been recognized with the 2024 U SPORTS Student-Athlete Community Service Award. As a fourth year Arts major, Beyea has excelled academically with a 3.36 GPA while balancing her commitment to the school's student-athlete community. The New Westminster, B.C., product coaches high school athletes through the Junior Dinos program and leads the varsity women's rugby mentorship initiative, helping first-year athletes transition into varsity sports. Beyea also founded the Dinos R.A.P. (Recovering Athlete Peer support), offering psychological support to injured athletes.

Beyea's impact extends beyond campus through her volunteer work with the Calgary Wheelchair Rugby Association and Adapted Physical Activity for Kids (APAK), where she provides support and mentorship. A second-year starter and co-captain for the Dinos rugby team, her leadership and dedication make her an exemplary student-athlete and community leader.

Other nominees: Mia Fradsham (UPEI), Hannah Booler (Concordia), Raven Shulist (Waterloo)

Jim Atkinson Award (Fox 40 coach of the year) – Duncan McNaughton, Ottawa

Duncan McNaughton nabbed the Jim Atkinson Award after having guided the Gee-Gees to an undefeated regular season record in his second season as head coach, and coming within a hair's breadth of the RSEQ title. Ottawa has shown prowess at all facets of the game, which is reflected in the Gee-Gees' three First Team All-Canadians, tied for the highest among any program. The Gee-Gees  outscored opponents by a 367-59 margin this season, and upset Guelph yesterday to advance to the U SPORTS semifinal.

Other nominees: Mike Cavanagh (STFX), Spencer Robinson (York), Graeme Moffat (Lethbridge).

-U SPORTS-

2024-25 WOMEN'S RUGBY AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-CANADIANS

Major Awards

Player of the Year: Aurora Bowie, Ottawa

Rookie of the Year: Kennedi Stevenson, Queen's

Student-Athlete Community Service: Willow Beyea, Calgary

Jim Atkinson Award (Fox40 coach of the year): Duncan McNaughton, Ottawa 

First Team All-Canadians

Second Team All-Canadians

The 2024 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship is taking place October 30 - November 3, 2024 in Charlottetown, PEI.
For the full championship schedule, click HERE.
For more information, click HERE.