News

Four Martlets honoured as hockey all-Canadians

Published: 9 March 2011

(L to R: Charline Labonté, Cathy Chartrand, Ann-Sophie Bettez, Gillian Ferrari)

WATERLOO - Four members of the McGill Martlets earned all-Canadian status at CIS women's hockey championships awards gala, held Wednesday on the campus of Wilfrid Laurier University.

Top-ranked McGill opens the CIS tournament against sixth-seeded Alberta on Thursday at 4 pm. The game will be webcast live at www.ssncanada.ca

Goaltender Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., and defenceman Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que., both made the first team, while forward Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Que., and blueliner Gillian Ferrari, each merited a spot on the second dream team. Also recognized was teammate Katia Clément-Heydra of St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que., who was named to the CIS all-rookie team.

McGill, which is the top-seeded squad in the six-team tourney, earned the most all-Canadian selections of any CIS institution and it marks the fourth time that the Martlets have been honoured with four (or more) picks in the same season. The CIS record is five all-Canadians by McGill in 2008-09.

Despite McGill's unblemished 30-0 season against CIS teams, the Martlets were, however, overlooked in voting for any of the major awards. Calgary forward Hayley Wickenheiser of Shaunavon, Sask., was named the CIS player of the year. St. Francis Xavier forward Alex Normore of Bedford, N.S., was named the nation's top rookie; Brock's Jim Denham of Mississauga, Ont., claimed coach-of-the-year honours and Mount Allison's Andrea Switalski of Stittsville, Ont., received the Marion Hilliard Award recognizing excellence in hockey, academics and community involvement.

Labonté posted a perfect 17-0 record in regular-season play, leading all CIS netminders in goals-against average (0.71) and shutouts (7), while ranking second in save percentage (953) and third in wins (17).

Chartrand won the Quebec conference scoring race with 29 points, including eight goals, in only 20 games. She led all CIS rearguards in assists (21) and points and ranked second in goals, finishing one shy of Dalhousie's Laura Shearer, who played four more games.

Bettez, a management junior who missed three games while playing for a CIS all-star team at the FISU world university games, posted an 11-11-22 record in 17 contests and tied for the conference lead in goals. She was also tied for the league lead with three game-winners.

Ferrari, a first-year arts major who transferred to McGill this season from the University of Calgary, is a defensive stalwart and Olympic gold medallist. She tallied five goals and 14 points in 18 games.

Clément-Heydra, an industrial relations freshman, finished second among league scoring leaders with 26 points in 20 games, ranking second in both goals (11) and assists (15). She was third among all CIS rookies in assists, fourth in points and fifth in goals.

2010-2011 CIS WOMEN'S HOCKEY AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS

Brodrick Trophy (player of the year): Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary

Rookie of the year: Alex Normore, St. Francis Xavier

Coach of the year, presented by Coaches of Canada: Jim Denham, Brock

Marion Hilliard Award (student-athlete - community service): Andrea Switalski, Mount Allison