Two Redmen earn all-Canadian honours, Dorion named top rearguard in nation

THUNDER BAY, Ont. (CIS) - McGill's Marc-André Dorion of St-Hubert, Que., was named defenceman of the year in men's hockey, Wednesday night. He was joined on the CIS all-Canadian squad by teammate Francis Verreault-Paul, marking only the second time in team history that McGill merited double all-Canadian honours in the same season.

The only other time that had happened was in 1999-00, when forward Mathieu Darche and defenceman David Bahl were both picked to the CIS first team.

Other CIS major award winners announced during the All-Canadian Banquet at the Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay included UNB forward Hunter Tremblay, who was named CIS player of the year. The native of Timmins, Ont., became the second Varsity Red in three years and the third consecutive skater from the Atlantic conference to claim the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy. Former UNB great Rob Hennigar was honoured in 2007-08, while Saint Mary's Marc Rancourt was last season's CIS MVP.

University Cup website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mice

Manitoba's Steve Christie of Winnipeg, was selected as the country's best goaltender; UPEI forward Jared Gomes of Brampton, Ont., who received the Clare Drake award presented to the rookie of the year; UQTR right winger Francis Guérette-Charland of Victoriaville, Que., who claimed the R.W. Pugh award as the nation's most sportsmanlike player; UNB's Gardiner MacDougall of Bedeque, P.E.I., who captured the Father George Kehoe memorial award as coach of the year; and Alberta forward Tyler Metcalfe of Headingley, Man., who received the Dr. Randy Gregg award recognizing his excellence in hockey, academics and community involvement.

The defenceman and goaltender of the year awards were both introduced this season.

The 2010 Cavendish University Cup tournament, presented by TBay Tel and hosted by Lakehead University, gets underway Thursday at the Fort William Gardens and culminates Sunday with the national final at 7 p.m., live on Rogers Sportsnet and SSN Canada.

SENATOR JOSEPH A. SULLIVAN TROPHY (player of the year): Hunter Tremblay, UNB

McGill right winger Francis Verreault-Paul of Mashteuiatsh, Que., and Alberta right winger Chad Klassen of Saskatoon were the other finalists for the Sullivan trophy.

DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR: Marc-André Dorion, McGill

Dorion, a 22-year-old physical education major, was named to the first all-Canadian team after he led all OUA defencemen in scoring and finished third among CIS blueliners with 36 points, including seven goals, in 25 league games.

The 5-foot-11, 188-pound sophomore, who was invited to the Dallas Stars rookie camp in 2008, led McGill to second place overall in Ontario with a 22-6-0 mark as the Redmen set team records for most conference wins and overall victories (34) in a single campaign. McGill was the highest-scoring team in the nation this season with 156 goals in 28 contests and maintained the third best defensive record in the country with only 71 goals against.

"Marc-André is a very poised defenceman who has great vision and a positive attitude," said McGill head coach Jim Webster. "He is an extremely fit, strong skater with good mobility and logs lots of ice time."

GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR: Steve Christie, Manitoba

CLARE DRAKE AWARD (rookie of the year): Jared Gomes, UPEI

R.W. PUGH AWARD (most sportsmanlike player): Francis Guérette-Charland, UQTR

FATHER GEORGE KEHOE MEMORIAL AWARD (coach of the year): Gardiner MacDougall, UNB

DR. RANDY GREGG AWARD (outstanding student-athlete): Tyler Metcalfe, Alberta

All-Canadian Teams

The all-Canadian teams were also announced on Wednesday.

Joining Tremblay, Dorion and Christie on the first CIS squad were conference most valuable players Verreault-Paul (OUA East) and Klassen (Canada West), as well as AUS top defenceman Hotham.

Verreault-Paul led OUA in scoring and was second in the nation during the regular season with 54 points, and tied for the CIS lead with 25 goals. Klassen won the Canada West scoring race with 46 points (18-28-46), while Hotham was the highest-scoring rearguard in the country with 39 points (6-33-39).

Klassen and Hotham were both second-team all-Canadians a year ago.

The second CIS unit for 2009-10 is comprised of Hartigan, Fecho, UNB defenceman Luke Gallant of Bedford, N.S., UNB forward John Scott Dickson of Barrie, Ont., Waterloo left winger Chris Ray of Kelowna, B.C., and Alberta forward Derek Ryan of Spokane, Wash., all first-time all-Canadians.

2009-2010 CIS MEN'S HOCKEY AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS

Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy (player of the year): Hunter Tremblay, UNB

Defenceman of the year: Marc-André Dorion, McGill

Goaltender of the year: Steve Christie, Manitoba

Clare Drake award (rookie of the year): Jared Gomes, UPEI

R.W. Pugh award (most sportsmanlike player): Francis Guérette-Charland, UQTR

Father George Kehoe memorial award (coach of the year): Gardiner MacDougall, UNB

Dr. Randy Gregg award (outstanding student-athlete): Tyler Metcalfe, Alberta

First Team

Position           Athlete                                    University       Year    Hometown                  Faculty

Goaltender       Steve Christie               Manitoba         4          Winnipeg, Man.                       Kinesiology & Recreation Management

Defence           Marc-André Dorion     McGill             2          St-Hubert, Que.                        Physical & Health Education

Defence           Andrew Hotham          Saint Mary's    3          Barrie, Ont.                  Commerce

Forward           Chad Klassen               Alberta             4          Saskatoon, Sask.          Physical Education & Recreation

Forward           Francis Verreault-Paul McGill             2          Mashteuiatsh, Que.      Science, General Kinesiology

Forward           Hunter Tremblay         UNB                3          Timmins, Ont.              BBA

Second Team

Goaltender       Keaton Hartigan           Waterloo          2          Kitchener, Ont.                        Sociology

Defence           Kyle Fecho                  Alberta             4          Hanna, Alta.                Business

Defence           Luke Gallant                UNB                3          Bedford, N.S.              BBA

Forward           John Scott Dickson      UNB                5          Barrie, Ont.                  BSc Kinesiology

Forward           Chris Ray                     Waterloo          3          Kelowna, B.C.             Environment & Business

Forward           Derek Ryan                 Alberta             3          Spokane, Wash.                       Physical Education & Recreation

All-Rookie Team

Goaltender       Neil Conway                Saint Mary's    1          Concord, Ohio             Commerce

Defence           Ben Shutron                 UNB                1          Orleans, Ont.               BND

Defence           Scott Aarsen                Western           1          London, Ont.               King's College

Forward           Sean Ringrose              Alberta             1          Edmonton, Alta.          Physical Education & Recreation

Forward           Thomas Kiriakou         Guelph             1          Richmond Hill, Ont.    B.A. - History

Forward           Jared Gomes                UPEI                1          Brampton, Ont.                        BBA

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For more information contact:

Earl Zukerman (514-398-7012)