Photo by Adam Gagnon

WATERLOO, Ont. – First-year University of Calgary forward Hayley Wickenheiser was named the Canadian Interuniversity Sport player of the year in women's hockey Wednesday night.

The native of Shaunavon, Sask., became the first-ever Dino to claim the Brodrick Trophy as CIS MVP. A three-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion, Wickenheiser returned to school last September to complete her degree in kinesiology.

Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice


BRODRICK TROPHY (player of the year): Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary

Wickenheiser made headlines nationally when she elected to join the Dinos this season, then made red lights turn on in rinks across Western Canada en route to winning the top individual honour in CIS. In addition to taking home the Brodrick Trophy, she joined former Olympic teammate Kelly Bechard (1998), currently an assistant coach with the program, as UofC players to have been named first-team all-Canadians.

Playing just 15 of 24 conference games due to injury and commitments with Team Canada, the Canadian hockey legend still managed to finish tied for the Canada West scoring lead with 40 points – the fifth-best total in the nation – and led the conference with 17 goals on the season. Her 2.67 points-per-game clip was easily the best in the country, and she was dangerous in all situations at all times. The 5-foot-9 forward recorded four short-handed goals on the year along with five game-winners and finished with a +22 rating – the best in Canada West in all three categories. She helped the Dinos to a third-place finish in Canada West thanks to a 16-6-2 record and 34 points, more than doubling their point tally from a year ago (16), when they placed sixth and out of the playoffs with a 7-15-2 mark.

After a 10-year absence from post-secondary education, Wickenheiser enrolled in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary and plans to attend medical school following her undergraduate degree.

“Everywhere we went this year, we saw the biggest crowds of the year because of Hayley,” said Dinos head coach Danielle Goyette, another of Wickenheiser's former Olympic teammates. “That's a good sign. The more we talk about CIS women's hockey and the more exposure we get, the more we can build the sport.

“She had such a big impact on our team and our young players, not just on the ice but off the ice as well,” Goyette went on. “Players learned habits and what they need to do to be better and how they have to perform on the ice and in the classroom. She is a great role model, she has a 4.0 at school, and everything she does she does as well as she can do. Other players see that and learn that if you want to be successful in life, you need to focus and be the best you can be. Wick is a perfect example of that.”

Moncton forward Mariève Provost of Laval, Que., Concordia goaltender Audrey Doyon-Lessard of Charny, Que., and Brock forward Kelly Walker of Brampton, Ont., were the other nominees for the Brodrick Trophy.

Other CIS major award winners announced at the All-Canadian Banquet at the Turret Lounge on the campus of Wilfrid Laurier University were St. Francis Xavier forward Alex Normore of Bedford, N.S., who was named the nation's top rookie; Brock's Jim Denham of Mississauga, Ont., who claimed coach-of-the-year honours; as well as Mount Allison's Andrea Switalski of Stittsville, Ont., who received the Marion Hilliard Award recognizing excellence in hockey, academics and community involvement.

ALL-CANADIAN TEAMS

The all-Canadian teams were also announced on Wednesday.

Joining Wickenheiser on the first CIS squad were conference most valuable players Provost (AUS) and Walker (OUA), as well as McGill goaltender Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., McGill defenceman Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que., and StFX rearguard Suzanne Fenerty of Cole Harbour, N.S.

Provost capped off her record-setting five-year career with a fourth selection as a first-team all-Canadian. The three-time Atlantic conference MVP led the nation in points (45) for the second straight campaign and established new CIS career marks with 110 goals and 220 points in 105 regular season games.

A two-time Olympic gold medallist alongside Wickenheiser, Labonté returned to the Martlets in 2010-11 after a one-year break from university hockey. She set a CIS career record with 37 shutouts in 67 conference outings en route to her fourth nod as a first-team CIS all-stars in four campaigns at McGill.

Chartrand, a former senior national team member and CIS championship MVP, became a three-time all-Canadian, including back-to-back first-unit selections.

In addition to Normore, the second CIS dream team for 2010-11 is comprised of Brock netminder Beth Clause of Hamilton, McGill blueliner Gillian Ferrari of Thornhill, Ont., Dalhousie defenceman Laura Shearer of Falmouth, N.S., and a duo of forwards including McGill's Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Îles, Que., and Saskatchewan's Breanne George of Saskatoon.

2010-11 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

First Team
G Charline Labonté, McGill
D Cathy Chartrand, McGill
D Suzanne Fenerty, StFX
F Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary
F Mariève Provost, Moncton
F Kelly Walker, Brock

Second Team
G Beth Clause, Brock
D Gillian Ferrari, McGill
D Laura Shearer, Dalhousie
F Ann-Sophie Bettez, McGill
F Alex Normore, StFX
F Breanne George, Saskatchewan

All-Rookie Team
G Nicole Kesteris, Toronto
D Alannah Wakefield, Laurier
D Jenna Pitts, StFX
F Alex Normore, StFX
F Katie Clément-Heydra, McGill
F Laura Brooker, Laurier

-UC-