CALGARY – Calgary's Sydney Mercier has been named the Canada West Rookie of the Year, the conference announced Thursday.

It was a special season for the first-year forward, leading all rookies in scoring. She posted nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points this season, stepping into a major role for her Calgary Dinos right away.

Mercier was the second-leading scorer for the Dinos, helping them claw their way to a fourth-place ranking. She picked up steam down the stretch, pushing her team to eight wins in their final 10 games.

Aside from her offensive talents and grit, Mercier showed her all-around value. The Saskatoon, SK product was a plus 13 in the regular season despite her Dinos only posting five goals more than they allowed.

Mercier showed she knows how to shine in the big moments, putting together a special season that gives Calgary a lot to be excited about.

"We are incredibly proud of Sydney and thrilled she has received this recognition from Canada West," Calgary head coach Carla MacLeod said. "Sydney gained confidence throughout the season, which was reflected in her play. She brings engaged energy to the rink every day. She loves the game. She is a student of the game. Her natural hockey sense and willingness to earn her opportunities have proven to be a good combination for both her individually and for our program. She's a great teammate both on and off the ice and we are all excited to see what the future holds for her."

Complete list of this year's Canada West award winners

• Player of the Year: Tatum Amy, Mount Royal Cougars
• Goaltender of the Year: Halle Oswald, Alberta Pandas
• Top Defenceman: Emma Bergesen, Mount Royal Cougars
• Rookie of the Year: Sydney Mercier, Calgary Dinos
• Sportsmanship & Ability Award Winner: Tatum Amy, Mount Royal Cougars
• Student-Athlete Community Service Award Winner: Tatum Amy, Mount Royal Cougars
• Coach of the Year: Howie Draper, Alberta Pandas

-UC-