Blanchard Reaps Awards

Women's volleyball star Jill Blanchard made a killing at the University of New Brunswick's Celebration of Excellence Awards night.

Blanchard won two major awards: the Garnet Copeland Award as UNB's top all-around student athlete and the Colin B. Mackay Shield as the school's female athlete of the year.

"It's definitely a huge honour just to be recognized among such great student athletes at UNB," the Saint John native said following the smooth 90-minute awards gala, which moved from the Fredericton Inn to The Playhouse this year.

UNB hockey scoring wizard Hunter Tremblay from Timmins, Ont., secured the James Downey Shield as male athlete of the year.

The UNB/Pepsi rookie of the year awards went to swimmer Danielle Losier of Fredericton and hockey blueliner Ben Shutron from Orleans, Ont.

The Copeland takes into consideration that "the individual has shown excellence as a student, citizenship in the community and is a first-class athlete."

Blanchard is all of the above.

She was an Academic All-Canadian last year with a 3.7 grade point average in biochemistry. This year, she was named an AUS first team all-star and was the AUS Terese Quigley nominee to the CIS. She was also UNB's nominee for the prestigious AUS James Bayer Award and chosen a CIS second-team All-Canadian.

"Being an athlete at UNB is so much more than just performing on the playing field. It's about working hard in the community and working hard in the classroom," said Blanchard after earning the Copeland award over fellow finalists Kyle Bailey of the men's hockey team and Jacob Kilpatrick of the men's volleyball squad.

It just feels natural doing all that stuff - volunteering and everything. It doesn't feel forced or anything," said Blanchard, who praised her parents, Carl and Cathy, for instilling solid values in her. "You don't do the work for the awards. You do the work because you love it."

Blanchard was chosen top female athlete over teammate Tanya Paulin, women's basketball player Amanda Sharpe, who won the Director's Award, and Losier.

From the stage, Blanchard addressed the runner-ups: "You had great seasons and any one of you guys could have been up here."

One of Blanchard's former teammates, Melanie Doucette, had won the Mackay Shield four of the previous five years - the only four-time recipient.

"Melanie taught me everything she knew before she left," Blanchard said with a chuckle. "This is definitely a close-knit team. The girls on the team are my best friends."

Three hockey V-Reds were in the running for male athlete of the year - Tremblay, Luke Gallant and John-Scott Dickson - along with soccer stalwart Ken Morrison.

Tremblay had a career-best season with 57 points en route to being named AUS most valuable player and first team all-star, and CIS first-team All-Canadian and CIS player of the year.

"I'd like to thank my teammates," Tremblay said. "I tend to get a lot of the accolades, but all the individuals sitting right here have been a huge part of our team's success over the past three years."

The V-Reds had a year to remember until being bounced in three straight games by St. FX in the playoffs.

"Obviously we didn't get to where we wanted to go, as far as a national championship was concerned," Tremblay said, "but it's nice to be recognized individually. I know how hard I've worked all year and all (last) summer, so to be recognized at the end of the year, it always feels good."

Tremblay plans to return for a fourth season - UNB's first of two consecutive years as host of the nationals.

"You always want to keep your options open and explore all options that are worthwhile," he said, "but as of now, I'm very comfortable in coming back for my fourth and final year."

He likes the V-Reds' chances, too.

"We're only losing John-Scott Dickson. He was obviously a huge part of our team, but when you've got 99 per cent of your team coming back and you went 27-1, things are looking good."

Former UNB all-star goaltender Gene Chiarello, who won a battle with brain cancer, delivered a moving, funny and memorable 20-minute speech about his ordeal, which included 18-hour chemotherapy sessions five days a week for six months. He came back to earn a bachelor of arts degree and play hockey. Next month, he will graduate with his bachelor of law degree.

"I hang out with Gino quite a bit," Tremblay said. "He jokes about it a lot, but it is a special story and you really can draw inspiration from it. If you're having a tough day and you go to the rink and you're miserable, just think of a guy like that and what he's been through, then wipe the frown right off your face."

Losier had an outstanding first term academically, posting a 4.1 grade point average in kinesiology. She was an AUS first team all-star with three gold medals and was named rookie of the meet at the AUS championship. She was later named AUS rookie of the year, AUS swimmer of the year and was a CIS finalist in the 50-metre breaststroke.

"This is a huge honour," said Losier, who got the nod over volleyball freshmen Rebecca Glancy and Emma Hunt.

Losier thanked numerous people, topped off by coaches Dan Monid and Paula Stewart. Monid filled in for Stewart this season.

I think I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say Dan has been an inspiration to us this year," Losier said. "He's been an amazing coach. What he's taught us goes so far beyond swimming and we'll all miss him very much next year."

She also thanked her teammates "for making the environment, in and out of the pool, so much fun."

Shutron received the male rookie of the year over teammate Chris Culligan and wrestler Ben Sayah.

Shutron was the top CIS rookie defenceman in points and plus-minus - both 27. A team leader in shot blocks, he was named to both the AUS and CIS all-rookie teams.

"I'd like to thank my teammates, coaches and trainers for supporting me throughout the year," Shutron said.

"Without them, I wouldn't be accepting this award. I'm proud to be a Varsity Red and really happy I joined such a good program."