LU honours top athletes at awards ceremony

The names on the plaques may read Scott Dobben and Tasia McKenna, but all they see are the names of their teammates.

Dobben, a fifth-year senior with the men’s hockey team, and McKenna, a fourth-year guard with the women’s basketball team, on Tuesday were named Lakehead University’s male and female athletes of the year, respectively.

"As soon as we finished up here coach (Jon Kreiner) came up and was talking to us about how as much as the award ceremony ends up being for specific people, it’s actually a reflection of our team," said McKenna, whose teammate Corina Bruni was named female freshman of the year.

"Corina and I being awarded these awards was obviously not just a reflection of how we were playing, but a reflection of how well our team had done, for not just this year, but last year as well, and just how we grew as a team."

McKenna, who beat out Nordic skier Anna Crawford, helped lead the Thunderwolves to a third-place finish in the OUA West, was named to the conference first all star team and averaged 15.7 points a night coming out of the back court.

It marked the second straight year the Timberlea, N.S. native won the award and despite the déjà vu feeling, she said she was probably the most surprised person in the room when her name was called.

"I wasn’t it expecting at all," said McKenna, who plans to return to Thunder Bay for one last season in the blue and gold. "I know that I was up against a lot of other females who were very much deserving of the award. It’s just an honour to receive it for a second year in a row."

For Dobben it’s the end of the road at Lakehead, following a short, but spectacular, two-year run.

A former Ottawa Senators draft pick who spent time in the American Hockey League, had no idea he was even up for male athlete of the year.

"I’m just flabbergasted, I guess," Dobben said. "I think this year I just felt more comfortable. Last year was kind of to get used to things. I had the year off the year before, so getting back into the swing of things was a bit of a transition. This year I just tried to grow from last year."

Dobben, who piled up 52 points, including non-conference and playoff games, helped the Wolves to within a game of the national championship final, bowing out 5-3 to Alberta two weeks ago.

He said it’s hard to believe it’s over.

"It has been short and sweet. It just seems like yesterday I was coming here as a red-shirt and sitting out. Now it’s all over. It’s been a fast, but very enjoyable ride," he said.

Wrestler Preston Mikulasik took home male rookie of the year honours.

Dobben’s teammate and fellow graduate Dan Speer took home the Argus Award, for the best graduating athlete and basketball’s Yoorie Sahlia, who won the Hank Akervall Award for combining school with community service.

It was the close of an exceptional year in sports for the Wolves. While perennial national contenders like the men’s wrestling team, which tied for top spot in the OUA, and the women’s Nordic team, which won nationals for a seventh straight year, the basketball teams both rose to their potential.

The men’s team made nationals for the first time in 33 years, while the women had a strong showing and earned a playoff spot, winning their first postseason game in more than a decade.

LU’s athletic director gave credit to his collective coaching staffs, saying they’re willing to put the work in to succeed.

The best may be yet to come, he said.

"I think right now we’re in great shape in three or four of our sports to win national championships over the next two or three years," Warden said.

The individual team awards are as follows:

Men's Basketball
Rookie of the Year: Ryan Thomson
Most Improved Player: Nathan Wainwright
Best Defensive Player: Greg Carter
Most Valuable Player: Jamie Searle

Women's Basketball
Rookie of the Year: Corina Bruni
Most Improved Player: Lindsay Druery, Emily Ross
Best Defensive Player: Lisa Styles
Amanda Nesbitt Award: Lindsay Druery
Most Valuable Player: Tasia McKenna

Cross Country Running
Most Valuable Runner – Male: Andrew Nixon
Most Valuable Runner - Female: Tess Naroski

Nordic Skiing
Rookie of the Year- Female: Kara Jaspers
Most Valuable Skier - Female: Anna Crawford
Rookie of the Year - Male: Greg Kilroy
Most Valuable Skier - Male: Greg Kilroy
Nordic Skiing Sportsperson of the Year: Anna Crawford

Men's Hockey
Rookie of the Year: Victor Anilane
Most Improved Player: Kris Hogg
Best Work Ethic: Jordan Smith
Best Defensive Player: Kalvin Sagert
Most Valuable Player: Scott Dobben

Indoor Track and Field
Most Valuable Runner – Male: Alastair Brown
Most Valuable Runner – Female: Tess Naroski
Eron Williams Memorial Spirit Award: David Witiluk

Women's Volleyball
Rookie of the Year: Jenna McDonald
Coaches Award: Jenifer LaFrance, Karla Brayshaw
Corrine Kollman Award: Michelle Cournoyer
Most Improved: Sarah Reid
Most Valuable Player: Vanessa Chorkawy

Men's Wrestling
Rookie of the Year: Preston Mikulasik
Most Improved Wrestler: Dustin Helwig
Most Valuable Wrestler: Gaston Tardif
Frank Schaller Award: Corey Lee

Women's Wrestling
Rookie of the Year: Sara Cattani, Alexi Kreps
Most Improved Wrestler: Katelyn Proulx
Most Valuable Wrestler: Aislynn Torfason