CALGARY, ALTA. – Mount Royal University has a strong showing in the end-of-season major awards announced by Canada West. The conference honours six athletes and one coach for their tremendous contributions both on and off the ice.

Forwards Nolan Yaremko and Riley Sawchuk make history this year as the first men's hockey players from Mount Royal University to win Canada West's Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. Yaremko did it in a particularly impressive fashion, also taking home the conference's top honour for sportsmanship and ability.

Rounding out the major award selections is Bert Gilling, the head coach of the Mount Royal Cougars who has led his team steadily up the standings over the past few season.
 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR (SULLIVAN TROPHY): Nolan Yaremko

• Mount Royal Cougars
• Forward
• Second-year
• Spirit River, Alta.
• Business

Yaremko earns the prestigious Player of the Year Sullivan Trophy. The second-year Mount Royal forward led Canada West in points and goals this season, averaging nearly two points per game. In 20 games, the Spirit River, Alta. product notched 19 goals and 20 assists, finding ways to contribute from all over the ice.

Yaremko made an impact on every shift with his hockey IQ and offensive abilities. The pure scorer's eye for the net was unrivalled while he set up plays for teammates or battled in front of the crease. He registered multi-point games 13 times, and was only held off the score sheet four times. Yaremko makes history as the first MRU player to receive this award.

From the coach:
"From start to finish his season was, in a word, exceptional. He did it all for us and was an impactful player every time he hit the ice. Nolan was remarkably consistent in his productivity throughout the regular season and playoffs while playing and contributing in all situations of the game."    
-Bert Gilling, Mount Royal Cougars Head Coach
 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (U OF A HOCKEY ALUMNI TROPHY): Riley Sawchuk

• Mount Royal Cougars
• Forward
• Prince Albert, Sask.
• Business

Mount Royal's Sawchuk is the league's Rookie of the Year and U of A Hockey Alumni Trophy winner.

Sawchuk was just one point short of his teammate Yaremko for the league's top scoring title, posting 38 in 20 games. He had four-point nights five times this season, taking the conference by storm in his very first year.

Sawchuk's abilities on the offensive end are never-ending. He scores from all over the ice and displays excellent play-making skills. Sawchuk is the first Rookie of the Year to come out of MRU. The Prince Alberta, Sask. product will be one to watch in the years to come.

From the coach:
"You knew Riley was going to be special as soon as he stepped on the ice for the first time at MRU. This is a fitting achievement for the high level of play that he performed at for the entire season. At any given moment Riley could be either a play making or a scoring threat that is reflected in his high point totals consistently achieved throughout the year."   
-Bert Gilling, Mount Royal Cougars Head Coach
 

COACH OF THE YEAR: Bert Gilling

• Mount Royal Cougars
• Eighth season

Gilling takes home the Coach of the Year award after leading his Mount Royal Cougars to a 13-6-1 record.

This is the third time in his Canada West career Gilling has taken home the honour. He earned the title in 2014-15, and 2015-16, his first two years in Canada West.

Gilling has been able to steadily pull his Cougars up the standings, from a below-500 win percentage in 2017-18 to a .675 record this season. That was good for third in the league.

The plus 29 goal differential is a marked improvement from minus 14 four years ago. Gilling is coming off a U SPORTS All-Star Series nod that had him coach Alberta students against the Canadian World Junior trial teams in 2021. He can now add this award to the list on his impressive resume.

From the Athletic Director:
"It's an honour for Bert to win the Coach of the Year for CW. While the award is for this season, we are so proud of the work he has done over the past few years, in particular, to get the program to where it is today. Countless hours of unselfishness, dedication, and perseverance cumulated to winning this award. We are extremely proud of his accomplishments because he is so deserving of the recognition by his peers."
-Karla Karch, Mount Royal Cougars Director