CALGARY, ALTA. – Hosted at the Mount Royal University (MRU) Bella Concert Hall, and for the first time in-person in over two years, Cougars Athletics and Recreation (CAR) held their annual Cougar Night year-end celebration tonight. This event featured an awards-style show that honoured student-athletes, coaches, and staff for their excellence in the 2021-22 season.
Two former MRU athletes began the show as emcees. Daria O'Neill, a women's hockey team member from 2018-2020 was accompanied by Quinn Bromley, a men's volleyball program member from 2014-19. Their witty banter, fondness of CAR and positive energy created a memorable night for all in attendance.
The night kicked off with the recognition of Canada West regular season champions from the women's hockey team and the men's soccer team while also highlighting the men's soccer team's accomplishment of a Canada West bronze medal with the women's volleyball team's Canada West Bronze and U SPORTS silver medal.
To begin the awards portion of the night, a team was inducted into Mount Royal University's Wall of Fame for the first time in the wall's history. The 1999-00 women's basketball team, led by Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Coach of the Year Donovan Martin, received the inaugural honors. A rare collection of talent, the women's basketball team was a dominant force in the ACAC and Canadian Colleges Athletics Association (CCAA). The team did not lose a single game the entire season, finishing 20-0, earning ACAC and CCAA championships.
The Wall of Fame induction was followed by the varsity team season reviews and Most Valuable Player awards, Athletic Therapy awards, Work Culture Employee awards and Outstanding Graduate awards (full list below).
While there were a number of incredible awards presented throughout the night, possibly the most anticipated were the major awards.
Honoured for their community service, Anna Purschke and Sterling Kerr were recognized as the Community Leadership Award recipients. Purschke, also the Canada West Women's Hockey Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner, supported numerous volunteer activities over the past 7 months, volunteering almost 150 hours while also being a leader among all Cougars athletes. Kerr volunteered at a number of charities and non profits over the year in addition to organizing several campus activities and being a volunteer research assistant in the MRU Psychology department.
The Rookie of the Year was given to men's hockey forward Riley Sawchuk and women's hockey player Aliya Jomha. Sawchuk was a standout, being named Canada West Rookie of the Year in men's hockey accompanied by U SPORTS All-Rookie Team and Second Team All-Canadian accomplishments. Jomha also had a phenomenal year, earning a position on the Canada West All-Rookie team and aiding her team in the capture of the regular season championship title.
After the Rookies of the Year took a seat, the Al Bohonus Athletes of the Year presented by Players Bench Team Apparel, took center stage. The female winner was Tianna Ko, who made history this year as the first Mount Royal Canada West women's hockey Player of the Year for sharing the goal-scoring title and posting a 19.6 shooting percentage during the regular season. Following suit, the male winner, Nolan Yaremko from men's hockey, who also won Canada West Player of the Year was honoured. Yaremko also made history as the first MRU player to receive a U SPORTS Player of the Year award.
Lastly, the ceremony recognized the Brian Fleming award winners. This prestigious award recognizes student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics and the community. Sterling Kerr from men's soccer and Tatum Amy from women's hockey received this season's honours. Both Kerr and Amy were leaders on their teams and influential members of the community. Amy, the women's hockey captain and the Cougars Athlete Board (CAB) President, completed over 100 hours of volunteering with five different groups and organizations. Kerr, the CAB President Elect, volunteered with numerous Mount Royal organizations and Calgary community groups to mentor, coach and service those around him. These two outstanding student-athletes closed out the event, setting the bar high for years to come!
A full list of award winners:
Wall of Fame
1999-00 Women's Basketball Team
Team MVPs
Quinn Pelland (Women's Volleyball)
Chris Byam (Men's Volleyball)
Jamie Lalor (Women's Basketball)
Nate Petrone (Men's Basketball)
Janai Martens (Women's Soccer)
Moe El Gandour (Men's Soccer)
Tianna Ko (Women's Hockey)
Nolan Yaremko (Men's Hockey)
Cougars Athlete Board PAW Points
Women's Volleyball Team
Student Athletic Therapy Awards
Field award: Ryan Wright (Men's Soccer)
Clinic Award: Zoe Monette (Men's Basketball)
Work Culture Employee Awards
Rene Trombley (Aquatics)
Jason Lai (Customer Service)
Outstanding Graduating Employee Awards
Katie Battle (Aquatics)
João Pedro Freire (Customer Service)
Community Leadership Award
Anna Purschke (Women's Hockey)
Sterling Kerr (Men's Soccer)
Rookie of the Year
Aliya Jomha (Women's Hockey)
Riley Sawchuk (Men's Hockey)
Al Bohonus, Athlete of the Year
Tianna Ko (Women's Hockey)
Nolan Yaremko (Men's Hockey)
Brian Fleming Award
Tatum Amy (Women's Hockey)
Sterling Kerr (Men's Soccer)
