STU Athletics Honours Top Tommies at Awards Ceremony

The St. Thomas University Athletics Department celebrated successful seasons on the turf, ice, court, and track at their awards ceremony Tuesday, March 29.

 

The 2021-2022 season saw the Tommies compete in five Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association title games, with the men’s soccer and men’s volleyball teams bringing home the conference championship.

 

Vanessa Soffee and Brett Springer Named top Tommies for 2021-2022 

Vanessa Soffee, a veteran guard for the women’s basketball team, and Brett Springer, a seasoned striker for the men’s soccer team, were named the Athletes of the Year for 2021-2022.

 

Soffee was her team’s Top Defensive Player and MVP, while also being named a first team ACAA all-conference player and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian.

 

“This is her second season as an All-Canadian in three years,” Tommies Head Coach Fred Connors said. “She controls the game in many ways and shows up when we need her the most.”

 

Springer was the men’s soccer MVP on top of being named an ACAA first team all-conference player, ACAA Player of the Year, and a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian. At the CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championships, Springer was named a tournament all-star.

 

“Brett is very deserving of this prestigious honour,” said Tommies Head Coach John-Ryan Morrison. “His success is not an accident. It’s a product of his hard work in the off-season and every day in training.”

 

Madison Owens and Christian Christie Honoured for Representing the Athletic Ideal

Senior Tommies Madison Owens, women’s basketball, and Christian Christie, men’s volleyball, were recognized for their commitment to athletics, academics, and the community.

 

Owens, a five-time CCAA National Scholar, was the recipient of the Cathy Wadden Commitment Award. On top of her academic achievement, she was an ACAA all-conference player and was awarded the Rod Shoveller Memorial Award, which is given annually to an ACAA basketball player who has contributed to sport and society through excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and sportsmanship.

 

“Maddy has been a leader for the Tommies since she came here,” Connors said. “She has worked hard to keep the team gelled and always played a very unselfish brand of basketball.”

 

Christie, a two-time CCAA National scholar, was named the John Frederick Walls Memorial Award winner. He is a two-time STU Male Athlete of the Year and a former ACAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year who spends his free time giving back to the community through coaching and refereeing.

 

“Christian is the type of person you look for when recruiting a student athlete,” Head Coach Henri Mallet said. “He has been making our program and university proud since he joined the Green and Gold.”