OHL Alumni headline AUS men’s hockey annual awards
A trio of recent OHL Alumni are front and centre in this year’s Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey annual awards, with Ottawa 67’s graduate Austen Keating, Kingston Frontenacs grad Alec Bélanger and Saginaw Spirit alumnus Brady Gilmour each grabbing headlines at the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season.
Congrats to Austen Keating on being named MVP of the AUS‼️ pic.twitter.com/ZqhsQkCpbn
— UNB Men’s Hockey (@UNBMHockey) February 16, 2024
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (Kelly Trophy): Austen Keating, UNB Reds
The AUS Men’s Hockey Most Valuable Player for the 2023-24 season is Ottawa 67’s graduate Austen Keating of the UNB Reds.
A third-year Business Administration student from Guelph, Ont., the UNB forward topped the AUS and finished second in U SPORTS in points this season, recording an impressive 50 (23 goals, 27 assists) in 30 games played. His +47 plus/minus rating was best among all U SPORTS skaters.
In addition to being selected as the AUS MVP, Keating has also been named an AUS First-Team All-Star for the second time – his first coming in 2021-22.
Keating becomes the first Reds player to win the AUS MVP award since Christopher Clapperton did so back in 2018-19.
He now becomes the AUS nominee for the for the U SPORTS Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy as the nation’s top player. UNB’s Philippe Maillet is the most recent player from the AUS to be named national MVP, earning the distinction in 2016-17.
Congratulations to men's hockey player Alec Belanger, who has been named the AUS Rookie of the Year and the Community Service Award winner!https://t.co/sR9A3XEthB pic.twitter.com/THdniNCG98
— Dal Tigers (@DalTigers) February 16, 2024
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (A.J. MacAdam Trophy): Alec Bélanger, Dalhousie Tigers
The AUS Rookie of the Year and recipient of the A.J. MacAdam Trophy for the 2023-24 season is Dalhousie Tigers forward and Kingston Frontenacs grad Alec Bélanger.
The Kinesiology student from Quebec City, Que., had an exceptional first season in the AUS, finishing fifth in the league in goals scored (16). He added seven assists to give himself 23 points in 25 games played.
In addition to this honour, Bélanger was also selected to the 2024 AUS All-Rookie Team.
Dalhousie finished the regular season at 7-21-2-0 and out of the playoffs.
Prior to beginning his AUS career, Bélanger played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Ottawa 67’s and Kingston Frontenacs.
Bélanger is the first Tigers player to earn conference Rookie of the Year honours since Phil Gadoury did so back in the 2015-16 season.
Bélanger now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the Clare Drake Award for U SPORTS rookie of the year.
AUS players have earned the national honour the last five consecutive seasons — UNB’s Samuel Richard in 2022-23, STFX’s Liam Hawel in 2021-22, Saint Mary’s Mitchell Balmas in 2019-20, Moncton’s Étienne Monpetit in 2018-19 and UNB’s Kris Bennett in 2017-18.
Congratulations to Brady Gilmour on being named Most Sportsmanlike Player in the AUS‼️ pic.twitter.com/YRHGsvsE8M
— UNB Men’s Hockey (@UNBMHockey) February 16, 2024
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER (Don Wells Trophy): Brady Gilmour, UNB Reds
In his fourth season with the UNB Reds, Saginaw Spirit alumnus Brady Gilmour has been chosen as the 2023-24 AUS Men’s Hockey Most Sportsmanlike Player and recipient of the Don Wells Trophy.
The Master of Business Administration student from Grafton, Ont., finished fourth in AUS scoring this past season, recording 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 30 games while taking just eight minutes in penalties.
Gilmour becomes the latest UNB player to receive the honour, joining past winners Joe Gatenby (2021-22), Randy Gazzola (2017-18), Chris Culligan (2012-13, 2013-14), Peter MacKellar (1999-00) and Dax McLean (1997-98).
He now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for U SPORTS’ R. W. Pugh Award for most sportsmanlike player. AUS players have won the award in each of the past two seasons with UPEI’s Troy Lajeunesse (2022-23) and UNB’s Gatenby (2021-22) the recipients.
Congrats to the @DalTiger's Alec Belanger, a men's hockey player who has earned two major @AUS_SUA awards: AUS Rookie of the Year and the Community Service Award! #DalProud. https://t.co/WOzYdhu9YX pic.twitter.com/YNsLu6KxEn
— Dalhousie University (@DalhousieU) February 20, 2024
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD (The Godfrey Award): Alec Bélanger, Dalhousie Tigers
The 2023-24 recipient of the Godfrey Award for the Student-Athlete Community Service and AUS nominee for the prestigious Dr. Randy Gregg Award is Kingston Frontenacs graduate Alec Bélanger from the Dalhousie Tigers.
Named for Dr. Bill Godfrey, this award is given annually to the player who best represents the spirit of intercollegiate hockey by his leadership both on and off the ice and by his conduct throughout the season.
A Kinesiology student from Quebec City, Que., Bélanger led the Tigers in points (23) and goals (16) in just 25 games played.
He earned a 3.4 GPA in the fall semester and is trending towards his first Academic All-Canadian honour.
Away from the rink and classroom, Bélanger is the Co-Chair and acting lead executive for Extra Awesome – Dalhousie, a student-run volunteer-based program that offers academic support and facilitates physical activity participation for Halifax youth with Down Syndrome and their siblings.
Bélanger started the program during the fall semester and has seen it grow to include more than 40 student volunteers and 25 participants. Due to its positive impact and the attention it has received, Bélanger was invited to attend dinner with Dalhousie University President, Kim Brooks.
“Alec has not only had a tremendous impact on our athletic program, but within the entire Dalhousie campus,” said Tim Maloney, Dalhousie Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation. “He embodies the essence of this award.”
Bélanger becomes the first Dalhousie player to win this award since Chris Stanley did so exactly 20 years ago in 2003-04.
Congratulations to X-Men Hockey’s Matthew Struthers, Jacob Hudson and Charlie Callaghan on earning @AUS_SUA honours! #goxgo
Matthew Struthers — 1st Team All-Star
Jacob Hudson — 2nd Team All-Star
Charlie Callaghan — All-Rookie pic.twitter.com/LBgzCnjL4v— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) February 16, 2024
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
F – Austen Keating, UNB/Ottawa 67’s – 30 GP, 23G, 27A, 50 PTS.
F – Brady Gilmour, UNB/Saginaw Spirit – 30 GP, 12G, 29A, 41 PTS.
F – Matthew Struthers, StFX/Owen Sound Attack – 30 GP, 17G, 29A, 46 PTS.
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
F – Kaleb Pearson, UPEI/Owen Sound Attack – 26 GP, 18G, 10A, 28 PTS.
D – Kade Landry, UNB/Hamilton Bulldogs – 30 GP, 7G, 27A, 34 PTS.
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
F – Sean McGurn – UNB/London Knights – 30 GP, 9G, 20A, 29 PTS.
F – Alec Bélanger – Dalhousie/Kingston Frontenacs – 25 GP, 16G, 7A, 23 PTS.
D – Charlie Callaghan – StFX/Mississauga Steelheads – 28 GP, 5G, 16A, 21 PTS.
⭐️SECOND TEAM ALL-STAR⭐️
He made a name for himself at nationals last season. This year, he took his game to the next level. In 26 games, this third-year forward showed he’s a deadly scorer, finishing the campaign with 18 goals.
Congrats to first-time all-star, KALEB PEARSON!👏 pic.twitter.com/67RODp7zrw
— UPEI Panthers (@UPEIPanthers) February 16, 2024
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