HARRIS, LACQUETTE NAMED MSSA ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

The Labatt Female Athlete of the Year is Brigette Lacquette. Lacquette is the first First Nations hockey player to be named to the Canada's national women's team. She was a silver medallist at the Four Nations Cup and chalked up six assists. She played in a six-game series against Team USA, and was chosen as a member of Team Canada for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The Nott Autocorp Male Athlete of the Year is Winnipeg Blue Bombers football player Andrew Harris. Harris was selected as the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian after winning the league's rushing title with 1,035 yards, and leading the league in receptions with 105, a record for running backs. He was named a CFL all-star for the fourth time, his second as a member of the Blue Bombers. He was the first Bomber to earn the Outstanding Canadian award, the rushing title and the pass reception title since the days of Doug Brown, Fred Reid, and Milt Stegall.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team repeated as winners of the Maurice Smith Memorial Award as the Winnipeg Free Press Team of the Year. The Goldeyes won their second-straight title in the American Association. Led by MVP Josh Romanski, they finished first overall in the regular season with a record of 62-38, the second most victories in franchise history. The Goldeyes advanced to beat Lincoln and Wichita in the playoffs. They won the five-game final 3-2 over Wichita, including a 17-inning 4-3 victory in the fourth game when facing elimination.

In the junior category, track athlete Victoria Tachinski was named Manitoba Chicken Junior Female Athlete of the Year while speedskater Tyson Langelaar took home the award as Manitoba Chicken Junior Male Athlete of the Year.

An outstanding all-around athlete at Vincent Massey Collegiate, Tachinski excelled in track events, winning the 800 metre gold medal in the Pan American U20 Championships, and set a Canadian record in her 400 metre victory in the Simplot Games. She also won a gold medal in the 400 metres, and two silvers in the 800 and the 4 x 400 relay team in the Canada Summer Games.

Tyson Langelaar made the Junior National speedskating team and was the top ranked Canadian skater at the Junior Worlds, winning bronze medals in the 1,000 and 1,500 metre events and a silver in the team sprint. He was the bronze medallist in the overall individual standings. In the Canadian Junior Championships, he was the overall silver medallist with seven medals in total, including a gold in one of the 500 metre races.

The Bonivital Flames men’s soccer team was named Calm Air Junior Team of the Year.

After a runner-up finish the previous season, the Flames won the 2017 Canada Soccer Toyota Cup national U17 championship after winning the Manitoba U17 Junior title. Striker Rinor Hoxha was the top scorer in the national tournament. Many members of the team also played for Team Manitoba in the Canada Summer Games.

The 2017 Cactus Jack Wells Impact Award went to the 2017 Canada Summer Games.

Once again, he MSSA linked up with Sport Manitoba to present the awards for 2017 at Sport Manitoba’s annual Night of Champions on April 21, 2018, at Club Regent Casino Event Centre.

"Again, as we have for the past six decades as members of the Manitoba sports media, it is a privilege to have had a role in selecting and honouring Manitoba's top athletes and teams in 2017," said Terry Frey, president, Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. "Congratulations to all the winners and finalists for your noteworthy achievements in the past year."

MSSA AWARD FINALISTS

Open Male Athletes

Devren Dear (Volleyball)

Selected as the Manitoba Bison Male Athlete of the Year, he led the Bisons into the national University Volleyball Championship after being ranked number one in the country. He was named USports Men's Volleyball First Team All-Canadian, was fourth in Canada West with 3.96 kills per set, and finished fifth in Canada West for hitting percentage at .308 while starting and playing in all 24 conference matches.

Todd Fanning (Golf)

Chosen as Manitoba's Male Amateur Golfer of the Year, he won the Manitoba Mid-Amateur (25+) and Mid-Masters (40+) Championships, and added the Canadian Mid-Amateur and Mid-Masters Championships. They were the first individual national golf titles won by a Manitoban since 2003. He also was a member of the Manitoba team that finished fourth in the team competitiion at the Canadian Mid-Amateur in Regina.

Andrew Harris (Football)

Selected as the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian after winning the league's rushing title with 1,035 yards, and leading the league in receptions with 105, a record for running backs. He was named a CFL all-star for the fourth time, his second as a member of the Blue Bombers. He was the first Bomber to earn the Outstanding Canadian award , the rushing title, and the pass reception title since the days of Doug Brown, Fred Reid, and Milt Stegall.

Brady Keeper (Hockey)

Named the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Most Valuable Player and Top Defenceman, he was the runner-up for these same honours in the Canadian Junior Hockey League in leading the OCN Blizzard into the MJHL final.

David Onyemata (Football)

Last year's winner of the Open Male Athlete award as a result of his outstanding play with the Manitoba Bisons, he turned pro in 2017 and started six games at defensive tackle for the NFL's New Orleans Saints, recording 38 tackles and 18 solo tackles, plus two individual sacks in an excellent rookie season.

Open Female Athletes

Emma Gray (Rowing)

Moving up to the Open category after winning the Junior Female Athlete award for 2016, she had another excellent season. She won three medals at the Canada Summer Games, a gold in Single, and bronze in both Doubles and Quad. In the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, she teamed to win a bronze medal in Fours, a silver in Pairs, and a gold in the Women's Quadruple Sculls, which was the Winnipeg Rowing Club's first Henley golf since 2013.

Brigette Lacquette (Hockey)

Selected as the first First Nations hockey player to be named to the Canada's national women's team, she was a silver medallist at the Four Nations Cup and chalked up six assists. She played in a six-game series against Team USA, and was chosen to be a member of Team Canada in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Jocelyne Larocque (Hockey)

Was a silver medallist with Team Canada at the Women's World Hockey Championship, where she had two assists. She won another silver medal on Canada's national women's team at the Four Nations Cup, played in a six-game series against Team USA, and was selected to play for Team Canada in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Heather McLean (Speedskating)

Posted a career-best at the World Single Distances Championship with a fifth place in the 500 metres. She skated to 9th in the 1,000 metres and fourth in the 500 metre event in the World Sprint Championships in Calgary, and was 7th overall. She qualified for the Winter Olympics in South Korea in the 500 and 1,000 metres.

Kelsey Wog (Swimming)

Chosen as Manitoba Bisons' rookie of the year and a USports first team all-Canadian, she won five medals in the USports Swimming Championships, including a gold in the 100 metre breaststroke. In the Canada West Championships she won six medals, winning gold in the women's 50 and 100 metre breaststroke events and the 200 metre individual medley, setting two meet records in earning first team All-star recognition.

Junior Male Athletes

Tyson Langelaar (Speedskating)

He made the Junior National speedskating team and was the top ranked Canadian skater at the Junior Worlds, winning bronze medals in the 1,000 and 1,500 metre events and a silver in the team sprint. He was the bronze medallist in the overall individual standings. In the Canadian Junior Championships, he was the overall silver medallist with seven medals in total, including a gold in one of the 500 metre races.

James Lavallee (Paddling)

He won a silver and two bronze medals at the Canada Summer Games, topping all male Manitoba team athletes, and is ranked as the best male paddler in the province. He is the 2017 Tom Longboat Award winner, which is presented to the Aboriginal Male Athlete of the Year.

Hunter Lee (Wrestling)

In the Up to 98kg division at the Canada Summer Games not a single point was scored against him in his final two matches as he won the gold medal. This Flin Flon athlete added gold medals in the 2017 Juvenile National Championships and in provincial championships in Saskatchewan. He is considered to be the top wrestler in his weight class and age group in Canada.

Ryan McMillan (Golf)

He was a finalist for the Manitoba Men's Amateur Golfer of the Year, winning the provincial Junior title, and was a key member of the provincial Junior team that finished seventh in the nationals. He won the Golf Canada Prairie Future Links event in Saskatchewan, and won the Manitoba high school title. He finished third in the Manitoba Men's Amateur, and was on Manitoba's fourth place team in the Canada Summer Games.

Yonatan Orlov (Baton Twirling)

He was chosen as the Canadian Baton Twirling male Athlete of the Year after receiving the Ron Kopas award for achieving the highest score in Men's Solo at the national championships. He had three first place finishes in events in the 2017 International Cup. In the Manitoba championships, he earned seven gold medals in men's events, including his victory in the Junior Men's Freestyle.

Junior Female Athletes

Kearley Abbott (Volleyball)

Her individual honours with the Manitoba Bisons included selection as the Canada West volleyball rookie of the year, and placing on the Canada West and Usport all-rookie volleyball teams. She won the Cheryl Cable Memorial Award as the Junior 2OU Female Player of the year. In beach volleyball, she was on fifth place Manitoba teams in the Canada Summer Games and the Vancouver Open.

Oksana Chaput (Swimming)

In the Canada Summer Games, she won gold medals in the 50 and 100 metre freestyle events, a silver in the 50 metre fly, and a bronze in the 100 metre fly. Her personal best times have earned national first place rankings in the 100 and 200 metre freestyle and the 50 and 100 fly, and second place in the 50 and 400 metre freestyle in her swimming age group.

Maddy Mitchell (Paddling)

She earned five medals, one gold, two silver and two bronze, in paddling at the Canada Summer Games, and was honored as the flag bearer for Team Manitoba in the closing ceremonies. Her five medals were the most for any Manitoban in the Summer Games. She also was a finalist in events at the Canadian National Team Trials in her sport.

Jessica Rabet (Wrestling)

She won the women's 84kg gold medal in wrestling at the Canada Summer Games, dominating the semi-finals and the final in her weight class with only one point scored against her. She also is the 2017 provincial wrestling champion in her division.

Victoria Tachinski (Athletics)

An outstanding all-around athlete at Vincent Massey Collegiate, she excelled in track events, winning the 800 metre gold medal in the Pan American U20 Championships, and set a Canadian record in her 400 metre victory in the Simplot Games. She also won a gold medal in the 400 metres, and two silvers in the 800 and the 4 x 400 relay team in the Canada Summer Games.

Open Team Of The Year

Mike McEwen Team (Curling)

McEwen's team won the Manitoba Men's Championship, and the bronze medal in the Tim Horton's Brier. They finished the Brier round robin in first place with a 9-2 record, lost two Page playoff games but rebounded to beat Northern Ontario 7-5 for the bronze medal. McEwen also had a solid record as a regular contender on the Grand Slam and cashspiel circuit.

Manitoba Bisons (Volleyball)

Guided by USports and Canada West Coach of the Year Garth Pischke, the Bison men's volleyball team returned to the national university championship for the first time since 2012. The team had a conference 20-match winning streak in finishing first in the regular season, and at one point was ranked number one in the country for four consecutive weeks.

Portage Terriers (Hockey)

The Terriers won their third straight Manitoba Junior Hockey League championship, beating Selkirk, Steinbach and OCN in the playoffs, bouncing back from a 2-0 deficit to top the Blizzard with four straight wins in the final. The Terriers went on to finish fifth in the Western Canada Cup playoff.

Team Manitoba (Golf)

The Manitoba Men's Amateur team was a strong contender for Willingdon Cup honors at the Canadian Men's Amateur Team Championship, finishing in second place. Provincial champion Travis Fredborg was supported by Devon Schade and Eric Johnson on the Manitoba team playing in Toronto.

Winnipeg Goldeyes (Baseball)

The Goldeyes made it two straight titles in the American Association. Led by MVP Josh Romanski, they finished first overall in the regular season with a record of 62-38, the second most victories in franchise history. The Goldeyes advanced to beat Lincoln and Wichita in the playoffs. They won the five-game final 3-2 over Wichita, including a 17-inning 4-3 victory in the fourth game when facing elimination.

Junior Team Of The Year

Bonivital Flames (Soccer)

St. James A's (Baseball)

In their second season back in the Manitoba Junior Baseball League after a 3-year absence, St. James captured the regular season pennant and the league championship. Their regular season record was 18-5-1, and the A's went 6-1 in the playoffs, topping Elmwood 3-0 in the final. They had a 5-1 record in the Western Canada Junior playoffs, losing in the championship final.

Team Manitoba (Golf)

The Manitoba Junior Women's provincial team finished in fourth place in the Canada Summer Games golf event.

Team Manitoba (Volleyball)

The Manitoba Indoor Junior Women's volleyball team finished first in their pool in the Canada Summer Games, and advanced to defeat Ontario in the semi-finals and won the gold medal with a 3-1 final victory over Alberta. Twelve provincial/regional teams competed in the women's indoor competition for U18 athletes.

J.T. Ryan Team (Curling)

Ryan skipped his team from the Assiniboine Memorial club in Winnipeg to a second straight Manitoba Junior Championship. In the Canadian Junior Championship his foursome finished first with a 6-0 record in their preliminary pool, was third in the championship pool, and bowed out in the playoff tiebreaker.

JACK MATHESON MEMORIAL AWARDS

Two Creative Communications students at Red River College have been selected to receive Jack Matheson Memorial Awards for 2018.

Taylor Allen and Declan Schroeder, both in the second year of their studies at RRC, have each received a $750 award from the Matheson Foundation. In addition, they have been saluted at the RRC Creative Arts Awards held each year, and will receive plaques for the Matheson Awards from the MSSA at a Sport Manitoba News Conference recognizing various scholarship recipients in June, 2018.

Allen is a Vince Leah intern for the Winnipeg Free Press, and he does freelance work in a weekly series termed Hall Call. He also has served as a Winnipeg Jets/Manitoba Moose Press Box intern on game days and he is the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame host for its weekly podcast. Allen was nominated for the best Journalism story by a first-year student in the RRC Creative Communications Media Awards in 2017, and was the recipient of the Don Wittman Memorial Award.

Schroeder has interned and produced web articles for TSN 1290, and worked on various audio features for the station. He is a sports columnist for the Projector newspaper at Red River College. Schroeder received an ‘A’ grade in Journalism in 2017, and also won the Eric and Jack Wells Excellence in Journalism award at RRC the same school year.

The Matheson Awards honour the memory of the late sports editor of the Winnipeg Tribune and sports commentator on CJOB Radio.