MONTREAL - David Urquhart, a third-year defenceman from Thorold, Ont., received the Bobby Bell trophy as most valuable player of the Redmen hockey team at their 26th annual awards banquet, held at La Brasserie Molson, Friday.

Other major awards were handed out to captain Benoit Martin, a fifth-year senior from Gaspe, Que., who took home the Molson Cup for most three-star selections. Sophomore centre Daniel Pharand of Gatineau, Que., won the Albert Fyon trophy as most improved player and freshman Benoit Arsenault of Rimouski, Que., was awarded the Friends of McGill Hockey trophy as rookie of the year.

Urquhart, only the third rearguard in McGill history to earn All-Canadian status, led all OUA blueliners in assists and finished second in points with a 2-25-27 record in 28 league games. It was the eighth-best single-season offensive output ever from a McGill defenceman. The 6-foot, 195-pound management junior, earned all-conference honours and was an OUA finalist for the Randy Gregg trophy, for combining hockey ability with academics and citizenship.

Martin, a physiotherapy major who won the Memorial Cup with Rimouski in 1999-00, was picked nine times over the season as one of the three stars. He ended up with 17 goals and 17 assists in 40 games overall.

Pharand, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound kinesiology sophomore, scored three goals and six points in 26 games.

Arsenault, a management major, was McGill's top-scoring freshman with 5-10-15 in 26 games overall.

The Redmen, who finished second in the OUA Far East division with a 15-8-5 record, are expected to lose only four players, including Martin, plus fellow forwards Teddy Kyres, Lucas Madill and Mathieu Leclerc. All graduating players received their game jerseys, a McGill tie and a framed action photo.

Head coach Martin Raymond also announced plans for a Redmen hockey tour of Serbia, Dec. 26, 2007 to Jan. 5, 2008. The upcoming will be the ninth overseas voyage for the team since 1981.