McGill sophomore a finalist for BLG Award as CIS athlete of the year
Apr. 14, 2010

MONTREAL - McGill hockey player Francis Verreault-Paul of Mashteuiatsh, Que., has been named by the law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais as one of four national male finalists for a BLG Award, presented since 1993, to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

Eight nominees, including four women, will be honoured, with one female and one male winner receiving a $10,000 post-secondary scholarship in front of more than 1,000 guests at EPCOR Centre's Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary on April 26. The gala will premier on TSN on May 16.

There was no sophomore jinx in 2009-10 for Verreault-Paul, a second-year science student, majoring in kinesiology and psychology. Following a fine freshman campaign that saw him register a 13-13-26 record in 24 games, the speedy 5-foot-9, 178-pound left winger exploded for 25 goals and 54 points in 27 league outings this season, tying him for the nation's lead in goals and giving him second place in the CIS scoring race, three points back of fellow BLG Award nominee Hunter Tremblay of UNB. He became the first McGill player to top the OUA in scoring since former BLG nominee (2000) and current Montreal Canadiens forward Mathieu Darche accomplished the feat in 1999-00.

"He (Darche) is kind of a role model for me but for for the moment, my focus is on playing hockey here," said Verreault-Paul, who was named OUA hockey player of the year and earned All-Canadian honours. "I'm really happy to be at McGill right now. I'm from a small town in the Lac St. Jean region where everybody speaks French, so I came here without the ability to speak any words in English. My grades are getting better and better, so everything is going well for me. I hope that I will have an opportunity to play professional (in the future). If not, I will keep focussing on my studies."

Verreault-Paul not only achieved individual success this year, he guided the Redmen to one the best seasons in school history. His OUA-leading six game-winning markers in conference play and 14 points in seven playoff games helped McGill set team records for most victories in the regular season (22) and overall (34). The Redmen finished 22-6 in league play and added seven wins in eight matchups in the OUA playoffs en route to the conference banner and their fourth appearance in five years at the CIS University Cup championship.

The 22-year-old forward, who hails from an Innu community in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec, played his major junior hockey with the local Chicoutimi Saguenéens and captained the team in his final season. His first goal in the QMJHL was scored against Lewiston's Jaroslav Halak, who is currently starring in the NHL with the Canadiens.

"Francis is a fierce competitor and highly-skilled offensive player who has a knack for scoring the big goal," says Redmen head coach Jim Webster. "He produces game in, game out despite being shadowed and double-teamed. He has good speed, is tough as nails and is a threat to score every shift."

It marks the 14th time in 18 years that a McGill athlete has been nominated from the Quebec conference and six of those honorees have been men, a group that includes hockey forwards Pierre Gendron (1997) and Mathieu Darche (2000), football lineman Randy Chevrier (2002), swimmer Ryan Tomicic (2004) and hockey goaltender Mathieu Poitras (2006).

Two McGill women have actually come away with the BLG title, namely distance runner Linda Thyer (1995 winner, 1994 nominee) and Olympic goaltender Kim St-Pierre (2003).

Other McGill women who represented the QSSF conference included Olympic swimmer Andrea Nugent (1993), basketball forward Vicky Tessier (1996), track star Sarah Ali-Khan (2002), soccer forward Danielle Day (2005) and Olympic goaltender Charline Labonté (2009).

Joining Verreault-Paul as 2010 finalists for the Doug Mitchell Trophy presented to the CIS male athlete of the year are UNB hockey player Hunter Tremblay of Timmins, Ont., Western Ontario football player Michael Faulds of Eden Mills, Ont., and Calgary football player Erik Glavic of Pickering, Ont.

On the women's side, nominees for the Jim Thompson Trophy, presented to the female BLG Award recipient, are Cape Breton basketball player Kelsey Hodgson of Fredericton, Montreal soccer player Véronique Maranda of Saint-Lambert, Que., Wilfrid Laurier hockey player Liz Knox of Stouffville, Ont., as well as UBC volleyball player Liz Cordonier of Vancouver.

"We are delighted to recognize these outstanding student-athletes along with our clients and guests at the 18th annual BLG Awards that will again be hosted by our Calgary office," said Doug Mitchell, BLG national co-chairman. "Our goal in hosting these awards is not only to focus attention on the importance of athletics at Canadian universities, but also to shine a spotlight on the exceptional athletes produced right here in Canada."

"The BLG Awards are a highlight of the university sport calendar year," added Marg McGregor, CIS chief executive officer. "The BLGs honour the achievements of eight exceptional student-athletes. They celebrate excellence and showcase student-athletes who inspire us with their impressive accomplishments."

The BLG Awards are based on athletic accomplishments, outstanding sportsmanship and leadership. Each of 52 CIS schools selects one female and one male athlete of the year. From these nominees, one female and one male athlete are chosen within each of the four regional associations: Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Quebec Student Sports Federation (QSSF), Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA). To be eligible, a student-athlete must have competed in a CIS sport for a minimum of two years and cannot be a previous recipient of a BLG Award.

Nominees receive a commemorative gold ring, and winners are presented with a trophy and a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Canadian University graduate school. Winners are selected by the Canadian Athletic Foundation, a not-for-profit Board established for the purpose of administering the BLG Awards and protecting the integrity of the selection process. The CAF Board of Trustees consists of 22 members from five Canadian cities representing major corporations from across the country who are committed to ensuring that Canadian University athletes receive the recognition they deserve.

Previous BLG Award Nominees from the QSSF Conference:

2009-10: Véronique Maranda (Montréal - soccer), Francis Verreault-Paul (McGill - hockey)

2008-09: Charline Labonté (McGill - hockey), Étienne Légaré (Laval - football)

2007-08: *Laetitia Tchoualack (Montreal - volleyball), Jamall Lee (Bishop's - football)

2006-07: Audrey Lacroix (Montreal - swimming), Patrick Donovan (Concordia - football)

2005-06: *Marylène Laplante (Laval - volleyball), Mathieu Poitras (McGill - hockey)

2004-05: Danielle Day (McGill - soccer), Christian Bernier (Montreal - volleyball)

2003-04: Martine Dugrenier (Concordia - wrestling), Ryan Tomicic (McGill - swimming)

2002-03: *Kim St-Pierre (McGill - hockey), Patrick Banim-Massok (UQAM - track & field)

2001-02: Sophie Simard (Laval - swimming), David Stipe (Bishop's - football)

2000-01: Sophie Simard (Laval - swimming), Randy Chevrier (McGill - football)

1999-00: Sarah Ali-Khan (McGill - cross-country / track & field), Mathieu Darche (McGill - hockey)

1998-99: *Corinne Swirsky (Concordia - hockey), *Alexandre Marchand (Sherbrooke - track & field)

1997-98: Corinne Swirsky (Concordia - hockey), Hugues Legault (Montreal - swimming)

1996-97: Sonia Paquette (Sherbrooke - track & field), Pierre Gendron (McGill - hockey)

1995-96: Vicky Tessier (McGill - basketball), Trevor Lovig (Bishop's - football)

1994-95: *Linda Thyer (McGill - cross-country / track & field), Emerson Thomas (Concordia - basketball)

1993-94: Linda Thyer (McGill - cross-country / track & field), Michel Cazes (Laval - volleyball)

1992-93: Andrea Nugent (McGill -swimming), François Gravel (Laval - swimming)

*BLG AWARD RECIPIENT

Past BLG Award Winners:

2008-09: Annamay Pierse (UBC - swimming), Joel Schmuland (Alberta - volleyball)

2007-08: Laetitia Tchoualack (Montreal - volleyball), Rob Hennigar (UNB - hockey)

2006-07: Jessica Zelinka (Calgary - track & field), Josh Howatson (Trinity Western - volleyball)

2005-06: Marylène Laplante (Laval - volleyball), Osvaldo Jeanty (Carleton - basketball)

2004-05: Adrienne Power (Dalhousie - track & field), Jesse Lumsden (McMaster - football)

2003-04: Joanna Niemczewska (Calgary - volleyball), Adam Ens (Saskatchewan - volleyball)

2002-03: Kim St-Pierre (McGill - hockey), Ryan McKenzie (Windsor - cross country & track)

2001-02: Elizabeth Warden (Toronto - swimming), Brian Johns (UBC - swimming)

2000-01: Leighann Doan (Calgary - basketball), Kojo Aidoo (McMaster - football)

1999-00: Jenny Cartmell (Alberta - volleyball), Michael Potts (Western Ontario - soccer)

1998-99: Corinne Swirsky (Concordia - hockey), Alexandre Marchand (Sherbrooke - track)

1997-98: Foy Williams (Toronto - track & field), Titus Channer (McMaster - basketball)

1996-97: Terri-Lee Johannesson (Manitoba - basketball), Curtis Myden (Calgary - swimming)

1995-96: Justine Ellison (Toronto - basketball), Don Blair (Calgary - football)

1994-95: Linda Thyer (McGill - cross-country / track & field), Bill Kubas (Wilfrid Laurier - football)

1993-94: Sandra Carroll (Winnipeg - basketball), Tim Tindale (Western Ontario - football)

1992-93: Diane Scott (Winnipeg - volleyball), Andy Cameron (Calgary - volleyball)

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

Communications Officer

McGill Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012