Gage Grassick and Nate Petrone named U SPORTS basketball players of the year

Gage Grassick of the Saskatchewan Huskies and Nate Petrone of the Calgary Dinos have been named the players of the year in U SPORTS basketball. Grassic wins the Nan Copp Trophy as the player of the year in women’s basketball, while Petrone captured the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy for his accomplishments in men’s basketball. The announcement was made on Wednesday night at the All-Canadian Award Ceremony in Vancouver, site of both the men’s and women’s Final 8 tournaments.

In women’s basketball, the other major awards went to Keira Daily of UBC, who won the Kathy Shields Award as rookie of the year; Katie Butts of UNB, who won the Sylvia Sweeney Award for student-athlete community service; Ally Smith of Queen’s, who won the Tracy MacLeod Award for her courage overcoming adversity; Clara Gascoigne of Saint Mary’s, who nabbed defensive player of the year honours; and Dani Sinclair of Carleton, who won the Peter Ennis Award as the Fox40 Coach of the Year.

On the men’s side, major prizes also went to Ollie Engen of Queen’s, who won the Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy as rookie of the year; Kamari Scott of UPEI, who took home the Ken Shields award (student-athlete community service); Sam Maillet of Victoria, who was named the defensive player of the year; and Murphy Burnatowski of Victoria, who won the Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Award as the Fox40 Coach of the Year.

The 2024 INDOCHINO U SPORTS Women’s and Men’s Final 8s, presented by Victory Creative Group, get underway on Thursday at both the War Memorial Gym and the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre at UBC. Play continues through to the gold medal games which will be at 1 p.m. (men) and 4 p.m. (women) Pacific Time on Sunday. 

Women’s Major Award Winners

Nan Copp Trophy (player of the year) – Gage Grassick, Saskatchewan

Gage Grassick picked up the Nan Copp trophy after a season for the ages. The fourth-year point guard from Prince Albert posted one of the best statistical performances in Canada West history, as she led the country in assists per game (6.0), three-point field goals (58) and three-point field goal percentage (41.4 per cent). The pharmacy major also finished 10^th in the country in scoring with 18.4 points per game. Her ability to impact the game at both ends of the floor has been the driving force behind her Huskies going 25-2 on the year and earning the top seed at this weekend’s Final 8. 

Grassick is the second Huskie to win national player of the year honours, following Sarah Crooks, who took the prize in 2006 and 2007.

Other nominees: Clara Gascoigne (Saint Mary’s), Victoria Gauna (Bishop’s), Madalyn Weinert (Brock)

Kathy Shields Award (rookie of the year) – Keira Daly, UBC

It took no time at all for Keira Daly to establish herself as not only one of the top rookies in the country, but one of the most impactful players across the country. Finishing second in team scoring with 269 points in the regular season, the Hamilton, Ontario product was 20th in Canada with 15.8 points per game and fifth overall with 26.0 points per 40 minutes, all on the strength of an impressive 44.2 percent from the field. She elevated her game even further in the playoffs, leading all players on the court with 22 points in UBC’s CW semifinal win over Alberta, pushing the T-Birds to their first Canada West Final appearance in 10 years. 

Daly becomes only the second UBC player to win the Kathy Shields Award, following Kelsey Blair in 2003.

Other nominees: Addie Mombourquette (UNB), Ahou Einah Marie-Bethel Koffi (UQAM), Brooke Hussey (Queen’s)

Defensive Player of the Year – Clara Gascoigne, Saint Mary’s

Clara Gascoigne of Saint Mary’s is the 2024-25 U SPORTS women’s basketball defensive player of the year, after being a finalist for the past two years. A six-foot guard from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Gascoigne started in 19 games for the Saint Mary's and led the Huskies in minutes, averaging 31.6 per game.

Also named the 2024-25 AUS MVP and an AUS first team all-star, she finished second in the conference in steals, averaging 2.4 per game. She also contributed 4.3 defensive rebounds per game and had 16 blocks on the season.

Gascoigne led the Huskies to the AUS title and the No. 4 seed in this week’s Final 8, being named MVP of the AUS Championship tournament two weeks ago.

Former Huskies standout Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse was named defensive player of the year in 2015-16, making Gascoigne only the second Saint Mary’s player to win the award. 

Other nominees: Victoria Lawrence (Concordia), Nehita Oko-Oboh (Waterloo), Claire Signatovich (Alberta)

Sylvia Sweeney Award (student-athlete community service) – Katie Butts, UNB

Katie Butts of UNB wins the Sylvia Sweeney award for 2024-25 after being a finalist last year. A fourth year forward from Ottawa, Butts was UNB’s leading scorer this season, averaging 19.1 points per game, third best in the conference and fifth best nationally. She scored a career-high 381 points in 2024-25 as she reached the 900-career point plateau. She led the AUS in blocks and finished third in U SPORTS in rebounding. Butts reached the 600-career rebound plateau in 2024-25 and was named a conference first-team all-star this season.

She has worked to develop and implement the “Send a Kid to Camp Fund,” which allows children to attend UNB summer sport camps who might not otherwise be able to. She designed and sold UNB athletics merchandise with profits going to the fund. Butts is also credited with reviving UNB’s “Read with the REDS” program, which sees student-athletes visit local elementary schools and read to classrooms. Butts is a two-time Academic All-Canadian and boasted a 4.1 GPA during the first semester. She serves as co-president of the UNB Athletes Council and volunteers as an official for youth basketball games.

Other nominees: Dalyssa Fleurgin (Concordia), Renee Armstrong (Guelph), Jade Belmore (Regina)

Tracy MacLeod Award (student-athlete community service) – Ally Smith, Queen’s

Ally Smith has experienced unimaginable loss, while also managing untimely injuries this season, but has continued her unmatched perseverance to bring light and laughter to the Gaels program. Shortly after being named to the starting lineup, she learned that her father had died from suicide.

In the days leading up to her father’s funeral, Smith learned that she would require elbow surgery, with a full recovery timeline of approximately two to three months. Opting to delay surgery until the offseason, she has managed her pain with monthly injections. The third-year guard missed two weeks of practice and Queen’s first three regular season games before deciding that being back in Kingston, and subsequently, being back on the court, was the best thing for her mental health and well-being.

In her first game back, Smith had a career night, hitting new personal bests in points, field goals, three pointers, and free throws. Towards the end of the season, however, while contesting a lay-up, Smith fell awkwardly into a wall and directly onto her wrist. She missed the Gaels’ second game of the weekend due to a lack of wrist mobility and significant pain but rehabbed aggressively to get back on the court as quickly as possible and to be available for the team's final games of the regular season. 

Despite these significant life events and injuries, Smith has continued to find ways to impact the Gaels in winning ways. As the team’s primary perimeter defender, she anchored a defence that is ranked first in the OUA and second in U SPORTS for points per game allowed (51.5 points), while also averaging career highs in rebounds, steals, and blocks. As a secondary ball-handler and facilitator, she has also contributed to Queen’s on the offensive side of the ball, with career highs in points and assists as well.

Off the court, when two Gaels captains were sidelined with early season-ending injuries, the kinesiology student immediately filled the leadership gap, taking on additional roles and responsibilities. Despite missing significant school in the middle of the fall semester, she is on track to be named an academic all-Canadian for the third straight year. In her spare time, she can often be found helping teammates work towards their academic goals as well.

Other nominees: Sarah Delorey (Acadia), Kyra Collier (Lethbridge).

Peter Ennis Award (Fox40 Coach of the Year) – Dani Sinclair, Carleton

Dani Sinclair's Ravens impressed every by improving on their 21-1 season in 2023-24, going a perfect 22-0 through 2024-25 to mark only the second undefeated regular season in program history. The Guelph, Ont. product led her group as they responded to the pressure of being back-to-back national champions by holding their opponents to under 60 points in 17 of 22 regular season games, while winning by 30 points or more on seven occasions.  Sinclair’s squad scored 75.4 points per game, shooting 41.6 per cent from the field and 31 per cent from beyond the arc. It is no surprise with these leading numbers that Sinclair was able to get the most out of her roster day in and day out. 

With an already stacked list of accolades, including the 2024 Ottawa Sports Awards Female Coach of the Year, as well as being a two-time winner of the Carleton’s Pat O'Brien Coach of the Year award, she now becomes only the second Carleton coach to win the Peter Ennis Award, after Taffe Charles in 2018.

Other nominees: Scott Munro (Saint Mary’s), Guillaume Giroux (Laval), Lisa Thomaidis (Saskatchewan)

Men’s Major Award Winners 

Mike Moser Memorial Trophy (most valuable player) – Nate Petrone, Calgary

After a breakout performance in his first season on the court with the Dinos a season ago, Nate Petrone took his game to yet another level, establishing himself as the top player in all of U SPORTS this season. The 6-foot-2 guard was simply dominant every time out, scoring 484 points on the year in 20 games – the most in the country. His 24.2 points/game average saw him finish second in U SPORTS, while also shooting at an incredible clip for a guard at 56.8 percent – ninth best in the nation. 

The Calgary product also dished out 99 assists on the year, ranking him in the top 10 in U SPORTS in that category, as well. He also finished his fourth year going 98-110 (89.1%) from the free-throw line and 50-116 (43.1%) from three-point range. 

Petrone is the fourth Dino to be named national player of the year, following Brett Layton (2020), Richard Bohne (1996) and Karl Tilleman (1982 and 1983). 

Other nominees: D.J. Jackson (StFX), Charles Robert (Bishop’s), Aaron Rhooms (Toronto Metropolitan).

Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy (rookie of the year) – Ollie Engen, Queen’s

Ollie Engen had an immediate impact on the floor for the Gaels, leading the team in scoring with 18.8 points per game, fifth in the OUA and 14^th overall in the country. The Kingston product finished third in Canada with 161 field goals overall and was sixth in free-throw percentage (86.3%). He demonstrated skill and versatility on both ends of the court, leading the Gaels to a 16-6 regular season record and a spot in the Wilson Cup final and their fourth straight trip to the Final 8. 

Engen becomes the first Gael to win the award. 

Other nominees: Ryan Regault (Acadia), Noah Sincere (McGill), Kyle Varner (Alberta). 

Defensive player of the year – Sam Maillet, Victoria

Sam Maillet is the 2024-25 U SPORTS defensive player of the year and has the unique distinction of being the only person to win defensive player of the year in two different conferences. After completing his undergraduate work at Dalhousie – where was named AUS defensive player of the year in 2022 and won three AUS titles, he transferred to Victoria to pursue an MBA this season. He helped the Vikes to a 20-0 Canada West season and the third-lowest opponent scoring average in the conference (70.2 points per game). The product of Moncton, N.B., averaged 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for Victoria, while leading the team and ranking eighth in the conference with a 4.0 assists per game average. His 2.1 assist to turnover ratio tied for third best in Canada West in 2024-25.  

Maillet becomes the first Vike to win the award. 

Other nominees: Jeff Ngandu (StFX), Étienne Gagnon (Bishop’s), Jacque-Mélanie Guemeta (Ottawa).

Ken Shields Award (student-athlete community service) – Alexander Dewar, Saskatchewan

Kamari Scott of the UPEI Panthers is the 2024-25 recipient of the prestigious Ken Shields Award. Scott worked hard on the court, in the classroom and in the community this season. 

A business student in his final year of eligibility from Mississauga, Ont., he averaged 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season for the Panthers. He is a two-time all-star, having been named an AUS First Team All-Star this season and an AUS Second Team All-Star last season.

Successful in the classroom as well as on the court, Scott achieved Academic All-Canadian status last season and was the UPEI nominee for AUS's prestigious James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award. He was also the recipient of the U SPORTS and BlackNorth Initiative's Athletes on Track bursary.

Scott lends his time to several community initiatives, both on and off campus. He has been active with UPEI youth basketball camps, visits to local schools and has organized opportunities for youth in the community to come watch the Panthers' games and meet the players. He also serves as a youth basketball official—refereeing games at local middle schools and high schools. On campus, he is a member of UPEI's Sports Industry Society, as well as the Black Student Association.

Scott is the first UPEI Panther, and the 10th AUS athlete, to earn the Ken Shields Award.

Other nominees: Charles Robert (Bishop’s), Ismail Hassan (Guelph), Asher Mayan (Thompson Rivers).

Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Award (Fox 40 Coach of the Year) – Craig Beaucamp, Victoria

In his first year at the helm of the University of Victoria men’s basketball program, Murphy Burnatowski has guided the Vikes to a 20-0 Canada West season, marking the fourth undefeated conference season in program history and first since 1983-84. Additionally, Burnatowski becomes the first coach in U SPORTS men’s basketball since 1975-76 to guide their program to an undefeated conference season in their first year. Burnatowski’s team has been ranked No. 1 in the U SPORTS Top 10 all season and the top seed in the Canada West playoffs. His team’s 89.5 points per game scoring average was the second-best in the league, while their 70.2 points per game allowed to their opponents was third in the conference.  

Burnatowski is the third Victoria coach to win the national coach of the year honour, following the legendary Ken Shields (1979, 1982, 1983) and Craig Beaucamp (2024).

Other nominees: Darrell Glenn (UPEI), Matt McLean (Bishop’s), Ryan Thomson (Lakehead).

2025 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS

Nan Copp Trophy (player of the year): Gage Grassick, Saskatchewan

Kathy Shields Award (rookie of the year): Keira Daly, UBC 

Sylvia Sweeney Award (student-athlete community service): Katie Butts, UNB

Tracy MacLeod Award (courage overcoming adversity): Ally Smith, Queen’s

Defensive Player of the Year: Clara Gascoigne, Saint Mary’s

Peter Ennis Award (Fox40 Coach of the Year): Dani Sinclair, Carleton

First Team All-Canadians

Second Team All-Canadians

All-Rookie Team