Athlete of the Month Voting – January 2025
Please submit your choice for the January Athlete of the Month, along with your name and email by noon on Friday, February 7.
More information on the nominees is available below, click on an athlete’s name to learn more.
Nominee Information
Huskies 18U Premier Team, Volleyball – Gold medals at two national 17U/18U competitions
HUSKIES 18U PREMIER TEAM
Nominee Accomplishments
Competition Name
Pandas New Years Classic
Date of Competition
January 3-4, 2025
Location of Competition
Edmonton, AB
Scope
National
Number of participating provinces
one to three
Number of participating countries
one to three
Number of participants in category/event
10 to 39
Nominee Placing/Medals Won
GOLD out of 20 17U/18U teams
Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event
None awarded
Was this competition a qualifier for:
Highest competition available
Provide any other athletic highlights from competition
First time a Saskatchewan team has won this competition. Went undefeated at 7-0.
Second Competition
Competition Name
Royals Rumble Invitational
Date of Competition
January 24-26, 2025
Location of Competition
Vancouver, BC
Scope
National
Number of participating provinces
four to six
Number of participating countries
one to three
Number of participants in category/event
10 to 39
Nominee Placing/Medals Won
GOLD out of 24 17U/18U teams
Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event
Emerson Matthews – MVP
Reese Stroeder – Best libero
Olivia Orosz – All-star
Abby Wasutyk – All-star
Was this competition a qualifier for:
Highest competition available
Provide any other athletic highlights from competition
First time a Saskatchewan team has ever won this tournament.
Other
Provide any other information that you think will strengthen the nomination.
Four players are on different National Teams. There are 9 athletes on the team and 7 are in Grade 12 and are all committed to NCAA, U-Sport or ACAC teams. The other 2 are in Grade 10 and will have their opportunities. No Saskatchewan team has ever won these tournaments, let alone 3 weeks apart!
Michael Hussey, Athletics – Canadian U20 record at an international event, as well as multiple podium finishes at regional events
MICHAEL HUSSEY
Nominee Accomplishments
Competition Name
Sanderson Classic
Date of Competition
January 10-11, 2025
Location of Competition
Saskatoon, SK
Scope
Regional
Number of participating provinces
one to three
Number of participating countries
one to three
Number of participants in category/event
10 to 39
Nominee Placing/Medals Won
First Place (Gold Medal) – Men’s 600m, Tenth Place – Men’s 1000m
Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event
Canadian Running Magazine Men’s U Sports Track Athlete of the Week
Was this competition a qualifier for:
National
What did they qualify for?
U Sports National Track and Field Championships
Provide any other athletic highlights from competition
Michael ran a time of 1:19.74, a time which automatically qualifies him for the U Sports National Track and Field Championships in March. This time is also the fifth fastest time ever by a Huskie in this event.
Second Competition
Competition Name
Golden Bear Open
Date of Competition
January 17-19, 2025
Location of Competition
Edmonton, AB
Scope
Regional
Number of participating provinces
one to three
Number of participating countries
one to three
Number of participants in category/event
10 to 39
Nominee Placing/Medals Won
Second Place (Silver Medal) – Men’s 4x800m Relay, Ninth Place – Men’s 600m, Fifth Place – Men’s 4x400m
Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event
Second Place (Silver Medal) – Men’s 4x800m Relay
Was this competition a qualifier for:
National
What did they qualify for?
U Sports National Track and Field Championships
Provide any other athletic highlights from competition
Michael was a key member of the U of S Huskies 4x800m Men’s Relay team, which ran a time of 7:41.06. Based on this result the U of S Huskies 4x800m Men’s Relay team is currently ranked 4th in the country. The team will enter the U Sports National Track and Field Championships as one of the top ranked teams with this result.
Third Competition
Competition Name
Penn State National Open
Date of Competition
January 31 – February 1, 2025
Location of Competition
University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
Scope
International
Number of participating countries
one to three
Number of participants in category/event
10 to 39
Nominee Placing/Medals Won
Fourth Place – Men’s 600m
Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event
Canadian U20 National Record – Men’s 600m
Was this competition a qualifier for:
National
What did they qualify for?
U Sports National Track and Field Championships
Provide any other athletic highlights from competition
Michael ran a time of 1:18.17 in the 600m, which is a new Canadian U20 National Record. This time beats the previous U20 National Record of 1:18.39. Michael’s time of 1:18.17 is also the 3rd fastest time ever by a Huskie in this event.
Other
Provide any other information that you think will strengthen the nomination.
This is Michael’s first year as a university track and field athlete.
Stryker Zablocki, Hockey – Gold medal with Team Canada at the U18 Women’s World Championship in addition to being named a tournament all-star for leading all teams in goals
STRYKER ZABLOCKI
Nominee Accomplishments
Competition Name
2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship
Date of Competition
Jan. 4-12, 2025
Location of Competition
Vantaa, Finland
Scope
International
Number of participating countries
seven to nine
Number of participants in category/event
100+
Nominee Placing/Medals Won
Won Gold as forward with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team
Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event
Zablocki – who led the tournament in goals (8) and points (12) in six games – was named to the Media All-star Team.
Was this competition a qualifier for:
Highest competition available
Provide any other athletic highlights from competition
Zablocki was accompanied by two other Saskatchewan-born players on Team Canada in Finland. Forward Alida Korte (hometown: Saskatoon) and goalie Ava Drabyk (hometown: Saskatoon) were also on Team Canada. All three of these athletes represented their home province on Team Saskatchewan at the 2024 Under-18 Women’s National Championship in New Brunswick from Nov. 3-9 where they placed 4th.
Other
Provide any other information that you think will strengthen the nomination.
By Hockey Canada
VANTAA, Finland – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team has won the gold medal at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, shutting out the United States 3-0 on Sunday at Tikkurila Arena.
It’s the eighth gold for Canada at U18 Women’s Worlds (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025).
After a scoreless first period, Caileigh Tiller (St. Catharines, ON/Burlington, OWHA U22 Elite) broke the deadlock with a power-play goal just past the eight-minute mark of the second. Dorothy Copetti (Toronto, ON/Durham West, OWHA U22 Elite) added an insurance marker midway through the third period before Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, SK/Bishop Kearney Selects, USHS) finished the scoring into an empty net with less than two minutes to go.
Sydney Sawyer (Burketon, ON/Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) added a pair of assists, while Danica Maynard (Osoyoos, BC/RHA Kelowna, CSSHL) and Alex Therien (Ottawa, ON/Nepean, OWHA U22 Elite) chipped in with a helper apiece. The Canadians outshot the Americans 30-14.
“This has been so amazing; we have such an amazing staff and have shared in all of this. I am so happy and so proud of everybody on our team,” said head coach Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA). “We spoke about getting one percent better every day and the team really showed that. They wanted to get better every day and be better for each other. It was a full team effort all tournament long.”
Marilou Grenier (Québec, QC/Limoilou, RSEQ) made 14 saves for her fourth win in as many starts. She finished the tournament with a 1.00 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, along with two shutouts.
Following the gold medal game, Canadian captain Chloe Primerano (North Vancouver, BC/University of Minnesota, WCHA) was named Best Defender for the second year in a row. She also joined Zablocki – who led the tournament in goals (8) and points (12) – on the media all-star team.
Primerano finished with 26 points (12-14—26) across two appearances at U18 Women’s Worlds, tying Marie-Philip Poulin for the most by a Canadian at the tournament. In Saturday’s semifinal win over Czechia, she surpassed Caitlin Kraemer as the all-time leading scorer with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team; Primerano finished her U18 career with 37 points (18-19—37) in 21 games.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok and by using #U18WomensWorlds.
Athlete of the Month Voting
Please submit your choice for the January Athlete of the Month, along with your name and email by noon on Friday, February 7.
More information on the nominees is available below, click on an athlete’s name to learn more.
Nominee Information
HUSKIES 18U PREMIER TEAM
| Nominee Accomplishments |
| Competition Name |
|
Pandas New Years Classic |
| Date of Competition |
|
January 3-4, 2025 |
| Location of Competition |
|
Edmonton, AB |
| Scope |
|
National |
| Number of participating provinces |
|
one to three |
| Number of participating countries |
|
one to three |
| Number of participants in category/event |
|
10 to 39 |
| Nominee Placing/Medals Won |
|
GOLD out of 20 17U/18U teams |
| Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event |
|
None awarded |
| Was this competition a qualifier for: |
|
Highest competition available |
| Provide any other athletic highlights from competition |
|
First time a Saskatchewan team has won this competition. Went undefeated at 7-0. |
| Second Competition |
| Competition Name |
|
Royals Rumble Invitational |
| Date of Competition |
|
January 24-26, 2025 |
| Location of Competition |
|
Vancouver, BC |
| Scope |
|
National |
| Number of participating provinces |
|
four to six |
| Number of participating countries |
|
one to three |
| Number of participants in category/event |
|
10 to 39 |
| Nominee Placing/Medals Won |
|
GOLD out of 24 17U/18U teams |
| Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event |
|
Emerson Matthews – MVP |
| Was this competition a qualifier for: |
|
Highest competition available |
| Provide any other athletic highlights from competition |
|
First time a Saskatchewan team has ever won this tournament. |
| Other |
| Provide any other information that you think will strengthen the nomination. |
|
Four players are on different National Teams. There are 9 athletes on the team and 7 are in Grade 12 and are all committed to NCAA, U-Sport or ACAC teams. The other 2 are in Grade 10 and will have their opportunities. No Saskatchewan team has ever won these tournaments, let alone 3 weeks apart! |
MICHAEL HUSSEY
| Nominee Accomplishments |
| Competition Name |
|
Sanderson Classic |
| Date of Competition |
|
January 10-11, 2025 |
| Location of Competition |
|
Saskatoon, SK |
| Scope |
|
Regional |
| Number of participating provinces |
|
one to three |
| Number of participating countries |
|
one to three |
| Number of participants in category/event |
|
10 to 39 |
| Nominee Placing/Medals Won |
|
First Place (Gold Medal) – Men’s 600m, Tenth Place – Men’s 1000m |
| Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event |
|
Canadian Running Magazine Men’s U Sports Track Athlete of the Week |
| Was this competition a qualifier for: |
|
National |
| What did they qualify for? |
|
U Sports National Track and Field Championships |
| Provide any other athletic highlights from competition |
|
Michael ran a time of 1:19.74, a time which automatically qualifies him for the U Sports National Track and Field Championships in March. This time is also the fifth fastest time ever by a Huskie in this event. |
| Second Competition |
| Competition Name |
|
Golden Bear Open |
| Date of Competition |
|
January 17-19, 2025 |
| Location of Competition |
|
Edmonton, AB |
| Scope |
|
Regional |
| Number of participating provinces |
|
one to three |
| Number of participating countries |
|
one to three |
| Number of participants in category/event |
|
10 to 39 |
| Nominee Placing/Medals Won |
|
Second Place (Silver Medal) – Men’s 4x800m Relay, Ninth Place – Men’s 600m, Fifth Place – Men’s 4x400m |
| Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event |
|
Second Place (Silver Medal) – Men’s 4x800m Relay |
| Was this competition a qualifier for: |
|
National |
| What did they qualify for? |
|
U Sports National Track and Field Championships |
| Provide any other athletic highlights from competition |
|
Michael was a key member of the U of S Huskies 4x800m Men’s Relay team, which ran a time of 7:41.06. Based on this result the U of S Huskies 4x800m Men’s Relay team is currently ranked 4th in the country. The team will enter the U Sports National Track and Field Championships as one of the top ranked teams with this result. |
| Third Competition |
| Competition Name |
|
Penn State National Open |
| Date of Competition |
|
January 31 – February 1, 2025 |
| Location of Competition |
|
University Park, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Scope |
|
International |
| Number of participating countries |
|
one to three |
| Number of participants in category/event |
|
10 to 39 |
| Nominee Placing/Medals Won |
|
Fourth Place – Men’s 600m |
| Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event |
|
Canadian U20 National Record – Men’s 600m |
| Was this competition a qualifier for: |
|
National |
| What did they qualify for? |
|
U Sports National Track and Field Championships |
| Provide any other athletic highlights from competition |
|
Michael ran a time of 1:18.17 in the 600m, which is a new Canadian U20 National Record. This time beats the previous U20 National Record of 1:18.39. Michael’s time of 1:18.17 is also the 3rd fastest time ever by a Huskie in this event. |
| Other |
| Provide any other information that you think will strengthen the nomination. |
|
This is Michael’s first year as a university track and field athlete. |
STRYKER ZABLOCKI
| Nominee Accomplishments |
| Competition Name |
|
2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship |
| Date of Competition |
|
Jan. 4-12, 2025 |
| Location of Competition |
|
Vantaa, Finland |
| Scope |
|
International |
| Number of participating countries |
|
seven to nine |
| Number of participants in category/event |
|
100+ |
| Nominee Placing/Medals Won |
|
Won Gold as forward with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team |
| Nominee All-Stars/Awards at event |
|
Zablocki – who led the tournament in goals (8) and points (12) in six games – was named to the Media All-star Team. |
| Was this competition a qualifier for: |
|
Highest competition available |
| Provide any other athletic highlights from competition |
|
Zablocki was accompanied by two other Saskatchewan-born players on Team Canada in Finland. Forward Alida Korte (hometown: Saskatoon) and goalie Ava Drabyk (hometown: Saskatoon) were also on Team Canada. All three of these athletes represented their home province on Team Saskatchewan at the 2024 Under-18 Women’s National Championship in New Brunswick from Nov. 3-9 where they placed 4th. |
| Other |
| Provide any other information that you think will strengthen the nomination. |
|
By Hockey Canada VANTAA, Finland – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team has won the gold medal at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, shutting out the United States 3-0 on Sunday at Tikkurila Arena. It’s the eighth gold for Canada at U18 Women’s Worlds (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025). After a scoreless first period, Caileigh Tiller (St. Catharines, ON/Burlington, OWHA U22 Elite) broke the deadlock with a power-play goal just past the eight-minute mark of the second. Dorothy Copetti (Toronto, ON/Durham West, OWHA U22 Elite) added an insurance marker midway through the third period before Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, SK/Bishop Kearney Selects, USHS) finished the scoring into an empty net with less than two minutes to go. Sydney Sawyer (Burketon, ON/Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) added a pair of assists, while Danica Maynard (Osoyoos, BC/RHA Kelowna, CSSHL) and Alex Therien (Ottawa, ON/Nepean, OWHA U22 Elite) chipped in with a helper apiece. The Canadians outshot the Americans 30-14. “This has been so amazing; we have such an amazing staff and have shared in all of this. I am so happy and so proud of everybody on our team,” said head coach Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA). “We spoke about getting one percent better every day and the team really showed that. They wanted to get better every day and be better for each other. It was a full team effort all tournament long.” Marilou Grenier (Québec, QC/Limoilou, RSEQ) made 14 saves for her fourth win in as many starts. She finished the tournament with a 1.00 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, along with two shutouts. Following the gold medal game, Canadian captain Chloe Primerano (North Vancouver, BC/University of Minnesota, WCHA) was named Best Defender for the second year in a row. She also joined Zablocki – who led the tournament in goals (8) and points (12) – on the media all-star team. Primerano finished with 26 points (12-14—26) across two appearances at U18 Women’s Worlds, tying Marie-Philip Poulin for the most by a Canadian at the tournament. In Saturday’s semifinal win over Czechia, she surpassed Caitlin Kraemer as the all-time leading scorer with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team; Primerano finished her U18 career with 37 points (18-19—37) in 21 games. For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok and by using #U18WomensWorlds. |
Athlete of the Month Voting
Voting was open until noon on February 7. It is now closed.