2015 Provincial Annual Award Winners

The 2015 Provincial Annual Award Winners were announced Saturday night (April 16th) at the 2016 Stars and Legends Awards Gala at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John’s, NL.

 

Sport Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Annual Awards recognized the best athletic achievements in the past year. Awards were presented in nine categories, including: Senior Male and Female Athlete of the Year; Junior Male and Female Athlete of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach of the Year; Executive of the Year; Official of the Year; and, Volunteer of the Year.

 

Three finalists from each category were selected by Sport Newfoundland and Labrador’s selection committee, from a list of nominees compiled by 18 member organizations across the province.

 

Junior Female Athlete of the Year: Samantha Marsh (Target Shooting)

Junior Male Athlete of the Year: Liam Hickey (Sledge Hockey & Wheelchair Basketball)

Executive of the Year: Doug Redmond (Soccer)

Volunteer of the Year: Brian Hunt (Baseball)

Coach of the Year: Keith Randell (Volleyball)

Team of the Year: Galway Hitmen (Softball)

Official of the Year: Joan Butler (Swimming)

Senior Female Athlete of the Year: Sarah Davis (Hockey)

Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Sean Cleary (Softball)

 

 

 

Target shooter Samantha Marsh of Mount Pearl had an incredible 2015 that saw podium finishes both provincially and nationally. Samantha captured second overall in the 10m Rifle Provincial championships, third overall at the 10m Rifle Atlantic championships and then first at the Canada Games 10m Rifle competition and 1st in the team event. Her outstanding showings lead her to compete internationally as she took part in the 10m and 50m Junior Cup, and the 10m and 50m Universiade.

 

 

 

Liam Hickey of St. John’s has had a tremendous year as a sledge hockey and wheelchair basketball athlete. He is the first player in Newfoundland and Labrador to be named to national teams in both wheelchair basketball and sledge hockey and one of a very few to be named to both teams in the same year. Liam has represented Canada in wheelchair basketball at the Parapan American games in Toronto placing second and qualifying for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio, Brazil. His sledge hockey skills lead him to become one of twenty players to represent Canada for the 2015-2016 team as they build the next team for the 2018 Paralympics in South Korea.

 

 

 

Doug Redmond of St. John’s has been a tireless worker for soccer, serving as President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association for many years and with some 40 years of administrative experience with the sport. Doug has an active role with all major committees and finds time to attend provincial training camps, tournaments, jamborees and festivals. A career highlight this year was Doug’s appointment as the Canadian Soccer Association’s Head of Delegation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, liaising with the Moncton Local Organizing Committee.

 

 

 

In 2015, Brian Hunt of Mount Pearl was the driving force behind many of Mount Pearl Minor Baseball initiatives to make the sport better for all involved. He is the face of minor baseball in Mount Pearl and has steadily increased registration and programming, making it the second largest association in Newfoundland and Labrador. He is heavily involved in bettering the game and is the Eastern Director for Baseball NL (BNL) making him responsible to ensure all BNL sanctioned tournaments on the Avalon Peninsula have BNL representation. He works tirelessly to ensure things are done properly on top of his nightly baseball activities and lobbying for several major infrastructure upgrades for facilities in this province. He has secured funding for the new, lit baseball field currently under construction in Mount Pearl and has secured funding for several other renovations to multiple fields, giving players safe and inviting fields for their sport.

 

 

 

Clarenville volleyball coach Keith Randell of Clarenville had a very successful 2015 locally, provincially and nationally. Keith coached the Clarenville Middle School Boys Grade 9 team and the senior boys team at Clarenville High. In total, Keith’s team won a total of 14 tournaments, most notably the Newfoundland and Labrador Volleyball Associations U15 provincials, Volleyfest, Juvenile A championships and the School Sports NL 4A title for the fourth consecutive year. The year was capped off when Clarenville High travelled to Calgary for the National Championships and took home the Tier 2 gold medal. Between his two teams, Keith’s coaching record in 2015 was 86-4 and his teams were awarded Junior and Senior Team of the year by the Newfoundland and Labrador Volleyball Association.

 

 

 

The Galway Hitmen Senior Softball Team captured the provinces fourth straight Canadian Senior Men’s Fastpitch Championships edging out Nova Scotia 4-3 for the gold medal. The win makes Newfoundland and Labrador one of only two provinces to capture four consecutive wins (British Columbia being the other). The team’s overall record at the nationals was an impressive seven wins and one loss.

 

 

 

2015 was an extraordinary year for Joan Butler of Kelligrews as a swimming official. Nationally, Joan is regarded as one of Canada’s top swimming officials. She was one of just seven to be nominated by Swimming Canada’s Technical Swimming Committee to be granted the title of a F.I.N.A. (Federation Internationale de Natation) official. Now eligible to officiate at international swim meets, Joan was asked to officiate at the Canadian Pan American Trials in April 2015, as well as the Pan American Games held in Toronto. Locally, Joan has volunteered her time to referee at various club level meets.

 

 

 

Sarah Davis of Paradise was the first woman from this province to be selected to a National Women’s Hockey Team, picked twice in 2015 and capturing two silver medals in both the Four Nations Cup and the Women’s World Hockey Championships. She also enjoyed a successful season and second place regular season finish with the Calgary Inferno in the elite Canadian Women’s Hockey League, playing 24 games with seven goals and six assists. Sarah’s accomplishments have turned her into a high-profile role model for aspiring hockey players in the province.

 

 

Hailing from Harbour Main, Sean Cleary enjoyed a golden year on the softball diamond and pitching circle at the local, provincial and national level. In league play, he led his team to a first place regular season and playoff finish, onto a first place provincial finish and was named top batter and most valuable player. Sean’s team, the Galway Hitmen won gold at the Senior Nationals and Sean was again named playoff MVP. Sean pitched Team Canada to gold medals at both the WBSC World Championships and the Pan American (Pan Am) Games.

 

Bio's From: Sport NL

 

NL Fastpitch Would Like To Take This Opportunity To Congratulate All Of The 2015 Provincial Annual Award Winners!

 

Congratulations!

 

NL Fastpitch Would Like To Take This Opportunity To Congratulate Sean Cleary On Being Named Senior Male Athlete of the Year - Ferd Hayward Memorial Award.

 

Congratulations Sean!

 

NL Fastpitch Would Like To Take This Opportunity To Congratulate The Galway Hitmen On Being Named Team of the Year - Edward P. Browne Memorial Award.

 

Congratulations Galway Hitmen!

 

NL Fastpitch Would Like To Take This Opportunity To Congratulate Mark Dwyer On Being Named A Finalists For Coach of the Year - John Drinkwater Memorial Award.

 

Congratulations Mark!