Rancourt falls short in CIS athlete of the year honours

MATTHEW WUEST, Metro Halifax

April 28, 2009

Marc Rancourt fell short in his bid to win Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s top prize last night in Toronto.
The Saint Mary’s Huskies hockey star was edged out by Alberta Golden Bears volleyball standout Joel Schmuland for the BLG Award as CIS male athlete of the year.
Swimmer Annamay Pierse of the British Columbia Thunderbirds was named female athlete of the year.
The 17th annual BLG Awards were unveiled at a ceremony at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre.
Schmuland and Pierse will receive a trophy and a $10,000 scholarship to attend graduate school. As a nominee, Rancourt will receive a commemorative gold ring.
Schmuland, a 6-foot-7 right side from Calgary, led the Golden Bears to a 23-0 record and was named CIS men’s volleyball player of the year and playoff MVP. He also claimed his third national title in five seasons with the Golden Bears.
Rancourt, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound forward from Gloucester, Ont., produced a nation-leading 57 points in just 28 games and was named CIS men’s hockey MVP. He led the Huskies to an Atlantic University Sport championship.
Pierse, a 2008 Olympian, was CIS swimmer of the year and won the three breaststroke events in meet record times at the Canada West and national championships.