MCDERMOTT NAMED OCAA WOMEN'S RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

TORONTO - Algonquin first-year prop Danika McDermott (Ottawa) is the 2012 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) women's rugby player of the year.

As one of the top front row players in OCAA, McDermott has brought years of experience playing with some of the top club teams in the province. Her raw strength, ability to score close to the line, ball-handling skills, technique in contact along with tackling ability makes her a force to be reckoned with on the pitch. Her natural leadership skills with the younger, less experienced players made her invaluable to Algonquin's success this season. Offensively, she contributed three tries in four matches.

Khadeisha Thompson of Sheridan is the OCAA West and overall rookie of the year. Thompson is a rookie in every sense of the word, only picking up the sport this past summer. She has had an immediate physical impact in a short period of time, culminating in a starting role in the front row by the third league game. As she learns the overall scope of the game she should become a dominating player both offensively and defensively.

Jennifer Boyd of Algonquin is the East and overall coach of the year. In just their second season in OCAA, the Thunder dominated during the regular season, scoring an OCAA-high 387 points while shutting out their opponents six straight times en route to an East region title. Under Boyd's guidance, McDermott earned top player status while another teammate also receives a major award. Centre Maya Williams (Hamilton) is OCAA East rookie of the year after winning the division scoring championship scoring 14 tries in six games.  

Brett McCully of Humber is the West coach of the year. West region champion Humber was also undefeated during the regular season, outscoring the opposition 340-3 in five league matches. McCully's fifth-year player Lindsey Bradbury (Utopia) earned the East and overall scoring title with six tries and 25 converts in five matches.

Each OCAA team nominates two all-stars. The OCAA all-stars from the East include McDermott and Courtney Mastine (Pembroke) of Algonquin; Fleming's Amy Groves (Sutton) and Simone Roesink (Alma); Lyndsie Baxter (Carrying Place) and Elizabeth Chisholm (Belleville) of Loyalist; and St. Lawrence-Kingston's Stephanie Doornekamp (Westport) and Mariah Patrick (Napanee).

The OCAA West all-stars include Diane Bushell (Walkerton) and Candace Scholten (Baden) of Conestoga; Humber's Bradbury and Kelsey Bardy (Caledon); Stephanie Draper (Stoney Creek) and Gloria Hernandez (Brantford) of Mohawk; Seneca's Carleigh Andonovski (Uxbridge) and Katelyn Carey (Burlington); and Sarah Llew-Williams (Kingston) and Shannon Paterson (Mississauga) of Sheridan.

The 2012 OCAA women's rugby bronze medal match will take place at St. Lawrence-Kingston against Seneca. Algonquin hosts the gold medal match against Humber in a clash of unbeaten teams. Both matches will take place Saturday.

2012 OCAA WOMEN'S RUGBY AWARDS

OCAA Women's Rugby Player of the Year
Danika McDermott, Algonquin

OCAA Women's Rugby Overall Rookie of the Year
Khadeisha Thompson, Sheridan

OCAA Women's Rugby East Division Rookie of the Year
Maya Williams, Algonquin

OCAA Women's Rugby West Division Rookie of the Year
Khadeisha Thompson, Sheridan

OCAA Women's Rugby Coach of the Year
Jennifer Boyd, Algonquin

OCAA Women's Rugby East Division Coach of the Year
Jennifer Boyd, Algonquin

OCAA Women's Rugby West Division Coach of the Year
Brett McCully, Humber

OCAA Women's Rugby League Scoring Champion
Lindsey Bradbury, Humber

OCAA Women's Rugby East Division Scoring Champion
Maya Williams, Algonquin

OCAA Women's Rugby West Division Scoring Champion
Lindsey Bradbury, Humber

OCAA Women's Rugby All-Stars
Courtney Mastine, Algonquin
Danika McDermott, Algonquin
Diane Bushell, Conestoga
Candace Scholten, Conestoga
Amy Groves, Fleming
Simone Roesink, Fleming
Kelsey Bardy, Humber
Lindsey Bradbury, Humber
Lyndsie Baxter, Loyalist
Elizabeth Chisholm, Loyalist
Stephanie Draper, Mohawk
Gloria Hernandez, Mohawk
Stephanie Doornekamp, St. Lawrence-Kingston
Mariah Patrick, St. Lawrence-Kingston
Carleigh Andonovski, Seneca
Katelyn Carey, Seneca
Sarah Llew-Williams, Sheridan
Shannon Paterson, Sheridan

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com