Skip to main content

McMaster University quarterback Kyle Quinlan poses with the Hec Crighton trophy during the CFL awards in Toronto Thursday, November 22, 2012.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

McMaster University quarterback Kyle Quinlan is one of four nominees for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport male athlete of the year honour.

The other men's finalists for the men's BLG Award include Saint Mary's hockey player Lucas Bloodoff, Concordia wrestler David Tremblay and soccer player Gagan Dosanjh from UBC.

Quinlan won the Hec Crighton Trophy last season as the top player in Canadian university football. He helped the Marauders repeat as OUA champions and reach the Vanier Cup for the second straight year.

The female BLG Award nominees include Saint Mary's basketball player Justine Colley, McGill hockey player Melodie Daoust, Guelph rugby player Britt Benn and UBC volleyball player Shanice Marcelle.

"To be nominated for the BLG Awards is one of the most prestigious honours our 11,000 student-athletes can aspire to in their university careers," CIS chief executive officer Pierre Lafontaine said Wednesday in a release. "This year's nominees are all exceptional athletes who are also leaders on their campuses and in their communities, and they are truly the future of our country."

The award winners will be named April 29 at a ceremony in Toronto. Each winner will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship.

Bloodoff earned CIS MVP honours in men's hockey after scoring 20 goals and adding 18 assists in 28 league games.

Tremblay became only the third male wrestler in CIS history to claim a fifth gold medal in as many seasons at the national championship. He finished his career with an 80-0 record at Canadian university meets.

Dosanjh led Canada West in goals (12) and points (21) in 14 league games en route to conference player-of-the-year honours. He added four goals in three matches at the national championship and was named MVP of the competition after guiding the T-Birds to the national title.

Colley was named CIS player of the year in women's basketball after leading the country in scoring for the third straight season. She helped the Huskies to a third-place finish at the national championship.

Daoust became the first player in CIS women's hockey history to be named the nation's top rookie and player of the year in back-to-back seasons. She captured the national scoring crown with 54 points in 20 games, guiding the Martlets to a perfect 20-0 mark in league play.

Benn was voted CIS MVP in women's rugby after she recorded 80 points and 16 tries in only six conference matches. In the playoffs, she helped the Gryphons claim a silver medal at the national championship.

Marcelle wrapped up one of the most decorated careers in CIS women's volleyball history by guiding the Thunderbirds to a fifth national title in as many years. She was voted a CIS championship all-star for the fifth time.

The BLG Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with CIS.

Interact with The Globe