2009 Canada West field hockey awards & all-stars

by Canada West Athletics Communications Office

Archive photo courtesy Rob Hislop / U of Alberta Athletics: 2008 Rookie of the Year Jackie Trautman of the Pandas has been voted 2009 Canada West field hockey Player of the Year

EDMONTON - After scoring twice and winning 2008-09 Canada West Rookie of the Year, University of Alberta defender Jackie Trautman has been named 2009-10 conference Player of the Year.

Trautman, a Delta, B.C. native, scored seven times in 12 conference games this year, helping the Pandas to a 3-7-2 mark overall, good enough for third place and a trip to CIS Nationals in November. The 19-year-old Science major played a pivotal role in wins over Calgary, conference champion UBC and defending CIS champion Victoria. She even scored three goals in a 4-2 win over Calgary early in the season.

"It is fantastic for Jackie to be named Canada West Player of the Year," said Pandas interim head coach AJ Facendi. "Jackie is not only a very skilled player, but hard-working and determined. She is a force in the back field and a key component on our corner unit where she has tallied several goals so far this season. As a coach, it is great to see deserving players being recognized for their accomplishments."

Last year Trautman and the Pandas won silver at CIS Nationals in Victoria, also the site of this year's event.

Getting the nod as Rookie of the Year is UBC freshman Abigail Raye.

A member of Team Canada, Raye has earned 13 caps for the national side since joining the squad in 2008 after getting her Canadian citizenship. Born in Epsom, Surrey, England, Raye moved to Canada almost four years ago and has been playing field hockey for 10 years. A starter from day one with the T-Birds, Raye had two goals in her first CIS season as UBC went 10-2-0. She has played almost every position on the pitch this season for UBC, showcasing her versatility and talent.

"She was actually one of three people that I considered for the rookie award from our squad this year but I put her at the top of list because when she has the ball, Abby just seems to get positive results," said long-time UBC head coach Hash Kanjee. "She has great speed and smarts on the field and she is playing in a position that adds an additional thrust to our offence. With her speed, she has really been a difference maker for us this season even though she was slowed a bit by injury earlier in the year."

A graduate of Kelowna Secondary School, Raye was named her high school's Female Athlete of the Year and was selected by the Province newspaper to be part of their ‘Head of the Class' section which recognizes the top high school athletes in British Columbia.

Alberta co-captain Jennifer Foster is this year's CWUAA nominee for the Gail Wilson Outstanding Contributor award. Now in her fifth and final year of eligibility, she is currently completing her final practicum for her combined Physical Education and Education degrees, with a minor in general sciences.

Throughout Foster's six years with the program, she has contributed enormously to the team itself as well as the community. She volunteers at inner city schools each winter officiating both basketball and volleyball as well as reading to students in elementary schools. Jennifer also volunteers at the university's Steadward Centre which provides activity programs to those with disabilities. Specifically she has worked with teens assisting them with weight and cardio workout plans and the ‘Sport Sampler' program exposing kids to a variety of sports and activities which are modified for their abilities.

Foster gives back to the sport of field hockey. She has coached various programs in her home town of Pincher Creek including the 2006 Alberta Summer Games team from her zone in which Foster put forth a great deal of effort and time to promote field hockey in Southern Alberta. In addition, she has been a four-time Academic All Canadian and has won numerous scholarships for her grades including the prestigious Dr. Maury Van Vliet Athletic/Academic Scholarship which is for not only her academics, but athletics, and her community involvement. Jennifer has also made the Dean's List and First Class Academic Standing all five years and was the recipient of the University of Alberta Academic Excellence Award.

"Jenn has been a crucial component to our young team this season. Her leadership ensures the smooth functioning of the team day in and day out, on and off the turf," said Pandas interim head coach AJ Facendi. "Jenn plays a vital role as a leader on the field and in our systems, corner unit, and defensively she is often matched up against top players from opposing teams."

Taking honours as Coach of the Year is Calgary's Jenn Swagar, who last won the award in 2007, her first with the Dinos. This year she guided the team to a 3-8-1 record, short of qualifying for Nationals, but the Dinos were a vastly improved squad, picking up wins over UBC and Alberta, while playing a scoreless draw with Victoria.

Swagar played for the Dinos 1991-96, including a year as player-coach back in 1994.

Among this year's all-stars are 2007 CIS Rookie of the Year, Kaitlyn Williams (Victoria), 2009 All-Canadians Bunny Hughes (Alberta), Perri Espeseth (Victoria) and '09 CIS Tournament All-Star Robyn Pendleton (UBC), who was also conference Rookie of the Year in 2006 while with the UVic Vikes.

Following is a list of awards and all-star selections and their respective schools:

Awards
Player of the Year: Jackie Trautman, Alberta
Rookie of the Year: Abigail Raye, UBC
Gail Wilson Nominee (Outstanding Contributor): Jennifer Foster, Alberta
Coach of the Year: Jenn Swagar, Calgary

All-Stars
Katie Collison, Victoria
Perri Espeseth, Victoria
Jennifer Foster, Alberta
Kristyn Harrington, UBC
Bunny Hughes, Alberta
Elise Milosevich, UBC
Robyn Pendelton, UBC
Abigail Raye, UBC
Carolina Romeo, Calgary
Jackie Trautman, Alberta
Kaitlyn Williams, Victoria

Conference champion UBC, runner-up Victoria and third-place finisher Alberta all qualified for the 2009 CIS championship, November 5-8 at the University of Victoria. All conference award-winners are now finalists for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) presentations, to be made the evening of November 4.