SASKATOON (Jan. 11, 2023) – A group of 26 outstanding athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and teams are finalists and recipients for the nine different categories at the 2022 Saskatchewan Sport Awards.

The annual program celebrates the success and dedication of those in the province’s amateur sport community through two categories – Excellence Awards and Recognition Awards. The Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding event performances or a series of performances by a Saskatchewan athlete, coach or team within a given calendar year, while the Recognition Awards include the Volunteer and Coach Dedication Awards which honour individuals who have devoted their time and effort to the growth of sport in Saskatchewan.

Paralympic swimmer Nikita Ens and adaptive waterski world-record holder Nolan Barnes are recipients of the Inspire Through Sport awards, while long-serving biathlon coach Doug Sylvester and volleyball coach Tracy Hazen were handed the Coach Dedication awards. 

For work in broomball, football, wheelchair rugby and Special Olympics, Leslie Bilodeau, Michelle Duchene, Ryan Gaudet and Tony Caissie were honoured with Volunteer Dedication awards.

The 18 finalists across the six Excellence categories includes Olympians and Paralympians, as well as national and international medallists. They were selected from 66 nominees nominated by family, the amateur sport community and provincial sport organizations.

“Saskatchewan is home to many outstanding and devoted individuals and teams who go to great lengths to excel at all levels of competition in amateur sport,” said Michael Rogers, Sask Sport Board of Directors Chair.

“Last year featured remarkable performances and contributions and those achievements deserve to be recognized. Without many of these devoted individuals, sport couldn’t happen in communities across the province. These individuals and teams continue to show that sport is truly more than a game.”

The 2022 Saskatchewan Sport Awards will be celebrated gala on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at TCU Place in Saskatoon. The gala will honour the eight Recognition Awards recipients, as well as announce the recipients of the six Excellence Awards and celebrate those named as finalists.

Tickets are available for purchase on the Sask Sport website.

The Saskatchewan Sport Awards will also be available for viewing live on Sask Sport’s YouTube and on SaskTel maxTV Local on Demand at a later date.

Excellence Awards Finalists 

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Emily Clark
Saskatoon • Hockey
Nominated by Saskatoon U18 AAA Stars and supported by Hockey Saskatchewan

Margo Erlam
Saskatoon • Diving
Nominated by Saskatoon Diving Club and Dive Sask

Brittany Hudak
Prince Albert • Para Nordic  
Nominated by Cross Country Saskatchewan/SASKI Skiing for Disabled

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Mark McMorris
Regina • Snowboarding
Nominated by Sask Snowboard and National Team Coach

Ben Coakwell   
Moose Jaw • Bobsleigh
Nominated by Huskie Football Alumni and supported by the Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan

Rylan Wiens
Pike Lake • Diving  
Nominated by Saskatoon Diving Club and Dive Sask

COACH OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Mary Carroll
Saskatoon • Diving
Nominated by Dive Sask

Maureen Johnson
Regina • Baton Twirling
Nominated by Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association

Jason Reindl
Saskatoon • Athletics
Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

YOUTH FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Teah Chavez
Regina • Tennis
Nominated by Tennis Saskatchewan

Presley Deck
Regina • Diving
Nominated by Saskatoon Diving Club and Dive Sask

Shelaine Pritchard
Prince Albert • Athletics
Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

YOUTH MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Lucas Musschoot
Grenfell • Volleyball
Nominated by Family and Sask Volleyball

Keegan Rice
Regina • Tennis
Nominated by Tennis Saskatchewan

Kash Tarasoff
Saskatoon • Diving
Nominated by Saskatoon Diving Club and Dive Sask

TEAM OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Rebels Cheerleading Athletics – Team Smoke
Regina • Cheerleading
Nominated by Saskatchewan Cheerleading Association

Team Sask Men’s Volleyball Team
Provincial • Volleyball
Nominated by Sask Volleyball

Regina Thunder
Regina • Football
Nominated by Football supporter and supported by Football Saskatchewan

Recognition Awards Recipients 

INSPIRE THROUGH SPORT AWARD

Nikita Ens|
Meadow Lake • Para swimming
Nominated by Swim Saskatchewan

Nolan Barnes
Yorkton • Adaptive waterskiing
Nominated by Waterski and Wakeboard Saskatchewan

COACH DEDICATION AWARD

Doug Sylvester
North Battleford • Biathlon
Nominated by Biathlon Saskatchewan

Tracy Hazen
Saskatoon • Volleyball
Nominated by Thunder Creek Volleyball Club and supported by Saskatchewan Volleyball Association

VOLUNTEER DEDICATION AWARD

Leslie Bilodeau
Debden • Broomball
Nominated by Debden Speedballs Boys Minor Broomball and supported by Saskatchewan Broomball Association

Michelle Duchene
Saskatoon • Football
Nominated by Saskatoon Valkyries and supported by Football Saskatchewan

Ryan Gaudet
Bellevue • Wheelchair Rugby
Nominated by Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association

Tony Caissie
Melfort • Special Olympics
Nominated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan