KAROL KUDYBA
Sports Writer
In what is quickly becoming a habit, Breanne George has won another award after being named Huskies Female Athlete of the Year at the Huskies Salute awards ceremony on April 1.
The trophy caps an incredible season for George, who this season was first team Canada West all-star and a Canadian Interuniversity Sport first team all-Canadian. Oh yeah, she was the Canada West MVP too. No biggie.
Officially, George won the Ethel Mary Cartwright Award. In case you were curious, Cartwright was responsible for creating a physical education department at the U of S some 90 years ago.
Building on her point per game performance from a year ago, this season George took her game to new heights. George led the conference with 28 goals and tied the Canada West record for most goals scored in a season.
In classic athlete fashion, George was quick to give her teammates the credit for winning the award.
“We have a great passing team, and they got me and the team in the right places,” she said.
While her goal total may be impressive, she was a force on the defensive side of the puck as well, finishing the season with an impeccable plus-minus rating of +28.
The Huskies women’s hockey team finished their season ranked eighth in the CIS standings, and, with help from George, were able to make the semi-finals of the Canada West championships. Unfortunately however, for the third year in a row, the Huskies fell to the Manitoba Bisons in the semi-final showdown.
Adding to that loss was the team’s defeat against the men’s Huskies football team on home ice the night before the Salute. However, the loss to the football Dogs might have been due to the women’s Huskies having their annual fitness testing the day before.
It was a surprising win for George, as she was up against stiff competition from future Olympian Jill Gallays, who defended her CIS championship in the 55-kg weight class.
The win appeared to be a shock for George as well, who stumbled through her acceptance speech as she thanked her teammates and family.
“I was told to think of some people to thank right before but I didn’t rehearse it — that’s for sure.”
George’s speech was thankfully at least five times shorter than when basketball coach Greg Jockims took the stage for his Coach of the Year win.
While most are hoping for George to break the goal scoring record next year, the egoless George again has her team’s interests at heart first.
“I want to make it to nationals, and I don’t care what it takes to get there.”
With George retaining two more years of eligibility, the next few years of Huskies hockey will be exciting for fans, as her skills will only improve with more time on the ice.
Now if she can just lead the U of S past those damn Bisons.
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photo: Stacey Matthews
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