Colasimone, Verveda & Zubick highlight 2020 BCIHL Awards & All-Stars

The British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League has announced its award winners and all-star teams for the 2019/20 regular season. Recipients were selected in a vote conducted by BCIHL coaches.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER - Mac Colasimone, Simon Fraser University

SFU's captain led his team to the best record in the BCIHL over the second half of the season as the Clan finishing with nine wins in 11 games after the calendar flipped to 2020. He was also one of the league's top offensive players, finishing fifth in scoring with 28 points. He recorded two or more points in 11 of SFU's 24 games, including on January 16th when the Clan ended TWU's 12-game winning streak and won their first of three straight against the first place Spartans.

TOP DEFENCEMAN - Travis Verveda, Trinity Western University

Verveda extends TWU's run capturing the Top Defenceman award to three consecutive years, receiving the torch from Dustin Deugau after back-to-back wins. The former WHL blueliner was a steady two-way force on a Spartans blue line that allowed a league-best 65 goals. He also produced at the offensive end, finishing eighth in BCIHL scoring with 25 points while quarterbacking with league's most potentn power-play unit with four goals and five assists.

TOP GOALTENDER - Patrick Zubick, Simon Fraser University

Zubick thrived at SFU after transferring from Selkirk College following two seasons with the Saints. He finished third in the BCIHL with eight wins despite appearing in just 12 games, and led all league starters with a 2.74 goals-against average and .920 save-percentage. He was a major contributor to SFU's second half surge, picking up wins in five of his last six starts including a pair of victories over TWU and a win over VIU that clinched home ice for the first round of the playoffs.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Ty Westgard, Simon Fraser University

The former BCHL All-Star had no problems transitioning to university hockey, finishing fourth in BCIHL scoring with 29 points. He picked up points in 17 of SFU's 24 games, including an 11-game streak that ran from November 8th until January 18th. He almost singlehandedly led the way to a road sweep at Selkirk College in December, picking up four goals and three assists on SFU's eight goals that weekend.

MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER - Gage Colpron, Vancouver Island University

This marks the second Most Sportsmanlike Player win in as many years for Colpron, who somehow managed to improve his disciplinary record from 2018/19 when he was assessed four minutes in penalties. He didn't take a single penalty in 22 contests this season, joining UVic's Tyler Severson as the only two BCIHL players to suit up in 20+ games without being penalized. He also made a big impact for VIU as a first line scorer who finished 12th in league scoring with 21 points.

COACH OF THE YEAR - Mark Coletta, Simon Fraser University

Coletta is now the only four-time recipient of the BCIHL's top coaching award, adding to previous wins in 2009, 2010 and 2017. The longtime SFU head coach led his team to second place in the standings with a regular season record of 15-7-2, including a 10-2-0 finish that marked the league's best performance over the second half. Coletta sits first all-time on the BCIHL coaching wins list with 183 victories collected over 12 seasons behind the bench.

BCIHL FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM

Forward: Mac Colasimone, Simon Fraser University
Forward: Garrett Dunlop, Vancouver Island University
Forward: Evan Last, Trinity Western University
Defence: Tristen Cross, Selkirk College
Defence: Travis Verveda, Trinity Western University
Goaltender: Patrick Zubick, Simon Fraser University

BCIHL SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM

Forward: Logan Casavant, Trinity Western University
Forward: Jaiden LaPorte, Selkirk College
Forward: Ty Westgard, Simon Fraser University
Defence: Elijah Vilio, Trinity Western University
Defence: Callum Volpe, University of Victoria
Goaltender: Tallon Kramer, Selkirk College
 

BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR - Nick Toren, Simon Fraser University

Toren has been the Clan's play-by-play voice for five seasons in addition to building a resume that includes experience with TSN, Bell, VANOC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. He has earned the respect of SFU players and coaches while capturing the team's highs and lows through in-depth pre-game and post-game interviews, as well as the weekly "Toren's Take" feature on social media. A graduate of the BCIT Radio Arts & Entertainment Program, he has also been a mentor to younger Clan broadcast team members.