Bio:Vicky Tessier was born September 21, 1972 in Chateauguay, Quebec, and graduated from McGill with a science degree in 1997.
A five-time all-conference forward and team MVP with the basketball Martlets from 1992 to 1997, she started her career by winning CIAU rookie of the year honours and capped it off by being the first McGill athlete to capture the Nann Copp award as Canadian university basketball player of the year.
Tessier led the Quebec conference in scoring five times and in rebounding on four occasions. She was voted league MVP all five years and became the first basketball player in the country to earn All-Canadian honours five times, including three seasons on the first team.
A double-winner of the Gladys Bean trophy as McGill female athlete of the year, she became the all-time scoring leader in team history with 2,564 points in 139 career contests for an average of 18.4 points per game. Tessier also bounced back from serious knee surgery in 1995 to receive the University’s Mac Teskey
Award, for courage, morale and inspiration to others.
Vicky Tessier became the first basketball player in the country to earn All-Canadian honours five times and was the first McGill player to capture the Nann Copp award as Canadian university player of the year (1996-97).
A double-winner of the Gladys Bean trophy as McGill female athlete of the year, the native of Chateauguay, Que., graduated with a science degree in 1997, becoming the all-time scoring leader in McGill basketball history with 2,564 points in 139 career contests for an average of 18.4 points per game.
Honours
Gladys Bean Trophy (1996-97)
Won the Gladys Bean Award in 1996-97 as McGill’s female athlete of the year.
All-Canadian (1996-97)
-voted first-team All-Canadian for third time (second straight year) after making the second team in 1992-93 and 1994-95. Also made the first team in 1993-94.
CIS Player of the Year (1996-97)
- became the first McGill basketball player to win the Nan Copp Award as the CIS most outstanding player of the year.
BLG Award nominee for CIS athlete of the year (1995-96)
- earned the QSSF conference nomination for the BLG award
Gladys Bean Trophy (1995-96)
Won the Gladys Bean Award in 1995-96 as McGill’s female athlete of the year.
All-Canadian (1995-96)
-voted first-team All-Canadian
Mac Teskey Trophy (1994-95)
Won the Mac Teskey Award in 1994-95 for demonstrating courage and morale worthy of honorable mention.
All-Canadian (1994-95)
-voted second-team All-Canadian
All-Canadian (1993-94)
-voted first-team All-Canadian
Conference All-Rookie Team (1992-93)
- named to the QSSF all-rookie team
CIS All-Rookie Team (1992-93)
- earned CIS all-rookie honours
Conference Rookie of the Year (1992-93)
- named QSSF rookie of the year
All-Canadian (1992-93)
-voted second-team All-Canadian in freshman year
CIS Rookie of the Year (1992-93)
- became the first McGill basketball player to earn CIS rookie-of-the-year honours
SEASON BY SEASON:
A 5-foot-11 forward from Chateauguay, Que., became the first Quebec-born athlete to win the Nan Copp Trophy as the CIAU women's basketball player of the year in 1996-97. The chemistry student at McGill was also the first player in CIAU history to earn All-Canadian status five times and the first CIAU player to win her league MVP award five times.
In her final season at McGill, Tessier LED THE NATION in points with 517 in 20 regular season games and was SECOND among the national leaders in scoring average (25.9). She was FOURTH in field-goal shooting (57.5%), SIXTH in free-throw shooting (84.4%) and 15th in rebounding (7.7 per game).
Tessier became the McGill Martlets ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER, ending her McGill career with 2,564 total points in 139 contests for an average of 18.4 points per game. She broke the previous mark of 2,119 points in a game against Bishop’s on Nov. 30, achieving the milestone in 34 fewer games than Tina Fasone who established her record in 164 games between 1986 and 1991.
Tessier, who was named as the QSSF female athlete of the week three times in her fifth and final season at McGill, was by far the most fouled player in the country in 1996-97. She LED THE NATION in free-throws made (109) and attempted (134). She sunk 54 more free-throws and had 62 more attempts than the next closest players in the CIAU. She led the Martlets in scoring 26 times and in rebounding 22 times in 33 games over-all. She recorded seven “double-doubles”, including five in conference play.
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY:
In February of 1984, the McGill Martlets were coasting through the Quebec University League with an undefeated 8-0 record until Tessier suffered a career-threatening torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. Without Tessier, the team went 1-4 the rest of the way and were denied a chance to advance to the national championships after being defeated in the Quebec championship game.
After major surgical reconstruction by Dr. Eric Lenczner, on Feb. 22, 1994, Tessier underwent intensive rehab for the next eight months – four hours per day, six days per week, of weights, biking, pool therapy and sport-specific training. From the outset, she was not expected to be able to play competitively again. However, she returned in time to play the 1994-95 season without missing a league game. Aside from playing in every league game, she won the league scoring title, went on to become the League MVP and was named an All-Canadian. One of the team’s most consistent players, she inspired teammates with her perseverance and dedication.
In April of 1995, Tessier received a special presentation – the Mac Teskey Award which is named after a former McGill swimmer who overcame the loss of a lung to cancer and returned to swim for the Redmen and became an All-Canadian. The qualities required to qualify for this award are courage, morale and inspiration to those around them.
PRIOR TO McGILL:
