MONTREAL -- Melodie Daoust of Valleyfield, Que., walked away with two trophies at the McGill women's hockey awards gala, held at McConnell Arena's Alumni Lounge, Friday. For the second straight year, the 25-year-old physical education senior was named as both, the team's most valuable player in addition to taking home hardware as the Martlets most outstanding scorer with 59 points, including 20 goals, in 36 games overall.

Other major awards went to sophomore forward Olivia Atkinson (most dedicated player) of Toronto, third-year rearguard Erica Starnino, from the Town of Mt. Royal, Que., who was voted most outstanding defenceman, sophomore blueliner Kate Devries (most improved player) from Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., and freshman goaltender Tricia Deguire (rookie of the year), who hails from Sherbrooke, Que.

Daoust, a gold medalist at the Sochi Winter Olympics and a four-time All-Canadian centre, led McGill to three RSEQ conference titles and four appearances at the Nationals. She has finished her illustrious McGill career with a 116-156-272 record in 143 games overall.

Atkinson, a psychology and economics sophomore, led the team with a career-high 26 goals and amassed 47 points in 42 contests. She registered a pair of hat-tricks, eight game-winners, seven power-play markers and one shorthanded effort. It was a marked improvement from her freshman campaign, where she tallied seven goals and 15 points in 40 outings.

Starnino, an accounting major, tallied twice and added seven helpers in 40 games overall. She had one power-play goal and a game-winner.

Devries, a bio-engineering sophomore who was redshirted i her freshman year, saw duty in nine games and showed a marked improvement from week to week during her sophomore campaign. "She came in, developed good practice habits, and elevated her game," said head coach Peter Smith.  "That work will pay off as she gears up for next season."

Deguire, a 19-year-old freshman from Sherbrooke, Que., was named as the nation's rookie of the year and made the REQ and U SPORTS all-rookie squads. She started in 40 of the team's 42 games overall and registered a 27-11 record with eight shutouts, a 1.58 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.

The soiree was capped off with an emotional send-off to four seniors, each of whom received flowers, along with a framed action photo and their red game jerseys.

That group featured fifth-year veteran forwards Melodie Daoust (physical education), Gabrielle Davidson (management) and Pamela Psihogios (industrial relations) of Laval, Que., in addition to defenceman Emily Davies (management) of Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Que.

Davidson dressed for 181 games and scored an impressive total of 137 goals and 232 points overall. Psihogios suited up 164 times and posted a 12-9-21 record, while Davies had a 1-12-13 record in 159 games.

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

Communications Officer

McGill University Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012