Women's Hockey | 3/22/2018 8:30:00 PM

PHOTO (L to R) Kellyane Lecours, Tricia Deguire, Jade Downie-Landry, Kate Devries, Cassidy Bell, Olivia Atkinson, Lauren Bowman (CREDIT: DEREK DRUMMOND)

MONTREAL -- Goaltender Tricia Deguire of Sherbrooke, Que., was named most valuable player as the McGill University women's hockey team held their annual awards gala at McConnell Arena's Alumni Lounge, Thursday.

Other major award recipients included sophomore forward Jade Downie-Landry (most outstanding scorer) of St. Jean sur Richelieu, Que., sophomore rearguard Cassidy Bell (most outstanding defenceman) of Baldonnel, B.C., and freshman forward Kellyane Lecours (rookie of the year), who hails from Victoriaville, Que. Third-year blue-liner Kate Devries of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., was selected most improved player for the second straight season, while junior forward Olivia Atkinson of Oakville, Ont.,  and sophomore forward Lauren Bowman of Calgary were named co-winners of the most dedicated player award.

The soiree was capped off with a tearful tribute to Cora Constantinou, a native of Scarborough, Ont., who was the team's only graduating player. The political science and economics senior was presented with her game jersey, a framed photo and a bouquet of flowers. It was a difficult season for Constantinou, a 5-foot-2 forward, who saw duty in just nine games before suffering a season-ending injury. Over her four seasons, she played 115 contests and posted a 4-13-17 record with 42 PIMs.

Among the team's former players on hand for the event was Katia Clement-Heydra, Alyssa Cecere, Jordanna Peroff, Brittany Smrke and Shauna Denis, who captained the Martlets to their first national championship in 2008 and gave an inspirational speech on building championship habits.

Deguire, who stands 5-foot-8, becomes the team's first netminder to be named MVP since Charline Labonté in 2009. She posted a 2.61 goals-against average, a .904 save percentage and an 11-15 record in 27 starts overall, missing 10 games due to injury. The 21-year-old kinesiology major also registered a pair of shutouts. In regular season play, she had an 8-8 record with a 1.89 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

Downie-Landry, a psychology major, led the team with 23 goals and 44 points in 35 games overall. The 5-foot-8 centre tallied four game-winners, five power-play markers and scored the team's first goal on three occasions.

Bell, a political science major and defensive stalwart on the blueline, was one of only three players to dress in all 37 games and only drew eight minor penalties while posting a 2-5-7 record. Both of her markers were first goals and one proved to be a game-winner.

Lecours, an elementary education freshman who made the conference's all-rookie team, finished third among the team's scoring leaders with 21 points, including a dozen goals, in 29 contests overall. She also had only one penalty the entire season.

Devries, a bio-engineering major, scored three goals and 10 points in 32 games overall, while collecting only 16 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-11 rearguard scored the first goal in a game on one occasion and had one PP marker.

Atkinson, a psychology and economics junior, was the team's only player to merit RSEQ all-star status, earning a berth on the second team. She played in all 37 games and ranked second in both goals (15) and points (24), and led the team with eight PPGs.

Bowman, a civil engineering major, saw duty in 34 contests overall, scoring twice, adding four helpers and only taking two penalties.