April 12, 2007

THE CADRE * 9

Sor ORTS

Josh Lewis Sports Editor UPET held its 37" annual Panther Sport Awards Night March 30 and Doug McKinney and Liz McPhail walked away as the big winners. McKinney, a senior forward with the basketball team and McPhail, a senior midfielder with the soccer squad, brought home the men’s and wom- en’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year awards, in addition to the Most Valu- able Player awards for their respective teams.

Other MVP winners included Paul Drew (men’s hockey), Mikaela El- lis (women’s hockey), Melissa-Anne Campbell (women’s basketball), Matt Thomson (men’s soccer), Ashley MacDonald (women’s rugby), Nicole Wagner (field hockey) and Lindsay Fisher (volleyball). Justin Ellis and Mike Deighan shared the award for men’s rugby.

Rookie of the year winners in- cluded Ryan Kitchen (men’s hockey), Elizabeth Legay (women’s hockey), Paul Craig (men’s soccer), Mandy Lise McKenna (women’s soccer), Jonathan Cooper (men’s basketball),

McKinney, McPhail snare major awards

Doug McKinney and Liz MacPhail, men’s and women’s outstanding athletes of the year

Susanne Canvin (women’s basketball), Ellen Andrews (field hockey), Kaitlin Richard (women’s rugby), Mike Stew-

art (men’s rugby), and Kayla Walsh (volleyball). The rest of the award winners can

be found at http://upei.ca/athletics/

html/award_night.html

Panther hoops star plans to continue career in Europe

Josh Lewis

Sports Editor he UPEI Panthers men’s basketball

program will have a huge void to fill: next season with the graduation of Doug McKinney. The Charlottetown native, who recently was named the university’s male athlete of the year, says leaving his teammates at UPEI will be a huge change in his life.

“Tt feels weird to actually be leav- ing, it went by so fast. It’s kind of been a way of life for me for the last five years... seeing people come and go, it feels great to finish this chapter of my life, and my time at UPEI has been great.”

McKinney, who will graduate this year with an arts degree, says he’s proud of his part in the program’s success. :

“T think that completing five years in one program is something to be proud of. Not too many players play all five years in one school. I hope that the program begins to get more players to finish their five years with the program, because that is how you

get a successful program. Get the players you want, and get them to gel together. Our team this year got along great, and it was great to play with that group of guys and I’m re- ally going to miss them all.”

In particular, McKinney will miss fellow graduates Sherone Edwards and Peter Stay, who, along with McK- inney, will leave the Panthers with an enormous hole up front.

“Sherone and Peter have been great, to play with. It’s been great to be with them, and see them turn into men. I’ve seen those guys mote in the last five years then my own family. They have been like a family to me.”

McKinney says former teammate and current assistant coach Tyler Wood has also been a close friend.

“Tyler is one of a kind, both on the court and off the court. I wish him and Allison and of course (son) Taylor, all the best in Moncton.” McKinney counts the Panthers’ 2003 AUS title and subsequent run to the national consolation game against Carleton as his best memory with the

team.

“We lost to them in overtime and it was an intense game to say the least.” The 68” forward will also remem-

ber his most recent accolade. “Getting the athlete of the year was a complete surprise to me. There were so many great athletes that did so many great things this year, like my buddy Paul Drew, who on top of Judy Lynn’s stats class, managed to win a gold medal (at the World Universiade in Torino, Italy) and Matty Thomson had a great year for the soccer team. It feels good to be surrounded with great athletes, and I’m privileged that I was selected for the award. I’d like to thank my team- mates, and my coaches, for allow- ing me to have the season I did. I couldn’t have done it without every- one on my team.” McKinney has definite plans for the future, both on and off the court. “Down the road I would like to follow in my father’s footsteps and maybe someday join the RCMP. As for right now, I think I’m going to try

to continue my basketball career. I am working on some things in Eu- rope, and I have people helping me, trying to put me in the place that best suits my abilities. I don’t really know what part of Europe right now, but within the next little while I should know some more about where and what division I'll be playing in.”

On the whole, McKinney is thank- ful for his experience at his home- town university.

“Overall, I’m glad that I chose UPEL It’s been great playing in front of people from my own community for the last five years, and UPEI is a great school. It’s gone by so fast,

I would like to do it all over again. University is an experience that you will remember for your life, and I’m glad that I chose to spend this part of my life at UPEI. I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point, and wish the best of luck to not only the basketball team next year, but to all the athletes who put on that Panther uniform.”