The Sport PEI awards took place Wednesday evening at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown.
The Kathy O’Rourke curling team, and the Churchill Arms soccer team tied for SCORE! team of the year.
Other winners:
Olympic gold medal bobsledder Heather Moyse was the big winner of the night, taking the senior female athlete of the year award, the Lieutenant-Governor’s award for Island athlete of the year, and the Bill Halpenny award for Outstanding International Performance, only the 10th time in 37 years that this award has been presented.
Senior male athlete of the year is runner Jared Connaughton.
Junior male athlete of the year is Brandon Gormley (hockey).
Junior female athlete of the year is kickboxer Ryan Drum.
Masters award winner is powerlifter Tom Nicholls.
The President’s Award for long time contribution to Island sport went to boxing coach Howard Watts.
Coach of the year is PEI mens senior soccer coach John Diamond.
Male and female intercollegiate athletes of the year are Sarah MacAulay and Colby Pridham.
Roy Main from tennis was named official of the year.
Administrator of the year was Mary Ellen McInnis of figure skating.
The Premier’s Award for sports organization of the year went to Football PEI.
Thanks to Beth Johnston for the live updates from the award ceremony.
Kathy O’Rourke Rink
The Kathy O’Rourke Curling Rink from Charlottetown caught the imagination of the whole nation in 2010, with an outstanding run at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sault Ste. Marie, which almost resulted in a fairytale win.
Islanders were glued to their sets throughout the week as the team of O’Rourke, Tricia Affleck, Erin Carmody and Geri-Lynn Ramsay curled superbly to record an 8-3 record, and first-place after the regular standings, before defeating Ontario 10-6 in the semi-final, a game in which Carmody curled 93% throwing skip stones.
Standing in the way of a first Scotties title for PEI was three-time title holder Jennifer Jones and her Team Canada Rink, and PEI made the early running , opening up a 6-3 lead heading into the 7th end, before Jones battled to lead 7-6, with PEI tying it again in the 10th to force extra ends.
Alas, one in the extra end was enough for Jones to claim her 4th title, but it had been a fantastic effort by PEI, with Carmody winning the Sandra Schmirler award as play-off MVP, and the whole team recognized with a hero’s reception back at the Charlottetown Club on their return.