Gaudet, Heard, Herman, Tuck named OUA athletes of the week

Burlington, Ont. – Kassim Gaudet, Katherine Heard, Andrew Herman, Madison Tuck have been named OUA athletes of the week for the period ending March 15, 2026.

Kassim Gaudet, UQTR Patriotes, Hockey

Gaudet delivered in clutch fashion when the UQTR Patriotes needed him most, helping secure the program’s fourth OUA Queen’s Cup in five seasons. The business administration student gave the Patriotes their first lead of the game late in the second period, taking a stretch pass from Anthony Munroe‑Boucher, outpacing the Windsor Lancers defence, and finishing with a forehand‑to‑backhand move past Max Donoso’s outstretched left leg.

Just two minutes into overtime, the rookie struck again. Picking up the puck in stride through the neutral zone, Gaudet split the Windsor defenders with speed and fired a quick shot that beat Donoso five‑hole, clinching the Queen’s Cup for UQTR. His standout performance earned him player of the game honours.

Katherine Heard, Guelph Gryphons, Hockey

Heard, a fifth-year forward and team captain of the Gryphons, scored the pivotal go‑ahead goal in the third period of the OUA championship game to give Guelph a 2–1 win over the Ottawa Gee‑Gees on Saturday afternoon. Midway through the third period, the OUA West MVP stepped up like she has all season, getting enough on her shot from the high slot to sneak it past Ottawa goalie Clara Genier as it crossed the goal line, a goal that proved to be the McCaw Cup–winner for the Gryphons.

Heard’s game‑winning marker earned her player of the game honours after helping lead her side to their eighth McCaw Cup in program history. The Arva, Ont. native finishes her postseason with six points, finding the back of the net three times. Heard, who won OUA West MVP and was named an OUA First Team All‑Star, recorded 24 points (6th in the OUA) during the regular season and tied for third in the conference with 16 assists.

Andrew Herman, Toronto Varsity Blues, Swimming

Earning four national medals and setting two new U SPORTS records, Herman was named U SPORTS Men’s Swimmer of the Meet following his sensational performance at the national championships in Markham. The kinesiology major claimed U SPORTS gold in both the50m and 100m backstroke events, establishing new U SPORTS record times in both.

He joined his teammates for two more U SPORTS silver medals in the 4x100m medley relay and 4x100m

freestyle relay. His multiple podiums helped the Toronto Varsity Blues men earn the overall team silver, and the 2026 U SPORTS first team All-Canadian now has 11 total U SPORTS medals across his three national championships as a Varsity Blue.

Madison Tuck, Brock Badgers, Volleyball

Tuck and the Brock Badgers claimed a bronze medal for the first time in program history at the 2026 U SPORTS Championship at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C., taking place from Friday, March 13 until Sunday, March 15. The fourth-year outside hitter accumulated 48 points over the three-game span, coming from 37 kills, eight blocks and three service aces.

In the Badgers quarterfinal win against the Saint Mary's Huskies, Tuck earned 10 points and hit at an efficient .316 per cent in the three-set sweep, helping the Badgers move on to the semifinal round for the first time in program history. The teacher education student was then named the Mikasa Team Player of the Game in the second matchup against the Sherbrooke Vert & Or as she earned 17 points from 14 kills and three blocks in the narrow 3-2 defeat.

The bronze medal match saw Tuck come up in the clutch with a game-high 21 points from 14 kills, three service aces and four blocks, highlighted by a kill and ace that gave the Badgers a 14-9 lead in the fifth and deciding set.