Hudson, Heard headline women’s hockey’s highest honours
Burlington, Ont. – Celebrating excellence across the league, the 2025–26 OUA women's hockey awards spotlight standout players, top teams, and impactful community contributors. Among this year's honourees, Queen's Sophie Hudson and Guelph's Katherine Heard earn MVP accolades for the East and West divisions, respectively.
Most Valuable Player (East) - Sophie Hudson, Queen's Gaels
A dynamic playmaker and consistent game-changer, Hudson proved to be a driving force behind the Gaels' success all season long, leading them to the top spot of the OUA East.
The veteran forward put up 31 points this season to tie her teammate Mikayla Cranney and fill the conference leaderboard with Tricolour. The chemical engineering student tallied 13 goals, but her influence was felt more in creating chances for her teammates, putting up 18 assists to lead all skaters in the conference.
Hudson was the Gaels go-to in the important moments as well, notching three game-winning goals this season. She was also clutch on the powerplay, finding the back of the net four times and helping out on six goals overall. She averaged a league-leading 1.48 points per game.
Starting the season off hot, Hudson put up points in 13 straight games through October and November, setting up what proved to be a difference-making campaign for the East player of the year.
Most Valuable Player (West) - Katherine Heard, Guelph Gryphons
Heard's fantastic 2025-26 season culminates with the fifth-year forward being named the OUA West MVP.
The Arva, Ont. native was a consistent presence in the Gryphons lineup, where she set new career-highs in goals, assists, and points during the regular season. The sociology major led her team and finished sixth in the OUA with 25 points and tied for second with 17 assists during her 2025-26 campaign.
She went on a tear in the second half of the season, scoring six times and picking up 12 points during her eight-game point streak, leading Guelph to a 7-1 mark during that stretch. But more than score, Heard does it all as team captain, serving as one of the premier two-way players in the conference.
This represents the third time in school history a Gryphon has been named MVP and the first time since the award was split up by division. This is also the first time that Heard has been named an OUA all-star, being named to the first team.
Rookie of the Year (East) - Jada Wood, Queen's Gaels
Bursting onto the scene in her first season, Wood quickly established herself as one of the league's brightest young talents in the league for the Queen's Gaels.
The first-year star from Williams Lake, B.C. recorded an impressive 20 points in her opening season with the Tricolour, finishing first therein amongst her rookie counterparts across the league. She also led all rookies with 13 assists, while finding the back of her opponents' net seven times.
Wood, an arts and science student at Queen's, played in all 26 games for the Gaels. She found her grove early in the season, putting up points in three of their first four games. Her most productive outing came in the team's win over Windsor, assisting on half of their eight tallies. She also bookended her breakout debut campaign with a pair of goals in her team's final game.
Rookie of the Year (West) - Lerissa Stevenson, Windsor Lancers
In her first season of OUA play, Stevenson quickly emerged as one of the league's most exciting young forwards.
The first-year human kinetics student finished tied for fourth in scoring among all rookies and ranked first among newcomers in the OUA West. Playing in all 26 games for the Windsor Lancers, she recorded four goals and nine assists.
A key contributor with the player advantage, Stevenson tallied two powerplay goals and five powerplay points, adding a pair of game-winners as well. She was one of three Lancers to register multiple game-winning goals on the year.
Within the Lancers' lineup, Stevenson sat fourth in team scoring, a strong showing for her foray onto the varsity ice, and tied for the team lead in helpers. Her consistent play was a driving force behind Windsor's 13-10-0-3 record, helping them secure fourth place in the OUA West.
Defender of the Year (East) - Scarlett Nowakowski, Queen's Gaels
A steady presence on the blue line, Nowakowski anchored her team's defence with strength and elite play all season long.
In only her second season with the Gaels, Nowakowski made her presence felt with 20 points for the top squad in the OUA East, finishing first among defenders in the conference.
The commerce student also added 14 assists to her tally for the year, to finish third amongst her counterparts, while suiting up for all the Gaels contests this season.
Attending Queen's after growing up in Toronto, Ont., Nowakowski, who was also honoured with first team all-star recognition for her outstanding play this season, was part of the defensive unit that finished fourth in goals against across the league.
Defender of the Year (West) - Teagan Pare, Windsor Lancers
Pare was a name heard early and often on both sides of the puck for Windsor, proving to be a force on the blue line and delivering a season defined by strength, consistency, and impact across situations.
The second-year human kinetics student led the Lancers in point production, tying her teammate with 19 points for the year. She scored 11 goals, finishing second on her team, and ranked among the OUA's top scoring defenders, just one point shy of the top spot. She was also the only rearguard in the league to reach double digit goals this season.
Pare continued to rise to the occasion in defining moments, producing two goals and six assists on the power play and scoring four game-winning goals to put her in a tie for second in the conference.
Her recognition marks the first time a Windsor defender has earned this honour and adds to her growing list of OUA accolades, having been named to last season's all-rookie team.
Goaltender of the Year (East) - Emma Tennant, Queen's Gaels
Tennant was a formidable force and premier puck stopper for the OUA East-leading Gaels.
The third-year mechanical engineering student played in all but four of her team's games this season, helping Queen's secure 16 of their 19 wins on the season. Her lofty win total also led the league.
From Pointe-Claire, Que., Tennant recorded a .934 save percentage while averaging 1.99 goals against. Adding to her already impressive year in goal, she registered the second highest save total in the conference, turning away 640 shots on the season.
Tennant's recognition marks the first such honour for a Gaels' goaltender, as the first team all-star adds her name to the Tricolour record books.
Goaltender of the Year (West) - Sarah Howell, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
A steady presence between the pipes, Howell delivered standout performance after standout performance that anchored the Laurier Golden Hawks all season long.
A highlight of the netminder's award-winning campaign was an impressive 11-game personal win streak, a dominant stretch that helped solidify Laurier's first-place finish in the OUA West and their 21 wins overall this season. The Greely, Ont. product earned victories in 11 of the 14 games she started and allowed two or fewer goals in 13 of those appearances.
In just her second year in the league, Howell led all OUA goaltenders with a 0.93 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage. The latter was the best recorded for the program in the last 16 years, matching former Golden Hawk Liz Knox.
A kinesiology and physical education student, Howell also posted six shutouts, second most in the conference.
The decorated student-athlete adds this honour to an already impressive resume, having earned spots on both the conference and national all-rookie teams last season while also receiving academic all-Canadian recognition.
Coach of the Year (East)- Morgan McHaffie, Queen's Gaels
McHaffie got the best out of the Gaels this season, leading her squad to a 19-win season and a first-place finish in the OUA East Queen's to a 19-5-1-0 season.
The Gaels bettered their 2025 record significantly this season, notching nine more wins than they did a year ago. Under McHaffie's guidance the Gaels played their best at home, with an 11-2 record in front of the Kingston faithful.
The Queen's offence scored 71 goals in their 26 games, converting for a 2.73 goals per game average and ranking fourth in both categories. McHaffie's strong leadership also sparked a clear vision across all situations for the Gaels, as they also shone on special teams with a league-best penalty kill of 91.2%.
A former Gael and decorated OUA student-athlete herself, McHaffie took over the program three years ago after serving seven seasons as an assistant coach. Her leadership and guidance helped propel the Gaels to an outstanding season, with several members of her roster taking home major award wins and all-star selections.
Coach of the Year (West) - Kelly Paton, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
One coach of the year nod was not enough for Laurier's Paton, as she doubled down to earn her second consecutive conference recognition.
Paton guided the Golden Hawks to a 21-win season, the best record in the conference, and matched Laurier's highest total since the 2012–13 campaign. The purple and gold also reached No. 4 nationally, their highest regular season ranking since 2014.
Under Paton's leadership as head coach and manager of women's hockey operations, Laurier became one of the league's most effective offensive teams, leading the OUA with 33.2 shots per game and finishing second with 76 goals. Her structured approach and consistent preparation helped the group generate offence throughout the lineup.
Defensively, Paton's emphasis on detail and accountability ensured the Golden Hawks remained difficult to play against. They allowed only 30 goals all season long (a 1.10 goals-against average) to boast one of the strongest defensive units in the conference.
Despite having the fewest powerplay opportunities in the OUA, meanwhile, Paton's team made the most of their chances with the conference's top conversion rate therein (24.3%). Laurier also recorded the fifth‑-best penalty kill at 88.9%, reflecting steady coaching and strong special‑ ‑teams strategies.
With Paton's back-to-back selections in 2025 and 2026, Laurier bench bosses have now been recognized eight times in the program's history.
Marion Hilliard Award (East) - Béatrice Bilodeau, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Bilodeau is a standout on the ice and in her community and the captain of the Ottawa Gee-Gees is recognized this season with the OUA East Marion Hilliard Award.
Completing her second year of medical school at Ottawa, the forward recorded a career-high nine goals and seven helpers in her 26 games played this season. The dedicated student-athlete has not missed a regular season game in her four seasons with the Garnet and Grey, which spans an impressive 102 games overall.
She is also equally active within her community. Bilodeau has been volunteering as a crisis responder with Kids Help Phone since 2022. In her hometown of Ste Marie, Que., she has volunteered at the Festival of Sport, a large community event encouraging sport participation and physical activity for all, for the past three years. Beginning in 2024, she also supported the alumni leadership program within Fillactive, a Canada-wide initiative that brings together nearly 15,000 girls aged 12 to 17 to try new physical activities. In 2021, she completed Hockey Canada's Coach 1 and Coach 2 programs.
Bilodeau began volunteering in 2024 as a mentor with ROMI (Rural Outreach & Mentorship Initiative), which offers free, personalized one-on-one mentorship for high school students from rural communities who are interested in exploring a career in medicine. She also recently began volunteering to assist seniors living in long-term care at the CHSLD Ernest-Brisson in Gatineau.
In 2025, Bilodeau joined multiple medical teams, including Festival Sportif and the Triathlon St-Noël.
Champion of EDI (East) - Cailey Davis, TMU Bold
The TMU Bold's team captain embodies exactly what it means to be champion of EDI.
In her fifth year with the Bold, Davis is a leader in the community and on the ice. She uses her platform to advocate for diversity in sport, sharing and creating social media content in collaboration with the TMU Student-Athlete Advisory Council. She is a strong leader who actively encourages a team culture rooted in respect, inclusiveness, and support for all.
Davis is also a member of the Caribbean women's hockey team, which consists of individuals of Caribbean descent that play. The goal of these tournaments is to promote hockey in communities of colour and to highlight athletes of colour.
The Sutton, Ont. product has also participated in a First Nations Equipment Drive with TMU women's hockey. She was invited to be a guest speaker for the Black Student Alliance to share her lived experiences and the importance of advocacy and allyship. Last season, she was featured as one of the Black female athletes in the SAAC Black History Month social media campaign at TMU.
An academic All-Canadian in every year of her studies, Davis is completing her masters in psychology, and plans to use her degree as an important component in a professional career in coaching hockey.
Davis has played every single regular season and playoff game during her career with the Bold, holding the program record for most career games played.
Her value to the TMU program goes beyond her offensive production, as it is estimated that she has played more short-handed and powerplay minutes than anyone in Bold history, while accumulating only 28 PIMS over the course of all the minutes played in those five years.
Davis, who grew up in a hockey family as both her mother and father played hockey at York University while her brother is a prolific player with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, was selected to participate in this year's cohort of the Hockey Canada and U SPORTS Creating Coaches Program. She is currently coaching with the Durham West Lightning U15AA team, and the International North Stars Boys U18 team.
Marion Hilliard Award (West); Champion of EDI (West) - Abby Hicks, York Lions
Hicks is honoured with not one but two awards for her outstanding character and work in the EDI space. The Trenton, Ont. product is the recipient of the Marion Hilliard Award and the Champion of EDI Award.
The forward dressed in all but one game for the Lions this season, putting up two helpers therein to close out her four-year career with six assists in 88 games.
While not a formal leader wearing a letter on her jersey, Hicks led the way in many off-ice activities and initiatives. Chief among them was her creation and organization of the "Elimination of Violence Against Women & Girls game", the first ever for the Lions women's hockey team. She organized donations for the North York women's shelter and was interviewed and hosted a podcast with Jamie Endrizzi-Faulks, a York alumna who sits on the national police chief's council from the UK in the violence against women department.
Spearheading every aspect, she organized the development of posters to raise and spread awareness for the event and organized social media posts. She also partnered with the Center for Sexual Violence Response Support and Education at York University to make the game a key event as part of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence on campus.
Hicks is actively involved in the York community as a member of the Athletics & Recreation Sport Council. In this role, she supports the organization and planning for external events. She has also put her foot into the coaching realm as an assistant coach for North York Storm U18 AA, who won the bronze medal at the Esso Cup last year and are the top-ranked Canadian team this year.
Hicks has earned academic all-Canadian status in every year of study at York and is on track to achieve that accolade again in 2025-26. Currently completing her honours thesis in biomechanics, she is studying whether fatigue in performance and fatigue-related changes in lower limb strength are related to menstrual cycle and associated symptoms in female varsity athletes. She has already received acceptance into Masters of Physiotherapy for next year.
True Sport Award (East) - Kaitlyn McKnight, Toronto Varsity Blues
As the Toronto Varsity Blues team captain, McKnight leads by example on and off the ice.
The fourth-year forward has been a leader since her rookie season and is the definition of a player with a team-first mentality. Her leadership extends beyond hockey and the Varsity Blues program, meanwhile, as she amplifies her leadership in the community.
McKnight is always the first to volunteer for any events, causes, fundraisers, and more. A snapshot of her community work includes an assistant coaching role with the Mississauga Hurricanes, the Creating Coaches Program, Hockey Canada Athlete Mentor and a Varsity Blues mentor. She is a selfless leader who genuinely wants to make this world a better place and has volunteered her time at many community hockey fests and camps as an instructor, supporting breaking down the barrios to sport and supporting those new to skating and hockey.
The Barrie, Ont. product has always contributed offensively in big games, including tallying 10 points this season. She plays a solid 200-foot game and is known for having the most heart on the ice. Across her four seasons with the Blues, she has appeared in over 100 regular season games and has only accumulated 22 penalty minutes.
McKnight respects the game, her opponents, and officials. She is a fierce competitor but plays within the rules, ultimately adding this honour to her long list of recognitions that also includes two OUA championships, two national medals, and a conference all-rookie nod.
True Sport Award (West) - Arielle MacDonald, Guelph Gryphons
For the second consecutive season, defender Arielle MacDonald has been named OUA West True Sport Award recipient.
Now completing her masters at Guelph in business administration, MacDonald won the True Sport Award last season as a member of the Laurier Golden Hawks.
Throughout her five-year varsity tenure, MacDonald has taken nine career minor penalties. She led all Gryphon defenders and was third on the team with 16 points and has taken one minor trip to the box this season. She plays top minutes for the team and is on the ice in all situations for the dynamic Guelph squad.
This marks the second time in school history that a Gryphon has been named the True Sport Award winner. MacDonald was also recognized with an all-star nod for the first time as part of the second team contingent. The New Credit, Ont. native was tied for sixth among defenders in the OUA with 16 points and tied for third with 14 assists, matching her career-high in the regular season.
Major Awards
Most Valuable Player (East) - Sophie Hudson, Queen's Gaels
Most Valuable Player (West) - Katherine Heard, Guelph Gryphons
Rookie of the Year (East) - Jada Wood, Queen's Gaels
Rookie of the Year (West) - Lerissa Stevenson, Windsor Lancers
Defender of the Year (East) - Scarlett Nowakowski, Queen's Gaels
Defender of the Year (West) - Teagan Pare, Windsor Lancers
Goaltender of the Year (East) - Emma Tennant, Queen's Gaels
Goaltender of the Year (West) - Sarah Howell, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Coach of the Year (East) - Morgan McHaffie, Queen's Gaels
Coach of the Year (West) - Kelly Paton, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Marion Hilliard Award (East) - Beatrice Bilodeau, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Marion Hilliard Award (West) - Abby Hicks, York Lions
Champion of EDI (East) - Cailey Davis, TMU Bold
Champion of EDI Award (West) - Abby Hicks, York Lions
True Sport Award (East) - Kaitlyn McKnight, Toronto Varsity Blues
True Sport Award (West) - Arielle MacDonald, Guelph Gryphons
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
East
F- Sophia Hudson, Queen's Gaels
F - Abby Whitworth, Toronto Varsity Blues
F - Mikayla Cranney, Queen's Gaels
D - Scarlett Nowakowski, Queen's Gaels
D - Maelle Laplante, Ottawa Gee-Gees
G - Emma Tennant, Queen's Gaels
West
F - Katherine Heard, Guelph Gryphons
F - Clara Chisholm, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
F - Carly Orth, Waterloo Warriors
D - Teagan Pare, Windsor Lancers
D - Katina Duscio, Waterloo Warriors
G - Sarah Howell, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
East
F - Gillian Warren, Ottawa
F - Jill Hennessey, Nipissing
F - Christina Alexiou, Toronto
D - Tessa Kosec, Nipissing
D - Kalie Chan, Toronto
G - Clara Genier, Ottawa
West
F - Bridget Cameron, Windsor Lancers
F - Tatum James, Waterloo Warriors
F - Maeve Sutherland-Case, Guelph Gryphons
D - Kara den Hoed, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
D - Arielle MacDonald, Guelph Gryphons
G - Sophie Helfenstein, Guelph Gryphons
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
East
F - Jada Wood, Queen's Gaels
F - Emily Harrison, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
F - Erica Buckley, Carleton Ravens
D - Maddy Collins, TMU Bold
D - Olivia Brassard, Toronto Varsity Blues
G - Sydney Pyburn, TMU Bold
West
F - Lerissa Stevenson, Windsor Lancers
F - Lacey Larmand, Western Mustangs
F - Brooke Williams, Waterloo Warriors
D - Staysha Hiebert, Windsor Lancers
D - Marra Klassen, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
G - Olivia Tran, York Lions
