Concordia's top athletes of 2015
Olivier Hinse and Alexandra Tessier were named Concordia's Athletes of the Year in front of 400 people at Concordia's annual gala awards banquet on April 11. The two Stingers were presented with the Dr. Robert J. Brodrick Award and the Sally Kemp Award respectively for their contributions on the ice and on the playing field.
Tessier’s impact in rugby this year made waves both for the Stingers and at the international level. The second-year Stinger was named the most outstanding player in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) and ended the season third in scoring with five tries, 18 converts and three penalty goals for 70 points. She was named to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) all-Canadian team in October.
Tessier attributes her success this season to the love of the sport. “I just enjoy playing rugby and playing with the Stingers,” she says. “I like running with the ball and the kicking game.”
Tessier also won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 International University Sports Federation (FISU) Women’s Rugby Sevens Championship in Brazil last August, and represented Canada in international U20 events over the summer.
She has high expectations for her next season with the Stingers. “I think we have to win this year,” says Tessier. “It’s about time. We need to go all the way and get to the Nationals.”
Another trip to Brazil may be in her future as well: Tessier is currently in the talented pool of players under consideration for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The captain of the men's hockey team, Olivier Hinse, was a force in CIS competition this season: the third-year centre from Sherbrooke was one of the most prolific goal scorers in the country, tying for the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) lead and finishing second in the CIS with 18 goals. His four shorthanded goals this season were the most by any men’s university hockey player in Canada.
Hinse attributes his success to his preparation in the off-season. “I was excited to come back,” he says. “I was following my game plan every game this season, but I think it was overall a great team effort this year.”
In his first year at Concordia, Hinse became the youngest player in school history to be named an assistant captain. The 2014-15 season was his first as captain of the Stingers.
Hinse was also the first Stingers athlete in history to win the Dr. Randy Gregg Award, given to the CIS hockey player who best combines athletics, academics and community involvement.
The captain already has his sights set on next season. “We want to finish at the top in the conference,” he says. “Our hope for a national championship is there.”
On to the future
While the gala awards banquet serves as a time for the Stingers community to look back at their accomplishments of the last year, the guests also get a sneak peek into the Stingers’ future.
During the awards ceremony Patrick Boivin, the director of Recreation and Athletics, introduced a promotional video teaser for the Stingers rebranding, set to launch in the fall. The video, which features current Stingers athletes, is one of several directed by renowned photographer and videographer John Londono, who is a graduate of Concordia.
Learn more about Concordia athletics.