Three dozen award categories were filled by Portage College student athletes at the recent Sports Excellence Awards event. The April 2 supper and awards ceremony was paired with a celebration of the recent inductees into the Lac La Biche County Sports Hall of Fame. 

A theme of volunteer spirit was seen in many of the awards presented through the night. 

Combining the student and community awards is a win-win for both, says Portage College's Manager of Athletics and Recreations Jim Knight.

"The Lac La Biche County Sports Hall of Fame inductees this year and those before have left such a lasting legacy in our community that we all benefit from today, and I challenge our athletes to do the same," said Knight. "We want our athletes to think about the legacy they will leave with the College and in our Portage communities, or the legacy they will create in other communities after they leave."

 Knight explains the awards night as another example of the partnership between the College and the community. It's a partnership student-athletes are reminded of from their first day on campus. 

"We ask them in orientation to give back to the community, especially as we have a major partner in our Athletics program with Lac La Biche County and we want to give back to our community," he said, explaining that each athlete is asked to offer 30 hours of volunteer service each school year. "We tell them that this is only one chapter of their life story and we want them to leave a legacy to be remembered by."

Student athletes receiving awards at the ceremony were building that legacy, with some like Ashley Tweedy receiving awards in multiple categories for sports, academic and community service. Originally from Winnipeg, Tweedy came to Portage in 2021 taking University Transfer and signing onto the soccer team, where she has continued to be a strong presence. She will graduate from the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program next year. Playing on the Voyageurs women’s soccer and futsal teams and maintaining a 4.0 Grade Point Average, Tweedy was this year’s recipient of the Female Academic Athlete of the Year Award. She also received the Voyageurs Female Humanitarian Award. 

While playing for the college teams over the last four years, she has also volunteered with many community events and organizations, including the local minor soccer league. 

“She has displayed both the spirit and values that describe a true Voyageur athlete. Her unwavering dedication both on and off the field have made her an inspiring role model,” said Lac La Biche Minor Soccer Association executive member Wayne Mah, who joined Voyageurs soccer coach Macky Singh in nominating Tweedy for the humanitarian award. “Her reliability and consistent support have made her a cherished mentor and influential leader, one whose impact is felt far beyond the soccer field.” 

The connection between the College and the community was highlighted in many aspects of the awards night.  

Male Athlete of the Year 

Bachelor of Arts student and Voyageurs hockey player Xavier Halterman was presented with four awards, including the overall Male Athlete of the Year and the Voyageurs’ Male Humanitarian Award for his efforts on and off the ice.  

Volunteering his time to provide skill development for several minor hockey teams, volunteering at community events, as well as being one of the region’s hockey referees, and an integral part of the Junior Voyageur Hockey Program, Halterman was said to be a true representation of a community-minded student-athlete. 

“I love watching him interact with the kids, as he is so genuine. His passion for the game is shown throughout everything he does. (At the rink) he always has time for the kids in the hallways,” said Portage College’s Community Relations Manager Rick Flumian, who nominated Halterman. “He truly represents what it is to be a Voyageur.”  

Halterman was also presented with hockey awards for top scorer and player of the year. 

Female Athlete of the Year 

Other multi-award winners included multi-sport athlete and Environmental Technologist student Ash Hennenfent. The veteran of the women’s soccer and futsal teams was also part of the Voyageur curling team. Hennenfent took home this year’s Portage College Female Athlete of the Year Award along with awards for Female Voyageur Spirit Award in futsal and Most Dedicated in curling. 

Hockey player and Portage Golf team member Carter Yarish also earned recognition from both teams. The Business Administration student earned the Voyageur Spirit Award for golf and the Top Forward Award in hockey. He was also the recipient of an Edmonton Oilers Foundation Award. 

Tanner Davidson-Sykes, an Environmental Technologist student and a player on the soccer and futsal teams, earned the Voyageurs Male Academic Athlete of the Year Award, maintaining a 3.74 GPA. 

Time well spent 

The Volunteer of the Year Award, sponsored by Lac La Biche County, went to Business Administration student Bjorn Goolie. The Voyageur men’s soccer player amassed 138 hours of volunteer time during his school year, including work at the Portage College golf tournament, helping with minor soccer events, and the Power Up North economic development conference hosted by Lac La Biche County and Portage College. 

Goolie’s community support was part of more than 2,200 volunteer hours offered over the year by 69 Portage College student athletes. Similar statistics collected by College officials show a return in volunteer hours by community members to the student athletes. Four community members, Emma Bendera, Mo Al Hattab, Lorin Tkachuk and Kalen Bell were each recognized for contributing 525 hours of volunteer time to Voyageurs Sports teams. College Athletics department staff were also credited with donating more than 1,300 hours of volunteer time to minor sports and Voyageur events over the year. 

Hall of Fame 

Sharing the volunteer spirit were this year’s inductees into the Lac La Biche County Sports Hallof Fame. Étienne Vaillancourt and Ken Staples were inducted this year – Vaillancourt for his commitment to youth volleyball and community sport, and Staples for his founding role and continuing work with the Lac La Biche Ice Festival. Both men spoke about the importance of community support. 

“I grew up in a family where volunteering for your community was a way of life,” said Staples, taking an opportunity to thank his parents for instilling that volunteer spirit, and also thanking many others for being part of his journey, especially those who have assisted with the Ice Festival event over the last 40 years. “I thank the tireless efforts of the other volunteers of our organizing committee. We are victims of our own ambition as we are never satisfied … making it better and better each year.” 

Vaillancourt also thanked those who have been around him. 

“Tonight, I will take one percent, but I’ll share 99 per cent of this honour with many people and organizations,” he said, highlighting his wife and children for their support. “In sports, we often talk about sacrifice, and while giving my time to (the community) has always been a passion, behind every person’s passion are the sacrifices of their loved ones.” 

The Lac La Biche County Sports Hall of Fame is located on the second floor of the Bold Center. Recognition this year was also given to previous Wall of Fame inductees, local bowler Bonnie McDonald, a recipient from 2017, and the McDonald Brothers, the late Robbie, Alex, James, and Bernard, who were instrumental in the region’s rodeo and livestock industry. 

More PHOTOS 

A full gallery of Photos from the evening can be found at the Portage College Flickr site here: Sports Excellence 2025 | Flickr 

More NEWS 

Coverage of the Sports Excellence night from Lakeland This Week can be found here.  

A full list of this year’s Portage College Sports Excellence award winners follows: 

 2024/25 Award Winners  

Golf  

Most Improved – Payton McDonald-Corea (Business Administration)  

Player of the Year – Ayden Duniece (4th Class Power Engineering)  

Rookie of the Year – Brenan Rosychuk (environmental Technologist)  

Voyageurs Spirit Award - Carter Yarish (Business Administration)  

Soccer  

Male Rookie of Year – Ben Kenny (Business Administration)  

Male Voyageurs Spirit Award - Cody Lawson (University Transfer)  

Male Player of the Year – Patrick Moreira (Business Administration)  

Female Rookie of Year – Allison Shapka (Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs)  

Female Voyageurs Spirit Award - Esther Bylsma (Office Administration)  

Female Player of the Year – Brooklyn Haub (Business Administration)  

Curling  

Most Valuable Player – Brynn Brassard (Practical Nursing)  

Most Dedicated – Ash Hennenfent (Environmental Technologist)  

Most Improved – Youssef Shedeed (Business Administration)  

Voyageurs Spirit Award – Michael Musanza (Open Studies)  

Futsal  

Female Rookie of Year – Allison Shapka (Primary Care Paramedics (PCP)  

Female Voyageurs Spirit Award - Ash Hennenfent (Environmental Technologist)  

Female Player of the Year – Esther Bylsma (Office Administration)  

Male Rookie of Year – Matteo Scipione (Business Administration)  

Male Voyageurs Spirit Award - Seun-Bira Oledajo (Jesse) (*University Transfer)  

Male Player of the Year – Daniel Hyrsky (University Transfer)  

Hockey  

Top Scorer – Xavier Halterman (Bachelor of Arts)  

Top Defenseman – Austin Mumby (University Transfer)  

Top Forward – Carter Yarish (Business Administration)  

Rookie of Year – Tye Evans (Open Studies)  

Voyageurs Spirit Award - Luke Hall (University Transfer)  

Player of the Year – Xavier Halterman (Bachelor of Arts)  

Volunteer Recognition  

Volunteer of the Year Award – Sponsored by Lac La Biche County Bjorn Goolie (Business Administration)  

Edmonton Oilers Foundation Award Winners  

Carter Yarish (Business Administration), Kaden Kohle (4th Class Power Engineering), Mason Beck (Business Administration)  

Voyageurs Male Humanitarian Award – Xavier Halterman - (Bachelor of Arts)  

Voyageurs Female Humanitarian Award – Ashley Tweedy - Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP)  

Voyageurs Male Academic Athlete of the Year –  

Tanner Davidson-Sykes (Environmental Technologist)  

Voyageurs Female Academic Athlete of the Year –  

Ashley Tweedy – Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP)  

ATHLETE OF YEAR  

Male – Xavier Halterman - (Bachelor of Arts)  

Female – Ash Hennenfent (Environmental Technologist) 

VOYAGEUR VOLUNTEERS 

Allan Robertson, Barry Feledichuk, Blair Norton, Brian Shapka, Brian Stanton, David Giammariolli, David Paul, Dr. Donna Feledichuk, Heather Lett, Karen Shapka