UCCELLO NAMED OCAA MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

TORONTO - Luca Uccello of Humber College has been named the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Male Athlete of the Year.

The reigning OCAA Men's Soccer Player of the Year was the co-leader on the Hawks with 10 goals in 10 regular season matches, as Humber ran the table with a 10-0 unblemished regular season record and the West Division championship. Uccello (Markham) was a model of consistency, scoring in seven of the 10 matches.

During the OCAA championship last October, the fifth-year midfielder assisted on four goals as Humber won all three of its matches to claim a fourth consecutive provincial gold medal. Uccello was recognized as an OCAA Championship All-Star.

Uccello opened the scoring for the Hawks at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) Men's Soccer National Championship as Humber won its opener 7-2 over Saint-Boniface of Manitoba. Uccello scored a second time and was named Player of the Game in the national semi-final, a 3-1 victory against host Langara of Vancouver, setting up an all-Ontario final against crosstown rival Seneca. In an exciting showcase of OCAA soccer, Humber won 2-1 in overtime to successfully defend its national championship, winning Humber's seventh CCAA title in 10 years, and completing a perfect season.

Uccello was well decorated at awards ceremonies this past season, being named CCAA Player of the Year, CCAA All-Canadian, CCAA Championship All-Star, CCAA Academic All-Canadian, OCAA West Division League First-Team All-Star, OCAA All-Academic, Humber Team MVP and Humber Male Athlete of the Year.

Uccello collegiate ends as a two-time national champion, two-time provincial champion, two-time CCAA Academic All-Canadian, two-time OCAA All-Academic, two-time League All-Star, having never suffered a loss as a Hawk on the pitch (27-0-1 all-time).

Uccello joins Jesse Assing (2015-16) and Joanna Vitale (2001-02) and Mike Silver (2001-02) as Humber soccer student-athletes to be named OCAA Athlete of the Year. Uccello is the third Humber male to win the award joining Assing, Silver and basketball athlete DeQuon Cascart who won the award last season.

The OCAA has expanded its season ending awards to include an athletic administrator, coach and rookies in addition to its traditional athletes of the year. Winners will be honoured at the 10th OCAA Hall of Fame ceremony, to be held at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, May 1.

2022-23 OCAA MAJOR AWARDS

Apr. 12 - Ray Chateau, Athletic Administrator of the Year
Apr. 13 - Emily Cooper, Female Rookie of the Year
Apr. 14 - Daniel Talmage, Male Rookie of the Year
Apr. 17 - Doug Wiseman, Coach of the Year
Apr. 18 - Luca Uccello, Male Athlete of the Year
Apr. 19 - Female Athlete of the Year

- OCAA -

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Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
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E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com