BOONE NAMED OCAA MEN'S RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

TORONTO - Humber third-year fly-half Phil Boone (Brampton) is the 2012 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men's rugby player of the year.

The Humber co-captain is his team's top point getter the past two seasons, winning the OCAA West region and overall scoring title scoring 14 tries while adding an OCAA regular season record 48 converts. His 166 total points is also an OCAA single season record. Along with the top player honours and scoring championship, Boone is also an OCAA all-star.

Trent centre Kevin Blunck (Peterborough) is the OCAA East and overall rookie of the year. Blunck scored a team-leading six tries and 30 points while also establishing himself as a defensive presence through his tackling and competition for the ball. Blunck has made a significant impact as a first year player, exemplifying a strong work ethic while continuously looking for ways he can improve as a player.

David McCully of Trent is the East and overall coach of the year. Blunck and his teammates excelled under McCully's tutelage, as the Excalibur won the East region championship with a perfect 6-0-0 record, outscoring their opponents 230-65. Although the award is based on regular season play, McCully has led Trent to its best finish in OCAA, as the Excalibur will play for an OCAA gold medal this Sunday.

Humber's Fabian Rayne is the West coach of the year. The Hawks were a juggernaut of historic proportions, establishing new OCAA regular season records scoring 663 points, 107 tries and 64 converts. Humber broke the 100-point barrier in each of its six matches, allowing 10 points the entire season. Along with Boone and Rayne, Humber has another major award winner in Jack Smith (Peterborough). Smith is the West rookie of the year scoring eight tries in five matches.  

The East scoring champion was Chad Bain (Belleville) of Seneca. The veteran forward scored 10 tries in six matches.

Each OCAA team nominates two all-stars. The OCAA all-stars from the East include Dan Burley (Bellville) and Jeremy Nesbitt (Lindsay) of Algonquin; Fleming's Shane Brisson (Ingleside) and Danny Snodden (Sunderland); Cam Edwards (Napanee) and Chris Thompson (Lakefield) of Loyalist; St. Lawrence-Kingston's Pat Franey (Manotick) and Eric Jadowski (Manotick); Seneca's Bain and Jesse Lofthouse (Stouffville); and Tim Dineen (Kenilworth) and Steve Lebrun (Ottawa) of Trent.

The OCAA West all-stars include Greg Dawkins (Kitchener) and Andrew Harpell (Sarnia) of Conestoga; Georgian's Robin Calamatta (Acton) and Ben Dorfling (Barrie); Boone and Jason Chuck (Mississauga) of Humber; Mohawk's Jacob Kit (Stoney Creek) and Eric Moyer (Brantford); and Sheridan's Brett King (Burlington) and James Shanly.

The 2012 OCAA men's rugby bronze medal match will take place Saturday at Seneca against Algonquin. Trent hosts the gold medal match Sunday against Humber in a clash of unbeaten teams.

2012 OCAA MEN'S RUGBY AWARDS

OCAA Men's Rugby Player of the Year
Phil Boone, Humber

OCAA Men's Rugby Overall Rookie of the Year
Kevin Blunck, Trent

OCAA Men's Rugby East Division Rookie of the Year
Kevin Blunck, Trent

OCAA Men's Rugby West Division Rookie of the Year
Jack Smith, Humber

OCAA Men's Rugby Coach of the Year
David McCully, Trent

OCAA Men's Rugby East Division Coach of the Year
David McCully, Trent

OCAA Men's Rugby West Division Coach of the Year
Fabian Rayne, Humber

OCAA Men's Rugby League Scoring Champion
Phil Boone, Humber

OCAA Men's Rugby East Division Scoring Champion
Chad Bain, Seneca

OCAA Men's Rugby West Division Scoring Champion
Phil Boone, Humber

OCAA Men's Rugby All-Stars
Dan Burley, Algonquin
Jeremy Nesbitt, Algonquin
Greg Dawkins, Conestoga
Andrew Harpell, Conestoga
Shane Brisson, Fleming
Danny Snodden, Fleming
Robin Calamatta, Georgian
Ben Dorfling, Georgian
Phil Boone, Humber
Jason Chuck, Humber
Cam Edwards, Loyalist
Chris Thompson, Loyalist
Jacob Kit, Mohawk
Eric Moyer, Mohawk
Pat Franey, St. Lawrence-Kingston
Eric Jadowski, St. Lawrence-Kingston
Chad Bain, Seneca
Jesse Lofthouse, Seneca
Brett King, Sheridan
James Shanly, Sheridan
Tim Dineen, Trent
Steve Lebrun, Trent

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com