Today, the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced the recipients of the 16th annual Premier’s Athletic Awards and the 2020 Team Gushue Awards. The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Sport and Recreation, as well as the 2006 Olympic Gold Medalists Brad Gushue, Jamie Korab and Mike Adam joined the Premier in a virtual ceremony recognizing 128 of the province’s top athletes.
The Premier’s Athletic Awards program recognizes athletic excellence and provides financial support to help offset the costs of training and competition. Successful applicants receive awards ranging from $500 to $1,500, based on their accomplishments and their level of competition.
The Team Gushue Awards, in honour of Team Gushue’s gold medal win at the 2006 Winter Olympics, are presented annually to one male athlete and one female athlete, who excel in athletics and academics.
The recipients of this year’s Team Gushue Awards, Maggie Connors and Alex Newhook, have both distinguished themselves as exceptional hockey players while continuing their post-secondary education.
Maggie Connors is in her 2nd year at Princeton University and plays on the varsity hockey team. In 2019, Maggie finished 2nd on her team in points, was named to the conference all-rookie team and was also a 2nd team conference all-star. In August, Maggie competed for Team Canada in the U22 Summer Series vs. the United States.
Alex Newhook had a remarkable 2019, with many notable accomplishments. Internationally, he competed for Canada at the U18 World Championships. He was named most valuable player in the Canadian Junior Hockey League and was a first round pick in the National Hockey League entry draft by the Colorado Avalanche. In the fall of 2019, Alex started his varsity hockey career at Boston College.
For a complete list of 2020 Premier’s Athletic Awards recipients, please see the backgrounder below.
Quotes
“Congratulations to all the recipients of the Premier’s Athletic Awards and the Team Gushue Awards. We are delighted to support athletes from Newfoundland and Labrador in their quest to compete across the country and around the world. Your dedication to your respective sports inspires all of us and we will celebrate your future success as you continue to pursue your athletic goals.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“I extend my sincere congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Premier’s Athletic Awards and Team Gushue Awards. In addition to achieving your athletic goals, you serve as role models for all young people in our province through your hard work, determination and commitment to your sport. Our government is focused on increasing physical activity and healthy eating, and you are great examples to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians of what can be achieved by staying active and eating healthy.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
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Media contacts
Jeremy Reynolds
Office of the Premier
709-729-3558
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca
Gina MacArthur
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 730-2977
GinaMacarthur@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
2020 Premier’s Athletic Awards and Team Gushue Awards Recipients
| SPORT | NAME | HOMETOWN |
| Alpine | Andrew Payne | Corner Brook |
| Artistic Swimming | Mayah Knott | St. John’s |
| Athletics
|
Camryn Bonia | St. John’s |
| Nicole Chan | St. John’s | |
| Eric Knight | St. John’s | |
| Evan Knight | St. John’s | |
| Badminton | Jessica Willcott | St. Albans |
| Ball Hockey
|
Kieran Burke | St. John’s |
| Shae-Lynn Clarke | Bell Island | |
| Alex Doody | Conception Bay South | |
| Nicholas Gosse | Paradise | |
| Adrian Green | Carbonear | |
| Brooke Lannon | Placentia | |
| Riley Mercer | Bay Roberts | |
| Drew Sheppard | Conception Bay South | |
| Alyson Thomas | L’Anse Au Clair | |
| Julia Thomas | Labrador City | |
| Baseball
|
Madelyn Healey | St. John’s |
| Jaida Lee | St. John’s | |
| Kayla Musseau | St. John’s | |
| Mitchell Noseworthy | St. John’s | |
| Chase Tucker | Mount Pearl | |
| Cole Tucker | Mount Pearl | |
| Basketball
|
Abby Carpenter | Torbay |
| Gracie Dalton | Cape Broyle | |
| Jacob Evoy | Massey Drive | |
| Geana George | St. John’s | |
| Matthew Pennell | St. John’s | |
| Caleb Sooley | Mount Pearl | |
| Cameron Stanford | St. John’s | |
| Carly Stevenson | St. John’s | |
| Mark Tobin | Mount Pearl | |
| Brett Warren | St. John’s | |
| Bicycle | Ethan Piercey | Gander |
| Bowling
|
Amy Harris | Paradise |
| Brooke King | Paradise | |
| Evan Squires | Paradise | |
| Jack Walsh | Goulds | |
| Boxing | Seamus O’Brien | St. John’s |
| Cross Country Skiing
|
Jillian Coates | Clarenville |
| Daley Merrigan | Corner Brook | |
| Noah Piercey | St. John’s | |
| Chloe Reid | Massey Drive | |
| Curling
|
Daniel Bruce | Corner Brook |
| Sarah Chaytor | St. John’s | |
| Katie Follett | Paradise | |
| Nathan Young | Torbay | |
| Diving | Jacob Billard | Logy Bay |
| Golf
|
Andrew Bruce | Corner Brook |
| Taylor Cormier | Corner Brook | |
| Gymnastics
|
Michael Drover | St. John’s |
| Gleb Evstigneev | Paradise | |
| Sarah Pace | St. John’s | |
| Megan Skinner | St. John’s | |
| Handball
|
Rahul Asokan | St. John’s |
| Alex Carew | St. John’s | |
| Michael Gaulton | St. John’s | |
| Austin Short | Outer Cove | |
| Nicholas Yetman | St. John’s | |
| Hockey
|
Matthew Butler | St. John’s |
| Maggie Connors | St. John’s | |
| Liam Marshall | Mount Pearl | |
| Abby Newhook | St. John’s | |
| Alex Newhook | St. John’s | |
| Desiree Snook | Paradise | |
| Judo | Emma Mullett | St. John’s |
| Karate
|
Ryan Crocker | Torbay |
| Alexander Hollett | Logy Bay | |
| Lucas Menard | Flatrock | |
| Emily Reglar | Flatrock | |
| Alex Ryan | Middle Cove | |
| Noah Ryan | Middle Cove | |
| Parasport- Athletics
|
Jeremy Jones | St. John’s |
| Gavin Noble | Middle Arm | |
| Parasport- Boccia
|
Lois Martin | St. John’s |
| Stephen Westcott | Conception Bay South | |
| Parasport- Swimming | Nathan Luscombe | Grand Falls-Windsor |
| Rowing
|
Alana Gale | St. John’s |
| Alexander Kingsley | St. John’s | |
| Gabriella Mate | St. John’s | |
| Mark Power | Conception Bay South | |
| Rugby
|
Michael McCarthy | St. John’s |
| Madeline Pickard | St. John’s | |
| Sophie Pickard | St. John’s | |
| Tony Pomroy | Conception Bay South | |
| Sailing | Livi Allen | St. John’s |
| Skating
|
Savannah Burden | Steady Brook |
| Sarah Burry | Middle Cove | |
| Mark Butt | Bloomfield | |
| Dayton Fifield | Torbay | |
| Abby Pace | St. John’s | |
| Katie Slaney | Paradise | |
| Rachael Tuff | Witless Bay | |
| Soccer
|
Chantel Armstrong | Tors Cove |
| Stacey Hanlon | Portugal Cove- St. Phillips | |
| Morgan Harris | Mount Pearl | |
| Kate Hickey | Outer Cove | |
| Erin McKinnon | St. John’s | |
| Lauren Rowe | Conception Bay South | |
| Zoe Rowe | Conception Bay South | |
| Owen Sheppard | St. John’s | |
| Nicole Torraville | St. John’s | |
| Sydney Walsh | St. John’s | |
| Softball
|
Jenna Connolly | Goulds |
| Calista Corbett | Holyrood | |
| Jordan Pomeroy | Placentia | |
| Liam Shea | Dunville | |
| Squash | Sophia Tulk | Conception Bay South |
| Swimming
|
Megan Holden | Mount Pearl |
| Dylan Morawski | Gander | |
| Abby Simms | St. John’s | |
| Aliceyn Warren | Paradise | |
| Table Tennis
|
Karlee Warren | Roberts Arm |
| Sarah Warren | Roberts Arm | |
| Taekwondo
|
Alexandra Green | Torbay |
| Keegan Laundry | Conception Bay South | |
| Target Shooting | Kelsey Power | Bay Bulls |
| Tennis
|
Aiden Drover-Mattinen | Portugal Cove-St. Philips |
| Liam Drover-Mattinen | Portugal Cove-St. Philips | |
| Jasmine Rahman | St. John’s | |
| Declan Walsh | St. John’s | |
| Ultimate
|
Luke Dyer | Logy Bay |
| Shae LeDevehat | Mount Pearl | |
| Volleyball
|
Sarah Dawe | Mount Pearl |
| Margaret Henley | St. John’s | |
| Christopher Leroy | Corner Brook | |
| Catherine Smith | Mount Pearl | |
| Claire Whiffen | St. John’s | |
| Weightlifting | Liam Abbott | Paradise |
| Wrestling | Owen Warren | Chapel Arm |