Ayangma, Canvin named Basketball P.E.I.s top senior athletes

CHARLOTTETOWN - Jacob Ayangma and Susanne Canvin were recently named Basketball P.E.I.'s senior athletes of the year.
Award winners were presented with certificates of achievement from Amalgamated Dairies Limited and Sport P.E.I.
Charlottetown's Ayangma has led the Holland College Hurricanes in rebounding and scoring, helping them to a playoff spot after a 15-6 regular season, and earning himself a place on the Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association all-star team.
He has been involved in the Basketball P.E.I. elite program, and has played representative basketball at the under-15, under-17 and Canada Games levels.
Canvin proved again last season that she was one of the best in the Atlantic University Sport, averaging 15.5 points per game and 9.1 rebounds for the UPEI Panthers, leading the team in both categories and finishing among the best in the conference for the third straight year.

Junior awards
Aaron Robbins and Kevin MacLeod were co-winners of the junior male under-17 award.
MacLeod has been a standout at Colonel Gray High School and as part of the elite program, winning numerous school all-star honours and enjoying a good Canada Games tournament.
Robbins, of Charlottetown Rural, is an exciting, aggressive forward. He led the Raiders to the school title in March, earned numerous all-star honours, has been part of the elite program and was another starter on the Canada Games squad. He is currently representing P.E.I. in the Canada Basketball elite performance program.
Catherine Strongman of Three Oaks was captain of the Canada Games women's squad, and is part of the Canada Basketball elite performance program. She is an outstanding guard, has been part of the provincial program for the past five years, and was a PEISAA all-star last season.
Kiera Rigby was presented with the bantam award for under-14 girls, following a fantastic season with the Queen Charlotte Crusaders and the Canada Games team.
She was Queen Charlotte's MVP and was an all-star at the under-17 elite camp in New Brunswick. She has the potential to become an outstanding player, and is another Island representative in the Basketball Canada elite program.
The male bantam award went to Colin Arsenault of Summerside Intermediate and the East Prince Sting. He led both teams to provincial titles, and was recognized for his leadership skills by winning numerous all-star awards.
Jenna Mae Ellsworth and Jack MacAulay also received awards in the mini (under-12) category.
Ellsworth, of the Charlottetown Tigers, was top scorer and added numerous assists as she helped her team win the provincial championship. She is also an outstanding defensive talent, and won numerous game awards in regional tournaments, as well as the tournament MVP at the provincials.
MacAulay, who plays for the Stratford Foxes, led his team to a provincial title. He has advanced ball-handling skills for his age.
In addition to the athlete awards, the association recognized its key volunteers.

Top coaches
Canada Games coaches Jared Cheverie and Kathy Murray were co-winners of the coaching award.
Murray continues to work with youngsters throughout the program, as well as coaching the Holland College Hurricanes. Cheverie is part of the Canada elite performance program, and is head coach of the women's team at Crandall University.
Rick MacKinnon was recognized with the official's award for his many years of service to the sport. A high-level referee at the university level, he is dedicated to assessing, assigning and leading the Basketball Official's Association. He is currently the P.E.I. representative on the National Basketball Official's Council.
Don Chevarie, president of the Stratford Minor Basketball Association, was presented with the administrator award.
Chevarie has been on the Stratford executive since 2002.
He has worked tirelessly to improve the status of the organization and its programs, obtaining funding and working closely with the coaches to provide the best possible experience for the club's young basketball players.