OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport proudly announced Tuesday the student-athletes honoured as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2010-11 season, and University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey forward Hayley Wickenheiser is among them.

Wickenheiser becomes the first University of Calgary student-athlete to earn the top academic honour in CIS since soccer star Kelly Matheson in 2000. Multiple Olympic medallist Curtis Myden was a two-time winner during his time with the Dinos, accomplishing the feat in 1994 and again in 1999.

A kinesiology student who returned to full-time studies after a lengthy absence in 2010-11, Wickenheiser was named the CIS player of the year in women's hockey while racking up a near-perfect GPA.

“I am thrilled for Hayley,” said Ron Wuotila, director of athletics and recreation. “This recognition is a testament to her discipline in the classroom and on the ice – she sets the bar high for her fellow University of Calgary student-athletes Additionally, Hayley continues to present herself as a terrific role model for young female athletes across Canada.”

“Hayley Wickenheiser is a credit to our faculty, to the University of Calgary, and to our community,” commented Dr. Wayne Giles, Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology. “She is an excellent example of our 'Dinos Today…Leaders Tomorrow' program for exceptional student-athletes.”

In total, 85 University of Calgary student-athletes earned Academic All-Canadian status in 2010-11. Every year, a growing number of CIS student-athletes are recognized as Academic All-Canadians, having maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one - or more - of their university's varsity teams.

In 2010-2011, a record 2,398 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,299 set a year ago.

Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four CIS regional associations are selected annually as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians.

The 2010-2011 recipients from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) are Heather Ambery of Ottawa, a soccer player and kinesiology student at UNB, as well as Daniel You of Calgary, a volleyball player and biology student at Dalhousie.

Representing the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) are Alexandra Lojen of Montreal, a volleyball player and masters student (law) at Montreal, and Marc-André Dorion of St-Hubert, Que., a hockey player and education student at McGill.

The winners from Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are Erika Reiser of Windsor, Ont., a pole vaulter and kinesiology student at Windsor, as well as Shujon Mazumder of Toronto, a wrestler and education student at the UofT.

Darren Mazzei of Regina, a cross country and track and field athlete and education student at the University of Victoria, joins Wickenheiser as the Canada West winners.

“The high number of student-athletes who achieved 80 per cent is something all universities across Canada can be proud of. It reflects the commitment of coaches and athletics departments to ensure success in the classroom and playing field,” said CIS chief executive officer, Marg McGregor.

“This year's Top Eight recipients symbolize the many outstanding student-athletes across Canada. I look forward to hearing great things about them in the years to come as they graduate and become leaders in our communities.”

CANADA WEST UNIVERSITIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Name: Hayley Wickenheiser
Hometown: Shaunavon, Sask.
University: Calgary
Faculty: Kinesiology
Program: Kinesiology
Sport: Hockey

Hayley Wickenheiser's achievements with the Canadian senior national women's hockey team are well documented. She has taken part in four Olympic Winter Games, leading Canada to three gold medals and one silver, and 10 IIHF world championships, claiming six titles and earning four silver medals. The highest-scoring player in national team history, she was named tournament MVP at the 2002 and 2006 Olympics. In the fall of 2010, the talented forward resumed her studies after a 10-year absence from school and quickly made her mark on the CIS circuit as a member of the Calgary Dinos, averaging a CIS-best 2.67 points per game and claiming the Brodrick Trophy as player of the year.

In her return to school, Wickenheiser enrolled in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the UofC and plans to attend medical school following her undergraduate degree. In 2010-11, she maintained a remarkable 3.94 grade point average out of 4.0, easily achieving Academic All-Canadian status.

Through her Wickenheiser Foundation, she supports organizations such as KidSport, Right to Play, Dreams Take Flight, Clean Air Champions, and Spread the Net. She contributed to the World Hockey Summit in 2010 as a keynote speaker and hosted the inaugural Wickenheiser International Women's Hockey Festival in November 2010 in Burnaby, B.C. Named an Officer of the Order of Canada on June 30, 2011 “for her achievements as an athlete and for her contributions to the growth of women's hockey”, Wickenheiser was in Ghana at the time, working as an athlete ambassador for Right to Play.

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
All-Time Top 8 Academic All-Canadians

2010-11: Hayley Wickenheiser (hockey)
1999-00: Kelly Matheson (soccer)
1998-99: Curtis Myden (swimming)
1993-94: Curtis Myden (swimming)

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