The Holland Hurricanes handed out their awards from the 2024-25 season on Friday evening at the Florence Simmons Performance Hall in Charlottetown on the Holland College Prince of Wales Campus.
The evening consisted of team awards being handed out to start (see full list below), followed by major award winners to conclude the evening.
The big winners were Lauren Armstrong (basketball, Canberra, Australia) and Carson Gray (volleyball, Stratford, PEI) who were named the 2025 Holland Hurricanes Athletes of the Year.
Armstrong led the women’s basketball Hurricanes to an 14-4 regular season in Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) competition and guided her squad to an ACAA silver medal. The veteran guard was also named a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian, the ACAA Player of the Year, and a member of the 2025 ACAA 1st All-Conference team.
To cap off her 2024-25 collegiate athletics year, Armstrong was also named the Most Valuable Player, and Top Offensive Player, for the women’s basketball Hurricanes.
Gray led the men’s volleyball Hurricanes to a third-place finish in the ACAA regular-season with a record of 10-9 and a spot in the semifinals at the ACAA Volleyball Championships in Charlottetown. The star left-side was named a CCAA All-Canadian, to the 2025 ACAA All-Conference Team and was also recognized as the Top Offensive Player and the Most Valuable Player for the men’s volleyball ‘Canes.
Other major award winners on Friday evening included Karissa George (soccer/basketball, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia) and Erron Beachey (football, North Bay, Ontario) as the Hurricanes Rookies of the Year, and Chris Connolly (women’s basketball, Charlottetown, PEI) as the Hurricanes Coach of the Year.
The recipient of the Hurricanes Passion. Spirit. Pride. Award, presented to a Holland College student-athlete who exemplifies leadership in their role with their respective team was Ella McLean (Quispamsis, New Brunswick), of women’s rugby.
The recipient of the Hurricanes Award, in recognition of those that have helped develop and promote the Holland Hurricanes, was Logan Strowbridge (Halifax, Nova Scotia) from the Hurricanes football team.
The recipients of the Leadership in Sport Award, in recognition of the contribution to the development and promotion of sport at Holland College and in our community, were Emma Arsenault (Searletown, PEI) and Kristyn Taylor (Summerside, PEI), from women’s hockey.
The recipient of the Citizenship Award, in recognition of outstanding athletic ability, academic excellence and demonstrating leadership and commitment to the community, was Sam Payne (West Kelowna, British Columbia), from women’s volleyball.
The recipient of the President’s Award, recognizing those who are actively involved in promoting and building the varsity program at Holland College, was Reegan MacAulay (Charlottetown, PEI).
The following are the 2023-24 Hurricanes team award winners:
Cross Country Running
Leadership Award - Katie Astley
Most Valuable Runner - Max Lahey
Football
Leadership Award - Aaron McCardle
Defensive Lineman of the Year - Dan Efosa-Idehen
Offensive Lineman of the Year - Andy Wilson
Top Defensive Player - Mathis Blais
Top Offensive Player - Wolf Sym
Top Special Teams Player - Erron Beachey
Most Valuable Player - Tyler Newson
Women's Soccer
Leadership Award – Kate Ramsay
Top Defensive Player - Georgia Doucette
Top Offensive Player - Hayden Chaisson
Most Valuable Player - Karissa George
Men's Soccer
Leadership Award - Ruben Vijil
Top Defensive Player - Nolan Kowal
Top Offensive Player - Chad McNally
Most Valuable Player - Colby Munro
Baseball
Leadership - Caden Doyle
Top Offensive Player - Simon Dubois
Top Pitcher - Cayle Coffin
Most Valuable Player - Simon Dubois
Women's Rugby
Leadership Award - Ella McLean
Top Back - Erin Robertson
Top Forward - Emily Nauss
Most Valuable Player - Annik Whiten
Women's Volleyball
Leadership Award - Marissa O'Donnell
Top Defensive Player - Abby MacDonald
Top Offensive Player - Charlotte Sweetapple
Most Valuable Player - Jenna O'Neill
Men's Volleyball
Leadership Award - Connor Daniels
Top Defensive Player - Dominik Pineau
Top Offensive Player - Carson Gray
Most Valuable Player - Carson Gray
Women's Basketball
Leadership Award - Amy Plaggenhoef
Top Defensive Player - Taya Talbot
Top Offensive Player - Lauren Armstrong
Most Valuable Player - Lauren Armstrong
Men's Basketball
Leadership Award - Ryan MacKinnon
Top Defensive Player - Dorrell Bedminster
Top Offensive Player - Aaron Simmons
Most Valuable Player - Bryce Corless
Women's Hockey
Leadership Award - Emma MacKinnon
Top Defensive Player - Emma Arsenault
Top Offensive Player - Kristyn Taylor
Most Valuable Player - Kristyn Taylor
The replay of the broadcast from the 2025 Hurricanes Awards night can be viewed at www.youtube.com/@gocanesgo.
Connect with the Holland Hurricanes at www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes,www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.
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