Alberta's Abby Guezen and Ryder Rattee named Canada West Athletes of the Year
University of Alberta standouts earn top conference honour
April 30, 2026 - A pair of decorated student-athletes from the University of Alberta have earned the conference’s top honour, as volleyball player Abby Guezen and track and field athlete Ryder Rattee have been named the 2026 Canada West Athletes of the Year.
The prestigious recognition caps a remarkable season for both student-athletes, who delivered historic performances on both the conference and national stage.
Guezen led the Pandas to both Canada West and U SPORTS championship titles, earning conference and national Player of the Year honours while putting forth one of the most dominant campaigns in conference history.
Meanwhile, Rattee set multiple program and U SPORTS championship records on the track, including capturing three gold medals and U SPORTS Athlete of the Meet honours at this year's national championship.
Guezen and Rattee will move forward as the Canada West nominees for the prestigious Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athletes of the Year Awards, which honour the nation's top male and female student-athletes. U SPORTS will announce the winners on May 20.
CW Female Athlete of the Year: Abby Guezen
Alberta Pandas Women's Volleyball - Outside Hitter
Third Year | Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alta. | Faculty: Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation
After a season defined by dominance at every level, Alberta’s Abby Guezen has been named the 2026 Canada West Female Athlete of the Year.
The third-year outside hitter from Sherwood Park delivered one of the most dynamic campaigns in conference history. Guezen led the Pandas to both Canada West and U SPORTS championships, also earning the Mary Lyons Award as the national Women's Volleyball Player of the Year.
Guezen ranked among the conference’s elite across the board, finishing top three in Canada West with 277 kills, 3.90 kills per set, 344.5 points, and 44 aces, while adding 173 digs and 39 blocks. Her .304 attack percentage led all conference outside hitters, while the 44 aces were the second most in a single season in Pandas history.
She capped her standout season as U SPORTS Championship MVP, powering Alberta to its first national title since 2007, and was also named the University of Alberta's Female Athlete of the Year.
The Canada West Female Athlete of the Year nod adds another prestigious honour to a resume that left little else to achieve in 2025–26.
CW Male Athlete of the Year: Ryder Rattee
Alberta Golden Bears Track & Field
Second Year | Hometown: Spruce Grove, Alta. | Faculty: Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation
After a season defined by record-setting performances and podium-topping results at both the Canada West and U SPORTS championships, Alberta’s Ryder Rattee has been named Canada West Male Athlete of the Year.
The conference's reigning Track and Field Rookie of the Year followed up his debut campaign with one of the finest individual seasons in Golden Bears history. Rattee opened his sophomore season with early victories in the 600m at the Pandas Open and the 300m at the Golden Bears Open, before claiming gold in both events at the 2026 Canada West Track & Field Championships in Saskatoon, earning Canada West Track Athlete of the Year honours.
The Spruce Grove product then delivered a national championship performance for the ages, capturing three gold medals at the U SPORTS Championships in Winnipeg, each in record-setting fashion. He set both a program and championship record with a dazzling 300m run (32.75), then set another program record in the 600m (1:16.75), before anchoring Alberta’s 4x400m relay team to a gold medal in 3:12.82, breaking the program record by more than two seconds.
Rattee capped his remarkable season by earning U SPORTS Athlete of the Meet honours, along with the prestigious University of Alberta Male Athlete of the Year award.
