Alberta's Jordan Canham named CW Player of the Year

CALGARY - Alberta's Jordan Canham has been named the 2023 Canada West Men's Volleyball Player of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday.

The star of the conference's and country's top ranked team put together an outstanding season for his Golden Bears. He's one of two Alberta major award-winners. Manitoba, Winnipeg and Mount Royal each earn one of the conference's prestigious titles as well.

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All award-winners are decided upon by coaches' vote.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jordan Canham

Jordan Canham earns the Player of the Year award after a stand-out season that saw the Golden Bear lead his team to a 22-2 regular season record. The conference's best (and U SPORTS top-ranked) squad benefitted largely from Canham's dangerous swing.

The outside hitter posted the third-best hitting percentage (.361) in Canada West this year, needing few opportunities to make opponents pay. Canham's ability to think quickly teamed with his athleticism make him a lethal weapon from the left side.

The Avonmore, ON product led the country in service aces with 49 while posting 363 points on the year (fourth in the conference) on a deep Golden Bears roster that shares the ball effectively. His season-high in aces makes history as the most in program history while his 99 career aces also break the previous record.

The 2022 U SPORTS Championship MVP rises to the big moments, showing no fear. His confidence to perform on the biggest stages makes him that much more invaluable.

"This is a very well deserved award for Jordan. He has put a lot of time, energy and teamwork into being the force he is through Canada West. ​ He's a very mature player which is showcased through his growth as a leader and his high level understanding of what it takes to be successful as an individual and more importantly as a member of a team at this level. ​ I think what is additionally impressive about Jordan is that it's very likely he will continue to improve once he begins the next chapter of his career at the international level. I don't think we've seen the best of Jordan yet. Through his work ethic, passion and mind, I'm looking forward to the heights he will reach in the coming years."
​- Brock Davidiuk, Head Coach, Alberta Golden Bears

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jordon Heppner

Jordon Heppner earns the CW Rookie of the Year Award after boosting his Manitoba Bisons to grab the final playoff spot. Preseason polls had his team ranked outside the postseason picture.

Heppner stepped into the line-up and made his presence known right away. He read opponents' offences with the vision of a veteran. The Winnipeg, MB product finished seventh in the conference and the country in block assists this year with 67.

He also showed he's ready to play at an elite level, cutting down on errors typically seen with first-year players. Heppner swung at an efficient .346 clip this season while sailing in 21 service aces.

A dedicated athlete, Heppner works on his craft constantly, both on and off the court. ​ He’s one of the first players at the facility for practice and game days, and showed his value by playing the third-most sets of any Bisons player, with 84.

“Congratulations to Jordie for winning Rookie of the Year in Canada West volleyball! This is a remarkable achievement, and he should be proud of himself for all his hard work and dedication that he put into his performance. This reward is a testament to his potential and bright future in volleyball. We are lucky to have him, and I am excited to see what he will accomplish in the future. This is not the end goal, but rather the start of a promising career. With his talent and determination, I have no doubt he will achieve even greater things in years to come.”
​-Arnd "Lupo" Ludwig, Head Coach, Manitoba Bisons

LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Darian Picklyk

Darian Picklyk wins the 2022-23 Libero of the Year award as he closes out his outstanding Canada West career. The graduating Wesmen leaves the conference ranked in the top six all-time in career digs.

Picklyk again led the country in digs this season with 198, showing not only his talent but consistency on the defensive side. The Springfield, MB product reads offensives quickly and uses his athleticism to be in the right place at the right time. He shows both sound fundamentals and spectacular scrambling abilities, saving his team when the point looks all but over.

The libero is a leader on and off the court. He won the Student-Athlete Community Service major award last season, a testament to his character.

His never-say-die attitude, commitment to his craft and work ethic have made him the conference's premier back row player.

“Darian has been a strong performer as a libero for all of his five years playing for our team. His ability to make others around him better as well made him an even more important player on the court. Off the court, he has led by example with academics and community service. He was the best kind of leader.”
​- Larry McKay, Head Coach, Winnipeg Wesmen

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Cam Kern

Cam Kern is, by all definitions of the term, superhuman. The starting setter for the country's top team dedicates his life to his team, academics, and his community. Kern notched the second-most assists in Canada West this season while quarterbacking the nation's most efficient offence - a feat only accomplished through an elite setter. His 922 assists this year is the fourth most in program single-season history.

Off the court, he maintains a 4.0 GPA in kinesiology while earning major academic accolades. The Edmonton, AB product also finds ways to better his community in any way he can. He led a partnership that will see varsity athletes connect with at-risk youth through volleyball.

A member of the University of Alberta Athletics Board, Kern also organized several big initiatives, like a read-in week for elementary school children, a mental health check-in, a clothing drive, and a movement and motion academy.

The Golden Bears' captain does this on top of being a regular participant in the team's community outreach.

If that's not enough, he's a kids' church mentor, multi-team volleyball coach, camp counsellor and guest speaker. He has also organized events for a faith-based sport ministry organization and a free skills clinic for youth.

“I'm very happy for Cam that he has received this highly esteemed award. Cam is the first Bear in quite some time to win this prestigious award. Cam's contribution to the community is something very important to him, and something that will leave a tremendously positive impact on our culture and with all those he continues to inspire in the Edmonton area and beyond. It's staggering how much Cam is able to accomplish in any given day with the breadth of community service initiatives he's involved in, the near perfect or exactly perfect GPA he consistently produces in our challenging KSR faculty, all the while leading one of the strongest programs in the country as our captain and starting setter. Perhaps an equally touching accolade shared by Cam's teammate Jacob Sargent, who is the nephew of Dale Iwanoczko, is that Cam reminds Jacob's mom - Dana Iwanoczko - of the type of selfless, community minded man her brother was."
​- Brock Davidiuk, Head Coach, Alberta Golden Bears

COACH OF THE YEAR: Shawn Sky

Mount Royal's Shawn Sky earns this year's Coach of the Year award after leading his Cougars to a feat few believed was possible. Under his tutelage, the team captured a 19-5 regular season record, which surpassed storied programs like Trinity Western and UBC.

One of the newest members of CW, Mount Royal became an elite team this season, gunning down titans across the west. Sky brought together a team with just a single graduating player to appear like a squad of seasoned vets.

“On behalf of everyone in Cougars Athletics and Recreation, we are very proud of Shawn and our Men's Volleyball program for setting a new bar of achievement during the 2022/23 CW season in Men's Volleyball. From staff, to student-athletes, to numerous other stakeholders, Shawn continues to do a fantastic job putting together a great compliment of professionals to bring amazing academic and athletic success for our program. We look forward to a bright future."
​-Rob Godfrey, Associate Director, Mount Royal Varsity Athletics