Photo courtesy: UNBC Athletics

By UNBC

UNBC Athletics

UNBC hands out hardware at awards banquet

Apr 8, 2024 | 5:29 AM

PRINCE GEORGE —UNBC held its annual Awards Banquet Sunday night with multiple winners announced.

Graduating basketball forward Spencer Ledoux captured the Male Athlete of the Year award after helping lead his team to a bronze medal in Canada West playoff action. Britiyn Hinsche took home the Female Athlete of the Year Award after making 128 saves while playing every minute of the 2023 soccer season.

The Male Rookie of the Year award went to defender Koss Nystedt (men’s soccer) while guard Viktoriia Filatova’s (women’s basketball) remarkable first season helped her earn Female Rookie of the Year honours.

Additionally, men’s basketball Team Manager Kyle Doiron was this year’s recipient of the Kaz Ikuta Student Services award while Noah Ballinger’s exemplary efforts athletically, scholastically and in the community made him a worthy recipient of the KJM Sales Timberwolf Award.

A summary of the 2023-24 UNBC Timberwolves Department Awards can be found below:

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Kaz Ikuta Student Service Award: Kyle Doiron

Doiron, a second-year student at UNBC, endeared himself to the UNBC athletics community thanks to his tireless efforts serving as Team Manager of the UNBC Men’s Basketball team. There was no job too big, or too small, and this became especially obvious during the 2024 Canada West playoffs, when Doiron helped the TWolves Sports Information department produce timely, incredible graphics.

Male Rookie of the Year Award: Koss Nystedt

Koss Nystedt overcame an early-season injury and became a mainstay on the UNBC men’s soccer backline. He played every second of soccer during an 11-game span and scored one of the most important and memorable goals of the entire season.. at home.. against Fraser Valley. Who could forget the famous celebration with Nystedt, his teammates, and about 15 of the Prince George Spruce Kings.

Female Rookie of the Year Award: Viktoriia Filatova

Among Canada West rookies, guard Viktoriia Filatova (who is still only 17) was third in points, first in assists, first in steals, third in field goals, fourth in free throws, fifth in three-pointers, and eighth in rebounds. She averaged eight points per game this season and led her team in steals. Her 31 steals stand as a UNBC Timberwolves single-season record.

Male Athlete of the Year: Spencer Ledoux

The Mountain capped off an incredible five-year career at UNBC averaging a team-best 15.8 points-per-game, and the fifth-best field goal percentage in all of Canada West (53.2 percent). His 829 career regular season points rank him fourth all-time in Timberwolves scoring while his 379 career Canada West field goals are second only to Tyrell Laing.

Female Athlete of the Year: Brityn Hinsche

In just her second season of Canada West play, and first as a true starter – Brityn Hinsche dazzled between the pipes for the UNBC women’s soccer team. Six times in a span of 14 games, Hinsche made 10-or-more saves. Her biggest single-game save total camae on October 7^th when she made 15 saves against the eventual league champs from UBC. There wasn’t a single minute of 2023 UNBC women’s soccer where HInsche wasn’t on the field.

KJM Sales Timberwolf Award: Noah Ballinger

On the pitch, Noah Ballinger appeared in seven games in 2023 for UNBC and scored a huge goal in stoppage time on October 21^st at UBC Okanagan which kept the team’s playoff hopes afloat. But even more impressive than his efforts on the field were his efforts in the community and the classroom. Ballinger served as the President of the Timberwolves Student Athlete Society and devoted countless hours to charitable causes – most notably the 2024 TSAS MVP campaign which helped raise money for 2024 MVP Grace Calhoun and her family. He has captured Academic All-Canadian honours in each of the past three years.

A complete list of 2023-24 UNBC Timberwolves team award winners can be found below:

Men’s Soccer Award Winners:

Best Defensive Player – Daniel Zadravec

Golden Boot Award – Michael Henman

The Green and Gold Award – Gregor Smith

And finally, the 2023-24 MVP – Daniel Zadravec

Men’s Basketball Award Winners:

Practice Wins Leader – Spencer Ledoux

Rookie of the Year Award - Will Keyes

Zane Robison Award - Chris Ross

Best Defensive Player Award – Josh Gillespie

Most Inspirational Player – Chris Ross

Most Outstanding Player – Spencer Ledoux

Women’s Soccer Award Winners:

Best Defensive Player – Avery Nystedt

Best Offensive Player Award – Claire Turner

The Green and Gold Award – Anna deWynter

And finally, the 2023-24 MVP – Brityn Hinsche

Women’s Basketball Winners:

Defensive Player of the Year – Sophia Fuller

Most Improved Player of the Year – Adaiah Tupas-Singh

Rookie of the Year – Viktoriia Filatova

Leadership Award – Rebecca Landry

Most Valuable Player Award – Sveta Boykova

The UNBC athletics department would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all student athletes, staff members, volunteers, alumni, donors, media members and community supporters who went out of their way to champion the UNBC Timberwolves in any capacity during the 2023-24 season.