Thokbuom, El Gandour named top athletes of Cougar Night awards
They both bagged bronze medals with their respective squads during a historic season for Mount Royal University sports teams.
Now Dholi Thokbuom and Moe El Gandour can brag about individual achievements — although they’re both humbled by the honours — after being named the school’s top athletes for the 201920 season.
The two talents topped all others for the Al Bohonus athletesof-the-year awards, presented by Players Bench Team Apparel and Under Armour, as the year-end annual Cougar Night awards were announced through social media in lieu of the typically in-person event that could not happen due to social gathering restrictions in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m just happy to be a small piece of the overall success that we’ve all reached for our school and to be given this award,” said Thokbuom, who helped lead the MRU women’s volleyball crew to the program’s best-ever record (21-3) and a Canada West bronze. “It was a huge deal to learn that I was nominated, let alone to actually be the winner of the award.”
The star middle blocker from Calgary led Canada West in hitting percentage with 0.386 and was fifth in blocks per set with 1.14. She was named to the Canada West first all-star team and the U Sports second all-star squad.
El Gandour was most deserving of male Cougars honour after helping lead the soccer side to a record season that was capped by a Canada West bronze medal.
“Winning this award is a huge personal success,” El Gandour said. “I learned that you can achieve your goals through hard work, commitment and passion. Being the first-ever recipient of this award in the MRU men’s soccer program has meant a lot to me. The work and dedication that I have put throughout my first and second years in the MRU men’s soccer program has shown massive growth in my career as a soccer player.”
The second-year business student from Calgary was fifth in the Canada West in goals with seven and fourth in points with 11. El Gandour was named to the Canada West first all-star team and U Sports second all-star team. And it all culminated in being selected in the second round — ninth overall — by his hometown team, Cavalry FC, in the 2020 Canadian Premier League-u Sports Draft.
Cougar Night also awarded rookie-of-the-year honours to men’s soccer star Dane Domic and women’s hockey goaltender Kaityln Ross. Domic had a phenomenal year, receiving a Canada West all-rookie and second team all-star nod, as well as Canada West and U Sports rookie-ofthe-year awards. Ross also had a standout first year, being named to the Canada West all-rookie team for accumulating seven shutouts throughout the season and playoffs and helping lead her team to a first-ever Canada West silver medal and a national championship appearance.
The Community Leadership Award recognizes those who have gone above and beyond for their
volunteer service in Calgary. Winners of those were Godi Jibi from men’s volleyball, for his volunteer efforts with the Catholic Family Service Crew Program, and women’s hockey star Anna Purschke, who was recognized for her time spent with HEROS Hockey and Special Olympics Calgary.
Two Cougars hockey players, Connor Rankin and Daria O’neill, were honoured with the Brian Fleming awards, presented by the Calgary Booster Club, for student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, leadership and the community. .