Sinopoli Ontario athlete of the year
Redblacks player wins Syl Apps Award for 2015
Brad Sinopoli was recognized again for his breakout 2015 Canadian Football League season on Monday, when the Ottawa Redblacks receiver was named winner of the Syl Apps Athlete of the Year award by the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
“I really am honoured. When they put (the list of finalists) out there, I chuckled that I was even in there with these other athletes. They have done amazing things on a world stage,” Sinopoli said in a telephone interview during a visit to his parents’ place in Peterborough.
“I was humbled to be in the conversation. I honestly was surprised when (Hall of Fame officials) called and told me.”
The 28-year-old Sinopoli received nearly 30 per cent of the votes cast in online voting that ended March 31, edging Smiths Falls golfer Brooke Henderson.
Henderson, 18, won the award for 2014. Other finalists for 2015 included sprinter Andre De Grasse, decathlete Damian Warner, soccer player Kadeisha Buchanan, basketball players Kia Nurse and Andrew Wiggins and baseball player Joey Votto.
A Hec Crighton Trophy winner as Canada’s top university football player in 2010 as a quarterback for the University of Ottawa Gee- Gees, Sinopoli shifted to receiver with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2013. He signed with the Redblacks as a free agent in February 2015 and then surpassed his previous career totals with 86 receptions and 1,035 receiving yards during the 18-game regular season, after which he received the CFL’s outstanding Canadian player award.
The presentation will take place Oct. 17 in Toronto along with the hall of fame’s 2016 induction ceremony featuring the late Sarah Burke (freestyle skiing), Ron Ellis, Eric Lindros (both hockey), Tony Fernandez (baseball), Leo Rautins ( basketball) and Chris Schultz (football).
The event is situated at the midpoint between consecutive Friday night games between the Redblacks and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but Sinopoli said he was hopeful of being able to attend.
Also to be honoured that night are recipients of previously announced awards: Peter Gilgan, Sandy Hawley Community Service Award; Postmedia baseball columnist Bob Elliott, Brian Williams Media Award; 1909 University of Toronto Varsity football, winner of the first Grey Cup, Ferguson Jenkins Heritage Award; and Frank Selke and Frank Selke Jr., Bruce Prentice Legacy Award.
To be eligible, athletes must be Ontario-born or Ontario-based. Finalists are nominated by members of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame board of directors and board of advisers, comprising former athletes and sport administrators from across the province.
Other winners have included Milos Raonic (tennis, 2013-14), Rosie MacLennan (trampoline, 2012), Patrick Chan (figure skating, 2011), Votto (2010), Daniel Nestor (tennis, 2009), Eric Lamaze (equestrian, 2008), Damon Allen (football, 2005), Adam Van Koeverden (kayak, 2004), Mike Weir (golf, 2003 and 1999-2000), Steve Yzerman (hockey, 2002), Vince Carter (basketball, 2001) and Roger Clemens ( baseball, 1997-98).