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Acadia Axemen Liam Heelis named CIS men’s hockey player of the year

Derek Hulak from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (l) and Acadia University forward Liam Heelis (r) at the CIS hockey awards in Saskatoon on March 19, 2014. Heelis was named the top hockey player of the year. Devin Sauer / Global News

SASKATOON – Acadia University forward Liam Heelis was named Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s hockey player of the year Wednesday night.

Heelis, a six-foot-one, 195-pound native of Georgetown, Ont., led the CIS with 24 goals in 26 games this past season. He was tied for the CIS lead with four short-handed goals and second in the Atlantic conference with seven power-play goals.

A former Ontario Hockey League player with Owen Sound and Peterborough, Heelis has recorded 86 career points in 81 regular-season games with the Axemen.

McGill blue-liner Ryan McKiernan was named CIS defenceman of the year and Calgary’s Jacob DeSerres took the nod for best goaltender. Queen’s goalie Kevin Bailie was named rookie of the year and UNB forward Chris Culligan picked up the most sportsmanlike player honour.

The coach of the year award went to Brett Gibson of Queen’s and Alberta forward Ben Lindemulder won the Dr. Randy Gregg Award for hockey, academics and community involvement.

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The CIS also announced the all-Canadian teams Wednesday. Heelis, McKiernan and DeSerres were named to the first team along with Alberta defenceman Jordan Rowley and forwards Derek Hulak of Saskatchewan and Zach Harnden of Western.

The second team included Culligan, Ryerson’s James Wise and Alberta’s Sean Ringrose at forward, Acadia goalie Evan Mosher and defencemen Reginaldo Traccitto of UPEI and Guelph’s Kenneth Peroff.

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