EDMONTON – First-year UBC Thunderbirds midfielder Thomas Gardner is cleaning up as the North Vancouver native was named the Canada West's men's soccer Player of the Year and Rookie of Year Thursday.
Gardner becomes the first player in Canada West history to win both awards in the same season. The conference awards come just one day before UBC plays host to the conference Final Four tournament as one of Trinity Western, Thompson Rivers, and Fraser Valley will earn the right to compete at next week's U SPORTS national championship, also hosted by the Thunderbirds.
Joining Gardner as award winners are UNBC's Francesco Bartolillo (Student-Athlete Community Service), and Alberta's Martin Fenger-Andersen (Coach of the Year).
Alberta was also acknowledged as the CW Fair Play Award winner.
One of the most highly sought after recruits last off-season, Gardner lived up to his billing as one of the most dynamic midfielders in the Canada West.
"I am thrilled for Tommy to be recognized for these prestigious, major conference awards," said UBC head coach Mike Mosher. "He is a very talented individual who has really embraced coming into the university level of play. He is hard working and humble and has fit in well with our group."
The first-year Arts student scored six times in just 12 regular season games for the Thunderbirds, and his eight points had him third in team scoring. Three of his six goals stood up as game-winners.
The product of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC2 program was a machine on set pieces, scoring five of his six goals off free kicks, including a streak of four consecutive home games with a free kick tally.
TRU and TWU clash Friday at 4 p.m. PT in the first CW semi, while UBC takes on UFV in the second semi at 7 p.m. PT, both at Thunderbird Stadium.
The conference bronze medal game is slated for Saturday at 7 p.m. PT, while the championship game is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. PT, all at the Point Grey campus.
