Patterson wins AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award; Kourtis, Stewart, States-McClean named AUS All-Stars
Saint Mary's Huskies quarterback Duncan Patterson (Bedford, NS) has been honoured with the 2022 Atlantic University Sport Student-Athlete Community Service Award.
Three of Patterson's Huskies teammates were named to the AUS All-Star team; centre Peter Kourtis (Toronto, ON), receiver Liam Stewart (Port Coquitlam, BC) and cornerback Jassin States-McClean (Halifax, NS).
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Duncan Patterson, Saint Mary's
Duncan Patterson of the Saint Mary's Huskies is the 2022 AUS student-athlete community service award recipient. The 6'0", 200lb veteran quarterback played in all seven games for the Huskies and finished the regular season with the second-most completions (86), passing yards (1143), yards-per-game (163.3) and passing touchdowns (8) in the conference. He also had five interceptions and a 137.8 pass rating.
"Being nominated for the Russ Jackson Award is one of the most prestigious awards you can receive, and Duncan is certainly a deserved nominee," says Huskies head coach Steve Sumarah. "Our program has three pillars: football, academics and community, and Duncan checks all three of those boxes. Having received a Sobey's scholarship, his work in the community as a volunteer and a coach, and the fact that he had an excellent season as our starting quarterback."
A fourth-year player and first-year MBA student from Bedford, Nova Scotia, Patterson was the recipient of the 2022 Sobey MBA Scholarship Award, the highest scholarship offered within the MBA program. A four-time Academic All-Canadian who graduated from Acadia in 2022 with a 4.0 GPA and honours, the veteran student-athlete is dedicated to his studies as well as giving back to the community around him.
Over the past year, Patterson has served as a volunteer offensive assistant coach and quarterback coach with the Nova Scotia U16 football team. He's also a past coach with the Valley Bulldogs minor football program. In addition to his coaching, Patterson dedicates his time to Special Olympics Canada's Marathon of Sport Motionball event, raising funds for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. He's also given his time to the CIBC Run for the Cure, Nova Scotia Alzheimer Society and Relay for Life events for the Canadian Cancer Society. At school, he's a study hall mentor, overseeing weekly team study sessions or tutoring younger teammates as they navigate their first year as student-athletes.
With this win, Patterson will be the conference nominee for the prestigious Russ Jackson Award. Mount Allison's Dan Parker was the last AUS student-athlete to be honoured nationally, in 2005.
"The history of Saint Mary's has had two previous Russ Jackson Award winners, both of them had post-university careers that have been exceptional and I think Duncan is in line for the same thing," says Sumarah. "It is great for our program that we can exemplify Duncan Patterson, one of our own, as an example of those three pillars."
Kourtis, Stewart, States-McClean named AUS All-Stars
Peter Kourtis, a fifth year commerce major from Toronto, ON, has been named a 2022 AUS All-Star at centre. Kourtis started all seven games this season for the Huskies.
"Being a fifth year, Peter Kourtis has obviously earned his reputation in our conference," says Coach Sumarah. "I thought he played well all year, and was a great captain and leader of our offensive line."
Liam Stewart, a second year criminology major from Port Coquitlam, BC, has been named a 2022 AUS All-Star at receiver. Stewart started all seven games for the Huskies and led the team in receptions (26, 5th in AUS), yards (390, 3rd in AUS) and yards per game (55.7, 2nd in AUS), and scored two touchdowns.
"Liam Stewart is the epitome of all in," says Sumarah. "Everything he does is 100% and I thought he made plays for us at the most opportune times, made tough catches when he had to and really took on a leadership role with our offence. We look forward to seeing his future success with our program."
Jassin States-McClean, a fourth year arts major from Halifax, NS, has been named a 2022 AUS All-Star at cornerback. States started all seven games for the Huskies, and led the team in pass breakups (5, T3rd in AUS) and recorded 16.5 tackles.
"Jassin States-McClean is the definition of a lockdown corner," says Sumarah. "People realized after the first game or two that you couldn't make plays on him. He's a quiet leader, does his job on and off the field, and is somebody you can absolutely count on."
CLICK HERE for a full list of 2022 AUS Football Award Winners and All-Stars