UNB athletes win top awards in Atlantic University Sport

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A pair of University of New Brunswick athletes were named the top athletes in the Atlantic University Sport conference on Thursday and will represent the conference for the national U Sports athletes of the year awards.

Women’s basketball’s Jayda Veniot and men’s hockey’s Austen Keating were the female and male athlete of the year winners in the AUS after a season that produced most valuable player awards for each in their respective conferences.

As a result, they are conference’s nominees for the 2024 U SPORTS Honourable Lois Mitchell and Doug Mitchell Athletes of the Year Awards in Calgary on June 10.

Veinot was dominant in a truly outstanding campaign for UNB that earned her the U Sports and AUS player of the year awards, status as a first team all-Canadian and recognition as UNB’s female athlete of the year.

Keating enjoyed an equally fine campaign for the undefeated national champion men’s hockey team as he was the most valuable player for the AUS, a first-team all-Canadian and UNB’s male athlete of the year.

“I’ve given so much of myself to basketball for the past 20 years and in return I’ve received memories to last a lifetime, incredible friends, role models, and countless other opportunities,” said Veinot in a press release. “An award like this would validate all that I’ve worked for and everything that I’ve been able to accomplish with the support of my coaches and teammates.

“Being in the running for the national award has shown me that the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my university career, in the classroom and on the ice, has been recognized,” said Keating.

Veinot helped the Reds to a 15-5 regular season and a spot in the AUS championship game, averaging 21.3 points per game, third-best in the country.

She shot 49.7 per cent from the field, including 42.1 per cent from three-point range, and 91.3 per cent from the free throw line.

“Jayda is one of the smoothest players with the basketball,” said Reds head coach Erin McAleenan in a release. “Her ability to take contact and it does not disrupt her rhythm or speed is on an elite level. She finishes through contact as if it isn’t even there. Jayda creates for herself and others at will, but it is her determination to help her team win, in every drill in all practices and games, that set the standard for us.”

Keating led the AUS with 50 points on 23 goals and 27 assists and was a U Sports best plus 47.

“Austen had the best season of his Reds’ career and finished it by playing his best hockey when it counted the most, in the playoffs and national championship tournament,” said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall. “He was a key leader of our team with his tremendous work ethic, his passion for the game, zest for continuous improvement, and his relentless ‘team first’ attitude.”