(Photos: RDC Athletics)

By Troy Gillard

TOP HONOURS

Domoney, Thudium named RDC Athletes of the Year

Apr 8, 2020 | 12:14 PM

Two local athletes who starred all season long on the court and on the ice have been honoured as RDC’s Athletes of the Year for 2019-20.

Kaylee Domoney of Queens Volleyball and Chase Thudium of Kings Hockey are the recipients of the 2020 Red Deer Bottling RDC Athlete of the Year awards.

Domoney, a Red Deer native, had a magnificent season and was the backbone of the Queens’ defence as an All-Conference libero, helping the young squad (21-3) place second in the ACAC South Division.

Domoney ranked fifth in the league with 288 digs and 3.47 digs per set. She also reached 1,005 career digs, placing the Kinesiology General student in the top seven of all-time league leaders. Domoney was also named an ACAC and CCAA Athlete of the Week.

“Her technical ability, coupled with her never give up attitude, make her one of the best in the league,” said Queens Head Coach Talbot Walton.

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Domoney helped the Queens win silver at the ACAC Championship in Medicine Hat and was recognized as a Tournament All-Star.

At the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball National Championship, the fourth-year played an integral role in the Queens capturing bronze. Domoney was named the Queens Player-of-the-Game in their final match.

“(Our) team relies on Kaylee to do her job and she never lets us down,” said Walton. “She was one of the main reasons for the team’s success this past season.”

Thudium, a third-year student-athlete, helped guide Kings Hockey (20-6-2-0) to second place in the ACAC standings. In 28 games, the Second All-Conference team selection tied for fourth in the ACAC with 17 goals, which also led the Kings. Thudium’s 36 points were the most on the team and tied for sixth in overall league production, which is especially impressive on a deep team that rolls four lines.

“Chase is one of the ACAC’s most dangerous offensive threats,” said Kings Head Coach Trevor Keeper. “His speed, evasiveness, and quick shot release can break a game open at any moment.”

The Sylvan Lake native was an important factor in the Kings’ number one power play operating at 24.3 per cent efficiency. The winger scored six of the team’s 33 goals with the man advantage.

The Business Administration General Management student elevated his play in critical moments, scoring twice in overtime. Thudium had a total of three game-winning goals which were the most among the top 40 ACAC scorers, cementing his place as one of the league’s biggest clutch performers.

“His competitiveness shines through every time he is on the ice and is evident by his many selections as Kings Player of the Game,” said Keeper. “Chase has the potential to be the ACAC’s most prolific scorer in years four and five.”

The Kings were poised to face the MacEwan University Griffins in the semi-finals when the remainder of the ACAC season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

RDC student-athletes also strove for distinction in their studies with 83 student-athletes maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher, receiving an RDC Academic Excellence Award.

Eight student-athletes were recognized as CCAA Academic All-Canadians after achieving honours (3.5 GPA or higher) at Red Deer College and meeting additional athletic requirements. From RDC Cross Country Running, Will Cebuliak, Caitlin Debree, Devin Saunders and Shayla Sklaruk qualified after excelling academically and placing in the top 14 at the ACAC Championships or top 10 at nationals. Emily Plett (Curling), Kyle Bett (Kings Soccer) and Alisha Coules (Queens Soccer) were selected to their respective 2019-20 ACAC All-Conference teams, and Nathan Swartz (Kings Soccer) made the ACAC Championship All-Tournament team while earning honours.

The full list of this year’s RDC Athletics awards and scholarships winners is posted at rdcathletics.ca.

(with file from RDC Athletics media release)