2024 Athlete of the Year Nominees

Mark Scheifele (Kitchener, ON) – Hockey

Mark Scheifele’s hockey journey began with the Kitchener Jr. Rangers before rising through the ranks with the OHL’s Barrie Colts. He was selected seventh overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2011 NHL Draft and has since become one of the region’s most recognizable hockey figures. Scheifele has played nearly 900 NHL games, recording over 800 points. Internationally, he’s represented Canada at multiple levels, including a standout nine-point performance en route to gold at the 2016 World Championship in Russia. Serving as an alternate captain for the Jets since 2016–17, Scheifele remains a key contributor. In 2023–24, he tallied 72 points in 74 games, adding six points in five playoff appearances.

Tyler Rorke (Baden, ON) – Cycling

Cyclist Tyler Rorke has become a regular podium presence at international events. He won gold in team sprint at the 2023 Pan American Games, added a bronze at the 2024 UCI Track Nations Cup, and earned both gold and silver at the 2023 COPACI Pan American Championships. One of his biggest milestones came with Team Canada’s ninth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Rorke’s passion for cycling began at age 13 on a mountain bike, eventually leading him to the track. His steady rise has made him one of Canada’s emerging names in sprint cycling.

Ben Flanagan (Kitchener, ON) – Athletics

Inspired by his sisters’ cross-country careers at St. Mary’s High School in Kitchener, Ben Flanagan took up running in Grade 9 and never looked back. A University of Michigan graduate, he was a standout Wolverine, winning the NCAA 10,000m title and Big Ten championships in 2016 and 2018. On the world stage, Flanagan placed 17th in the 5,000m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, qualifying with a personal best of 13:04.62. At home, he earned bronze in the 5,000m at the Canadian Track and Field Championships and gold at the 10K Road Running Championships. He also secured national titles in the 5K and 10K in 2022 and the 10K in 2021.

Dhane Smith (Kitchener, ON) – Lacrosse

Kitchener’s Dhane Smith has long stood out in the “fastest sport on two feet.” After earning MVP honours in 2012 with the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, he was selected fifth overall in the National Lacrosse League draft by the Buffalo Bandits. Smith has since become one of the NLL’s top players, with 950 points in 161 games. He holds league records for goals (72), assists (102), and points (137) in a single season. A two-time NLL champion, he was named championship MVP in 2023. Smith also captured a Premier Lacrosse League title with Chaos in 2021 and earned All-Star honours in 2021 and 2023. Internationally, he helped Team Canada win gold at the 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

Eric Peters (Kitchener, ON) – Archery

Though born in Ottawa, Eric Peters chose Kitchener to develop his archery skills and train toward elite competition. A University of Waterloo graduate, Peters first made his mark internationally at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, winning bronze in the mixed team event. He went on to medal at the Pan American Games, Pan Am Championships, and World Archery Championships. At the 2019 Pan-Am Games, he won team gold and individual bronze, defeating reigning world champion Brady Ellison en route. In 2023, Peters made Canadian history by earning silver in men’s individual recurve at the World Archery Championships—the country’s best-ever finish—which also secured Canada a quota spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he placed ninth after a narrow loss to Italy’s Mauro Nespoli.

Katie Cosgriffe (Wilfrid Laurier, ON) – Para Swimming

Born in Burlington and a student at Wilfrid Laurier University, Katie Cosgriffe made her Paralympic debut at Paris 2024, winning bronze in the Women’s 100m Butterfly S10. She earned her spot after strong performances at the 2024 Paralympic Trials, just a year after receiving her international classification. Diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2021, Cosgriffe transitioned to para swimming after competing in the sport since age nine. She has represented Canada at several events, including the Para Swimming World Championships, where she was the youngest athlete on the team. Katie is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration and Financial Math at WLU and competing on the varsity swim team.

Cole McCormick (Kitchener, ON) – Water Ski

With water skiing in his blood, Cole McCormick has followed in the footsteps of his accomplished parents—Susi Graham McCormick, a five-time Masters slalom champion, and Ricky McCormick, a 13-time titleholder across trick, jump, and overall events. In 2024, Cole achieved a major milestone by winning the Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament men’s slalom title—his first professional victory and the first by a Canadian male in the event’s history. That same year, he posted seven top-seven finishes. A multiple-time national champion, McCormick also competed at the 2022 World Games, continuing to establish himself among Canada’s top water skiers.

2024 Outstanding Athlete Achievement Nominees

• Jackie Dent (Waterloo, ON) – Badminton
  
  Waterloo’s Jackie Dent has made a name for herself internationally in badminton. In 2022, she made local history by winning the gold medal at the Pan-American Junior Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, defeating top competitors from Mexico and the U.S. Dent earned three medals at the Canadian University Championships: gold in women’s doubles, silver in women’s singles, and silver in mixed doubles. She also won bronze at the 2024 Yonex Canadian International Challenge with partner Crystal Lai. Dent excels academically at the University of Toronto, where she was named Rookie of the Year after helping the Varsity Blues win the 2024 Ontario University Athletics Team Championship.
  
  
• Will Riley (Cambridge, ON) – Basketball
  
  Will Riley’s basketball journey has already included multiple stops on his path to the NBA. He played for Southwest Academy Prep in London, then spent time at Preston High School in Cambridge and Grand River Collegiate in Kitchener before finishing his high school career at The Phelps School in Malvern, Penn. Riley set the Canadian single-game scoring record in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League with 42 points, which led to NCAA attention. In June 2024, he committed to the University of Illinois, where he was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman, averaging 12.6 points per game. Riley declared for the NBA draft in April and is ranked 16th by ESPN.
  
  
• Taylor Elgersma (Wilfrid Laurier, ON) – Football
  
  Taylor Elgersma, a two-sport athlete in his youth, chose football and committed to Wilfrid Laurier University. After a disrupted 2020 season, he served as backup in 2021, throwing for 355 yards and one touchdown in five games. Named starting quarterback for the 2022-23 season, he led the Golden Hawks to a 3-3 record and a playoff victory. Elgersma’s breakout year came in 2024, when he led all of U Sports in passing yards (3,554), touchdowns (28), and yards per game (323.1). His play guided Laurier to an 8-0 season, the OUA title, and a Yates Cup victory. Elgersma was named Hec Crighton Award winner and OUA MVP, and in January 2025, became the first U Sports quarterback to play in the Senior Bowl.
  
  
• Trevor Webb (Cambridge, ON) – Racquetball
  
  Trevor Webb, a four-time representative of Canada in racquetball, has excelled at the highest levels of the sport. He won nine national junior singles titles, starting at age eight, and represented Canada five times at the World Junior Championship, earning a silver in 18U doubles and a bronze in singles. His international debut came in 2018 at the Pan-American Games, and he’s represented Canada three more times, including winning silver in the team event at the 2024 World Championships. At the national level, Webb has medalled four times in Men’s Open Doubles, including gold medals in 2017 and 2024, and earned a singles silver in 2023.
  
  
• Kathy Cowper (Greystone Racquet Club Waterloo, ON) – Squash
  
  Kathy Cowper has made significant contributions to squash in Canada. She took up competitive racquet sports at the University of Waterloo, starting on the varsity badminton team before switching to squash in her second year. Kathy also trained at the Greystone Racquet Club Waterloo until the club closed in 2024. Cowper recently won the Women’s 65+ title at the Canadian Squash Championships, completing the event without losing a game—her fourth national title across various age divisions. She also claimed gold at the U.S. Women’s Masters 65+ and bronze at the 2024 World Squash Masters 65+ in Amsterdam. Off the court, she and her husband, Bruce, have been key in operating Elora Racquets and Fitness Inc. in Fergus, a facility with 250 members.