Malik Williams wins AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award; Chiarotto, Mintis, Mendes and Van Nieuwkoop named AUS Football All-Stars
The 2024 Atlantic University Sport football awards were announced on Fruday, with several members of the Saint Mary's Huskies being honoured among the league's best.
Running back Malik Williams received the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award, offensive line coach Gord Beattie was named Assistant Coach of the Year, and four Huskies - linebacker Zachary Chiarotto, defensive back Logan Mendes, receiver Trydell Mintis and halfback Max Van Nieuwkoop - were named AUS All-Stars.
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Malik Williams, Saint Mary's University
Saint Mary's University running back Malik Williams is the recipient of the 2024 AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award.
Williams, from Ajax, ON, played in seven games for the Huskies this season, tying for second in the AUS in touchdowns (6) and third in yards rushing (435).
As impactful as Williams has been on the field, he has been even more of one in his community – both in Nova Scotia and back home in Ontario.
Williams has given of his time to various food banks and shelters, helping to provide food for those who are need. He has also lent his time to Mission Mart thift stores sorting out clothes, as well as with the Nova Scotia Guard handing out brochures and answering questions.
He was also amongst the volunteers at the Progress Pride Flag Raising at the Province House, as well as on North Preston Day – a day in North Preston where the community comes together to celebrate their history and each other.
Williams also lends his athletic expertise with the Bauer First Shift program – helping new-to-hockey families find the proper gear. He also helps younger football players train and develop their athletic skills at the Powerhouse Athletics Headquarters in the summer
In the classroom, the third-year Bachelor of Commerce student recorded a 3.1/4.3 cumulative GPA in the 2022-23 academic year and a 3.9/4.3 GPA in 2023-24.
"Malik is one of the most well-rounded student-athletes I have come across in my coaching career; a quiet leader who commands the room and leads by example," said Huskies head coach, Steve Sumarah. "He is always willing to go the extra mile to help anyone who needs it. Academically, studying in Commerce and achieving a 3.91 GPA is remarkable in itself, then to add all of the volunteer hours on top speaks to the character of this young man."
Williams will be the conference nominee for the prestigious U SPORTS Russ Jackson Award. Saint Mary's University's Duncan Patterson was the last AUS student-athlete to be honoured nationally, in 2022.
ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR (Phil Hughes Award): Gord Beattie, Saint Mary's University
Gord Beattie of the Saint Mary's University Huskies is the 2024 recipient of the Phil Hughes Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
Beattie has been involved in AUS football since the early 90s when he acted as the offensive line coach for STFX in 1993 and again in 1996 and 1997. He joined Saint Mary's in 1998 for a five-year stint, which included winning the U SPORTS Vanier Cup in both 2001 and 2002. After a brief departure, he returned to the Huskies in 2005 and stayed on as the offensive line coach for six years before moving to Citadel High School for 10 years.
In 2022, Beattie once again returned to the Huskies as their offensive line coach while also acting as the run game and protection game coordinator. He also manages leadership seminars for the team.
Beattie has also spent time on the sidelines with Father Gaetz High School in Mississauga, Ont., Team Nova Scotia U20 and Team Canada.
Along the way, Beattie has given of his time to countless football camps and clinics in the province, while also helping to organize team events to show support for Truth and Reconciliation Day and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
He will now move on to be the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Gino Fracas Award – an award given annually to an assistant coach who does not make a full-time living coaching football for the university. Saint Mary's Huskies' Joe Taplin is the most recent AUS recipient of the national award. He won in 2013.
2024 AUS FOOTBALL ALL-STARS
Defensive Tackle: Brandon-James Poulin-Marques, Bishop's (4th year – Montreal, QC)
Defensive Tackle: David McGill, STFX (3rd year – Powassan, ON)
Defensive End: Hunter Lambert-Mousseau, STFX (5th year – Sault Ste Marie, ON)
Defensive End: Jaurès Goké, Bishop's (4th year – Bangui, RCA)
Linebacker: Gabriel Royer, Bishop's (4th year – Lawrenceville, QC)
Linebacker: Riley Comeau, Acadia (4th year – Centreville, NS)
Linebacker: Zachary Chiarotto, Saint Mary's (4th year – Winnipeg, MB)
Safety: Owen O'Neal, Mount Allison (4th year – Sackville, NB)
Halfback: Alex MacDonald, Bishop's (3rd year – Eastern Passage, NS)
Halfback: Max Van Nieuwkoop, Saint Mary's (5th year – Burlington, ON)
Cornerback: Logan Mendes, Saint Mary's (1st year – Quispamsis, NB)
Cornerback: Jet Agette, Mount Allison (3rd year – Ottawa, ON)
Centre: Kilian Kelly, STFX (2nd year – Milton, ON)
Guard: Mitchell Martel, Bishop's (4th year – Kirkland, QC)
Guard: Will Chapman, STFX (5th year – Bedford, NS)
Tackle: Nicolas Pilichos, Acadia (4th year – Bedford, NS)
Tackle: Philippe Létourneau, Bishop's (1st year – Lévis, QC)
Receiver: Oliver Burnett, Bishop's (4th year – Fredericton, NB)
Receiver: Nolan Cheeseman, Mount Allison (3rd year – Upper Tantallon, NS)
Receiver: Ben Harrington, STFX (4th year – Dartmouth, NS)
Receiver: Trydell Mintis, Saint Mary's (4th year – Halifax, NS)
FB/TE/H-Back: Marco Briones, Bishop's (4th year – Monterrey, Mexico)
Running Back: O'Shae Ho-Sang, Bishop's (4th year – Lasalle, QC)
Running Back: Caleb Fogarty, STFX (4th year – Moncton, NB)
Quarterback: Justin Quirion, Bishop's (3rd year – Saint Georges, QC)
Punter: Max Capriotti, STFX (5th year – Mount Hope, ON)
Place Kicker: Ben Hadley, STFX (5th year – Halifax, NS)
Kick Returner: Ben Harrington, STFX (4th year – Dartmouth, NS)
Rush/Cover: Owen O'Neal, Mount Allison (4th year – Sackville, NB)
Full release: 2024 AUS football major award winners and all-stars announced