Two of Canada’s brightest student-athletes just got the biggest nod of their careers.
The 2024–25 U Sports Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards were handed out Monday, and the spotlight was squarely on University of Saskatchewan’s basketball star Gage Grassick and Wilfrid Laurier’s standout quarterback Taylor Elgersma. Both were named U Sports Athletes of the Year — the highest individual honour in Canadian university athletics.
Grassick’s Breakout Season Ends in Championship Glory
Grassick didn’t just shine — she lit the court on fire.
The 6-foot guard from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, averaged 20.7 points per game, capped off with a monster 35-point performance in the national final to lead the Huskies past powerhouse Carleton. That win sealed Saskatchewan’s first U Sports women’s basketball title in four years — and Grassick’s name was written all over it.
She was named tournament MVP and walked away with the school’s Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy, given to its top female athlete. For those tracking her trajectory, it felt inevitable.
She’s not done yet. “I want to play in the WNBA, even if it’s just on a practice squad,” she said. “And putting on a Team Canada jersey at the Olympics? That’d be the ultimate dream.”
Elgersma’s Arm, Grit, and Mind Took Him from Waterloo to the NFL
Quarterbacks like Elgersma don’t come around often in Canada.
The Laurier Golden Hawks senior threw for 3,554 yards, led the nation in touchdowns (28), and averaged over 323 yards a game — ridiculous numbers for U Sports. He didn’t just play well. He dominated.
And when the playoffs came, he didn’t blink.
• MVP of the Yates Cup
• Offensive MVP in the Uteck Bowl
• Carried Laurier all the way to the Vanier Cup final
That postseason run catapulted him onto CFL draft boards — and into the NFL’s orbit. He was picked 18th by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL Draft, but also inked an undrafted free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers.
Now, he’s trying to do what few Canadians ever have: make an NFL roster as a quarterback.
“I’m just trying to get better every single day,” Elgersma said after Monday’s ceremony. “I’m being process-oriented and learning as much as I can from the staff here.”
The Numbers That Got Them Here
There’s a reason Grassick and Elgersma stood out. It wasn’t just flashy plays or end-of-season hype. It was months of grind — and stats that back it all up.
| Athlete | Points/Yards | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Gage Grassick | 20.7 PPG | 35-point performance in national final; Tournament MVP |
| Taylor Elgersma | 3,554 yards | Nation’s leader in yards, TDs; MVP in two playoff games |
These aren’t one-week wonders. They were stars from wire to wire.
Recognition Beyond the Numbers
It’s easy to talk about stats. But the awards committee was also looking at something more — grit, attitude, community involvement.
“These athletes stood tall no matter the challenge, whether it was on the court, field, or in the classroom,” said Lois Mitchell, chair of the Canadian Athletic Foundation.
Both winners beat out some serious competition:
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Alliyah Rowe (soccer, Cape Breton)
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Marie-Frédérique Poulin (track, Laval)
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Favour Okpali (track, Western)
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DJ Jackson (basketball, St. FX)
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Philippe Morneau-Cartier (track, Laval)
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Nate Petrone (basketball, Calgary)
Eight nominees. All worthy. But Grassick and Elgersma had just a little more.
Big Dreams and Bigger Impact
For Elgersma, cracking an NFL lineup is a long shot — but not impossible.
He says he models his game after Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. “Tough, fiery, leads well. That’s the kind of QB I want to be.”
Asked how he plans to survive in the NFL grind, he kept it honest: “Work ethic. Being adaptable. Staying focused. I just want to keep improving.”
Grassick’s looking toward pro ball too — but also has her eye on the bigger picture.
She sees a growing wave in women’s basketball, with WNBA viewership on the rise and U Sports becoming more visible. “Women’s sports aren’t niche anymore. We belong here. And Canada’s starting to show that in a big way.”
Next season, she’ll return for one more run with Saskatchewan — while finishing her pharmacy degree.
Legacy of the Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards
Named in honour of the former CFL commissioner and his wife, the Mitchell Awards have been around since 1993. Each year, they shine a light on the best U Sports athletes across all disciplines. Past winners include Olympians, pros, and community leaders.
This year’s recipients add to that legacy — and might just be the most impressive duo yet.
Grassick put the country on notice: women’s hoops is booming, and she’s at the heart of it. Elgersma gave Canadian football fans reason to dream: maybe, just maybe, a homegrown QB can make it south of the border and actually stick.
For now, they both have something no one can take away: national recognition, earned the hard way.
