Knox named Outstanding Woman of Laurier

Fourth-year hockey goaltender extraordinaire Liz Knox has been named the Outstanding Woman of Laurier for the 2009-10 school year.

Knox was one of four finalists in the running for the fifth annual award, celebrated with a luncheon at the Waterloo Inn on Wednesday. Megan Gilmore of the volleyball team, Dannielle Inglis of the curling team, and Brittany Shaw of the swim team were the other three candidates.

“It’s unreal really,” said an excited Knox after receiving the honour. “If you take a look at all of the other athletes that could have been chosen, especially the other three finalists – they are each the pinnacle in their sport.”

The sociology major from Stoufville, ON has earned her share of hardware as a Golden Hawk – four Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships, two silver and one bronze Canadian Inter University Sport (CIS) medals, Rookie of the Year, CIS All-Canadian, OUA and CIS Player of the Year, as well as numerous Athlete of the Week awards.

In a heartfelt speech however, Knox admitted she’s had her share of ups and downs throughout her hockey career – most notably this past summer when she was named an alternate to the U-22 Canadian National team on which she had played the year prior.

“It was a disappointment, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t,” confessed Knox. “But it certainly was a character builder. It makes you re-evaluate why you started playing the sport in the first place – it all boils down to the love of the game.”

Knox is also extremely involved in the community – she coaches minor hockey, is an assistant instructor at The Zone Training, and volunteers at the Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre.

The annual Women’s Luncheon initiative is to raise the profile of women’s sport. Over the last decade Laurier has earned 27 OUA and seven CIS championships – the majority of those being women’s titles according to Athletic Director Peter Baxter. 250 guests in attendance helped to raise $23,000 in support of these individuals and teams.

“This is such a great event,” said Knox. “To recognize all the individual efforts that these athletes take part in outside of their sports and schooling – it’s an honour for me to be here doing what I love.”

Also announced at the event was the winning bid to host the 2011 women’s National hockey championships. 2011 marks Laurier’s centennial year, where the women will look to surpass the University of Toronto in consecutive provincial championships on home ice.