Evan Daum, Canada West Communication

EDMONTON – For the first time in more than four decades, the nation's top university football player is a Golden Bear. 

University of Alberta running back Ed Ilnicki was named the 2017 Hec Crighton award winner Thursday night at the U SPORTS Awards Gala in Hamilton, Ont. – the site of Saturday's 53rd Vanier Cup. The Business student becomes the third Alberta player to claim the award in its 50-year history, joining receivers Brian Fryer and Mel Smith, who previously won in 1975 and 1971 respectively.

Thursday's honour put the finishing touches on one of the greatest individual seasons in Canada West football history, as Ilnicki beat out Laurier receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (OUA nominee), quarterback Hugo Richard of Laval (RSEQ nominee), and Acadia running back Dale Wright (AUS nominee) for the award. 

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Ilnicki was dominant in 2017, rushing for a CW single-season record 1,468 yards, finding the end zone 11 times on the ground. The Spruce Grove, Alta. product concluded his five-year career as Alberta's all-time rushing leader with 4,145 yards – the second most all-time in Canada West history. 

Ilnicki's value to the Golden Bears was evident all season long, as he was the proverbial stick that stirred the drink for head coach Chris Morris' team, which made the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Ilnicki's rushing total was tops in the nation, and his 1,619 yards of offence accounted for 40 per cent of Alberta's total offence – far and away the highest percentage by a non-quarterback in the conference. 

"Ed embodies everything that is good about university athletics," said Morris. "He is a true scholar and has been a four-time Academic All-Canadian. He's been a dominating and relentless competitor, who in 2017 ran for more yards than anyone in Canada West history. He is a young man of impeccable character who tirelessly serves his team and community."

A product of the Spruce Grove Composite High School football program, Ilnicki was the first Golden Bear to be named the conference's Player of the Year and Hec Crighton nominee since fellow running back Jarred Winkel in 2003.

He also kept Canada West's string of Hec Crighton victories alive, following in the footsteps of quarterbacks Noah Picton (Regina Rams – 2016) and Andrew Buckley (Calgary Dinos – 2014, 2015). Ilnicki's win marks the 13th time a CW player has won the award, with Buckley being the only CW player to have multiple trophies to his name.

A 2017 draft pick of the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Ilnicki now shifts his focus to finishing his Business degree and pursuing his CFL dreams. The Academic All-Canadian was also the CW nominee for the Russ Jackson Award which honours academic achievement, football skill, and citizenship. That award went to Western's Nick Vanin. 

Along with Ilnicki, one other Canada West player came out on top Thursday, as Regina's Nick Cross is the Peter Gorman Award winner as the nation's top rookie.

A product of Regina's Dr. Martin Leboldus High School, Cross started Week 1 of the season, becoming the first Rams rookie to start a season opener directly out of high school since Jamir Walker in 2008, and never looked back.

After posting 7.5 tackles, including a sack Week 1, the freshmen continued his strong play, finishing the regular season with 46 total tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, and an interception.

"Nick is just an outstanding football player and an extremely deserving recipient of this award," said Rams head coach Steve Bryce. "He plays at a level that's far above one's expectations for a rookie in this league. He's a high-calibre kid that is going to play this game for a long time in the future. Nick's quickness and attention to detail while watching film sets him apart. Even in those rare instances where he makes a mistake, he's so quick he can recover quickly and make the necessary play."

Cross is part of a Regina defence that sports two of the nation's youngest and most dominant defenders. Along with Cross, last year's CW Rookie of the Year Nicholas Dheilly (DL) provide the Rams with a pair of players who will form the foundation of the Rams' defence for years to come.

Joining both Ilnicki and Cross as Canada West winners Thursday was Marcello Rapini of the Calgary Dinos, who was honoured by Football Canada with the Gino Fracas Award as the nation's top volunteer coach. 

Rapini has been a consistent contributor to the Dinos football program for decades, winning Vanier Cups as a player in 1985 and 1988, and his since gone on to coach more than two decades with his alma mater, helping cement Calgary as a Canada west football power.

His continued commitment to the program both on and off the field is just one of the many reasons Calgary has cemented itself as a Canada West football powerhouse. 

"The success I have had as a position coach, defensive coordinator and head coach can be directly attributed to the support I have received from Marcello Rapini," expressed Dinos head Coach Wayne Harris, who has coached with Rapini for 16 years.  "The unselfish time and energy Marcello gives in supporting the University of Calgary Dinos Football program is most deserving of the recognition of the Gino Fracas Award and all that it stands for."

OTHER U SPORTS AWARD WINNERS:

Presidents' Trophy – Defensive Player of the Year

WINNER – RSEQ: Adam Auclair, Laval (linebacker)

CW: Stavros Katsantonis, UBC (free safety)

OUA: Jackson Bennett, Ottawa (halfback)

AUS: Bailey Feltmate (linebacker)

J.P. Metras Trophy – Most Outstanding Down Lineman

WINNER – RSEQ: Mathieu Betts, Laval (defensive end)

CW: Mark Korte, Alberta (offensive tackle)

OUA: Kene Onyeka, Carleton (defensive end)

AUS: Jadarius Ceasar, Saint Mary's (defensive end)

Frank Tindall Trophy – Coach of the Year

WINNER – AUS: Jeff Cummins, Acadia

CW: Wayne Harris, Calgary

OUA: Chris Bertoia, Waterloo

RSEQ: Glen Constantin, Laval

Russ Jackson Award - Academics, football, and citizenship

WINNER – OUA: Nick Vanin, Western (linebacker)

CW: Ed Ilnicki, Alberta (running back)

RSEQ: Joël Houle, McGill (offensive tackle)

AUS: Brandon Jennings, Acadia (halfback)

With files from U SPORTS and Football Canada