X-Men 'honoured' with CIS recognition

Halifax, N.S. - Three members of the StFX X-Men were honoured Wednesday night during the CIS University Cup All-Canadian Dinner & Gala at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel.

Veteran head coach Brad Peddle was the recipient of the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award, as national coach of the year, while fourth-year defenseman Nathan Chiarlitti garnered the Dr. Randy Gregg Award, which honours a student-athlete for his athletic and academic accomplishments, along with community service efforts.

AUS MVP Eric Locke, a sophomore forward, collected a first-team all-Canadian nod.

"It is certainly an honour," Peddle, who is in his 11th season behind the X-Men bench, said of the coaching accolade.

"It is a great field of coaches, who are running great programs; so, obviously, when you get acknowledged for something like that, it is certainly pretty special."

Peddle described his award as a "team effort."

"To win anything like that, you have got to have a great support staff behind you, which I am very fortunate to have - a great coaching staff - the best that I have had," he said.

Dave Stewart, Sean Donovan and Brian Casey join Peddle behind the bench. "They all do a tremendous job and help me do my job," he said.

Peddle added his players also deserve recognition.

"It is hard to get any kind of award like that without a good team and good players, who are committed. They all, obviously, play a big part in this," he noted.

Peddle guided the X-Men to a 18-6-4 record, and a second-place finish in the AUS, which marked the team's best regular-season performance, and first opening-round playoff bye, since the 2003-04 campaign.

The CIS coaching honour holds an important place in StFX athletic history; the award is named after the university's late athletic director and men's hockey coach.

"That's very special. We all know - just to be mentioned in the same breath as Father George Kehoe - is so special," Peddle said.

"He has done so much for our school; the history, the tradition - everything behind it - all comes back to him, when it comes to athletics. Just to have my name mentioned in that same sentence is obviously a huge honour."

Peddle, a former X-Men defenseman, is no stranger to the CIS award stage. In 1999, he was the recipient of the Dr. Randy Gregg Award.

Giving back

Joining the X-Men bench boss, in etching his name on that prestigious honour, is the fourth-year X-Men defenseman Chiarlitti.

"It is a tremendous honour to be acknowledged for that," the blue-liner said.

"But, I think it is more of a reflection of how our team culture has developed, having that mentality that we can make a difference in a community, like Antigonish, with minor hockey and some of the community involvement."

Chiarlitti, who scored three goals and 12 assists, along with a +14 rating, in 28 regular season games, tallied twice in the X-Men's conference title clinching win over the UNB Varsity Reds.

"'The most deserving player I have ever had for that award, and we have had some great people here," Peddle said of Chiarlitti.

"Nathan just does so much of everything; not only is he an outstanding player - certainly our go-to guy in a lot of situations - and a leader for us, but it is also everything else that he does. He is just a special person - he cares about all his team-mates; the community - he can't give enough back to the whole town and county of Antigonish, including with minor hockey.

"I could go on for days on how much he does, outside of his daily routine with hockey and school, and being so good at both. He is so worthy, and I cannot say enough about him. I am so happy he got this award, because he absolutely epitomizes what this award should be and what a student-athlete should aspire to be." 

The human kinetics student is an academic all-Canadian, who recently completed the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). He was awarded the Leader of Distinction award by the StFX Leadership Academy.

In the community, he is a volunteer coach for the Antigonish Minor Hockey Mentorship Program, a volunteer tutor with the Hockey Program of X-Cellence and president of the Coady Society. He also provides his time with Fit-4-Life and Fit-4-Tots, a StFX human kinetics community service program that promotes healthy lifestyles to children, along with the Best Buddies program, which helps people with intellectual disabilities gain valuable life experiences, leadership skills and establish new friendships.

Chiarlitti also has completed extensive volunteer work in medical research, including thyroid oncology research at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, work with Caisis, the online cancer data management system, as well as data collection for CAPL (Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy).

"It is just a personal choice for me," he said, when asked about the importance of giving back to the community.

"I don't want to sound arrogant, or anything like that, but it comes down to either watching Netflix or trying to make a difference with a minor hockey team, L'Arche, Best Buddies or something like that."

While at StFX, Chiarlitti said he wanted to make a difference on and off the ice.

"I knew I only had a finite time here and I wanted to really make an impact in the community," he added.

Chiarlitti, a native of Maple, Ontario, was also named AUS play-off MVP. Along with receiving second-team all-star honours, Chiarlitti also earned the Godfrey Award, which is presented to the men's hockey player for his community service.

First-team nod

Locke, who also received the Kelly Trophy as conference MVP and a first-team all-star spot, is a third-year human kinetics student from Toronto.

"It is an honour to be selected from all the great players in the CIS, and here at this tournament," he said.

"It is nice to be recognized, but, at the same time, it is a team goal here and we are hoping to get three more wins."

In the regular season, he notched 35 points in 28 games, including 14 goals and 21 assists, which placed him third in the AUS scoring race. He also achieved a +15 plus-minus rating.

"I think just staying healthy," Locke said, when asked about keys to his individual success this season.

"First year, I got hurt [knee]. It is the same thing in my history; the years I got hurt, the production seems to slow down a little bit."

Locke said his focus remains "making sure I am doing the right things off the ice."

"Especially being a leader, other guys follow that way, and I think it is kind of contagious in the [locker] room," he added.

In two seasons, Locke, a seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL draft, has scored 50 points in 50 games.

"He had a tremendous season - right from the start. He is a tremendously driven kid," Peddle said of Locke.

"His work ethic - he is the hardest-working guy most days - and he leads by example. His play reflects that - not only is he a skilled player, but he is also very hard to play against and tenacious."

Describing the honour as "well deserved," the head coach called Locke "a key guy for us."

"We are very happy for him," Peddle said.

Locke was also the AUS nominee for the CIS's Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy as the nation's top player.

On the ice

The third-ranked X-Men will open CIS University Cup action Thursday, when they face-off against the defending national champion, and sixth-seeded, Alberta Golden Bears.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. at Halifax Scotiabank Centre.

For more about the CIS University Cup, including ticket information, visit www.universitycup.ca

-30-