STEVE VAGNINI NAMED OCAA COACH OF THE YEAR

By Josh Bell-Webster

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) has announced that Steve Vagnini of St. Clair College has been named its 2025-26 Coach of the Year. Vagnini was at the helm of a Saints team that completed a memorable women’s outdoor soccer season in 2025. Vagnini’s leadership earned him triple honours as the OCAA, West Division and CCAA Coach of the Year at season’s end.

During his near-decade with the St. Clair program, Vagnini has cultivated a culture of accountability, respect and teamwork. By prioritizing comprehensive player development — covering technical, tactical, physical and psychological growth — he has ensured his athletes evolve into well-rounded individuals and competitors. Vagnini’s stewardship has helped produce high-achieving student-athletes, including Victoria Walsh, the 2025 OCAA West Player of the Year and CCAA All-Canadian.

Vagnini is as committed to his players’ personal and academic development as he is to their performance. Through biweekly meetings, Vagnini monitors their academic progress and personal goal-setting, underscoring his belief that character and education are paramount. Ultimately, Vagnini’s philosophy ensures that every student-athlete graduates from the program more confident and capable than when they arrived.

The Saints were coming off a 2024 season where they finished near the top of the West Division standings but were upset in the opening round of the OCAA playoffs. With a core of returning players mixed with some key additions, Vagnini looked to reverse the disappointment of past seasons. St. Clair began 2025 by levelling two-time reigning OCAA silver medalist Humber 2-2 before avenging its crossover loss the previous season to Sheridan winning 4-0.

After going 3-0-3 during the month of September, the Saints turned it on for the stretch run. St. Clair won four straight matches to conclude the regular season, averaging five goals on offence while recording three clean sheets. The Saints secured the West Division championship with an overall 7-0-3 record, allowing just five goals against in 10 matches, never once tasting defeat. It marked St. Clair’s first divisional title in 26 years.

Avoiding the pitfall of another first-round upset, the Saints scored 10 times in a shut out of Loyalist, then took an early two-goal lead over Durham and coasted to a quarter-final victory. As a result, St. Clair played host to the OCAA championship on home turf, its first trip to the final four since 2023.

The Saints were behind division rival Humber 1-0 at half time of the semifinal, but got the equalizer in the 59th minute, then a game-winning goal in the second overtime period to clinch their first OCAA medal since 2015. Playing Centennial in the OCAA gold medal match, St. Clair pounced on an early lead and never let up, winning 4-1 to end its 36-year OCAA championship drought.

Making their debut on the national stage, the Saints posted a 2-2 record at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Soccer National Championship in Red Deer, Alta., fighting their way to the bronze medal match.

Vagnini also led the women’s indoor soccer team to a regional championship in 2026, advancing to the final four where the Saints lost both the semifinal and bronze medal match in penalty kicks.

PREVIOUS OCAA COACHES OF THE YEAR
2024-25 — Betty Calic, Mohawk Curling
2023-24 — Luca Sirianni, Seneca Women’s Soccer
2022-23 — Doug Wiseman St. Clair Women’s Softball

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St. Clair Saints Name New Men’s Volleyball Head Coach

The St. Clair College Athletic Department has announced Greg Simone as the new Varsity Men’s Volleyball Head Coach.

Simone is a former five year USport athlete where he played for four years at the University of Windsor and one year at the University of Waterloo. He also has extensive playing experience playing beach volleyball for Team Ontario.

Simone has recently spent the last few years as a Head Coach with the Sky Volley Club coaching several boy’s teams. He also has experience with the Forest City Volleyball Club and the KW Predator Volleyball Club. Prior to that he was an assistant coach with the University of Waterloo after his playing career.
Simone was born and raised in London where he attended London Central Secondary School before going to the University of Windsor.

Simone is eager to take over the Saints program. “I am truly honoured to step into the role of Head Coach for the St. Clair College men’s volleyball program. This is an incredible opportunity to lead a dedicated group of student-athletes, and I am excited to get to work. Together we will build a program that competes for OCAA Championships while creating a winning culture both on and off the court.”

Director of Athletics and Recreation Reid Innes is pleased to add Simone to the Saints coaching roster. “We’re excited to welcome Coach Simone to Saints Athletics. He comes to St. Clair College sharing our approach to prepare student-athletes for success in competition, academics, and life beyond our campus. I believe his experiences as a player and coach position him to do just that. We look forward to this new path for our Men’s Volleyball team.”

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St. Clair College Wins Top Award in 2026 NHL Hockey Innovation Competition

Kinetic Floor Tiles, An Arena Smart App and Year-Round Access Opportunities Highlight Competition Pitches

The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association have announced that students from three Ontario universities and colleges were named winners of the Hockey Innovation Competition presented by SAP at the event’s third edition, held Wednesday at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.

Open to post-secondary students across Ontario, the competition challenged teams to pitch innovative, practical solutions to hockey infrastructure issues — from aging community rinks and limited ice access to outdated facilities and a shortage of multi-use spaces. Participants were encouraged to develop ideas with clear implementation potential for the NHL, its Clubs, and community partners, with the goal of expanding access and supporting long-term growth of the sport in Canada.

The following teams received scholarship grants, a VIP NHL ticket experience, and networking opportunities with the NHL, SAP, Ottawa Senators, and participating academic institutions.

THE CHANGEMAKER AWARD

Presented to the team whose proposal demonstrated the highest level of feasibility and readiness for implementation, with a strong emphasis on real‑world applicability, scalability, and impact.

Every Step Counts

Alexandra Cohen, Tyler Fisher, Emily Miasik, Mackenzie Nyusa, Lila Pringle

Business Communications, Sport and Event Management (University of Guelph)

This pitch uses innovative kinetic floor tiles in NHL arena entrances and Kids Zones to turn fan movement into renewable energy, delivering an interactive, sustainable game-day experience powered by real-time data.

THE INNOVATOR AWARD

Presented to the team whose concept demonstrated the most original, forward‑thinking, and transformative approach, prioritizing creativity and ingenuity over feasibility.

Reignite the Rink

Sausha Goodhand, Elle Hebert, Airika Natyshak and Aryanna Pierson

Advertising and Marketing Communications Management (St. Clair College)

This proposal outlined a scalable retrofit solution that captures and reuses excess rink heat, integrates modular multi‑use spaces, and connects communities through a digital app—reimagining aging arenas as sustainable, year‑round hubs.

First-Line

Jordan Bates

Commerce (Queen’s University)

This smart arena app leverages real-time AI and SAP analytics to optimize seating, concessions, navigation, and in-game engagement — enhancing the fan experience while unlocking new revenue opportunities.

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St. Clair Men’s Indoor Soccer Win Bronze

The St. Clair College men’s varsity indoor soccer team came home with the OCAA Bronze Medals on Thursday.

The Saints were taking part in the OCAA Championships in Vaughan.

In their morning semi final, St. Clair dropped a hard fought battle to the Humber Hawks 3-1.

The Saints faced Fanshawe in the Bronze Medal Match and defeated Fanshawe 1-0 in a tightly contested game. Fanshawe had defeated St. Clair 4-1 in pool play on Wednesday

Patrick Maheux was named a Championship All Star for his outstanding play throughout the tournament.

It was the Saints first medal in Indoor Soccer since winning Silver in 2017.

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WINDSOR LANCER AWARDED U SPORTS WOMEN’S STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Chloe VidAmour won a bronze medal in triple at the OUA Championships with a season best jump of 12.09m, helping Windsor finish third overall in the team standings. The fourth-year hometown product and human kinetics major has served as an Adapted Physical Exercise (APEX) program coordinator, volunteering in the one-one-one program on campus for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also launched the APEX-STEPS Initiative, adapting the program for a school-based setting with physical activity programming for secondary schools across the Greater Essex County District School Board.

In addition, VidAmour has been a jumps coach at Holy Names Catholic High School and Sandwich West Public School, and spent a semester abroad participating in a hands-on internship and track and field coaching opportunities while overcoming language barriers.

She is the first Lancer to earn the award in program history.

Guelph’s Nicole McKenzie and Max Davies, Lethbridge’s Jinaye Shomachuk and Toronto’s Aiden Grout have been named the U SPORTS Track and Field Athletes of the Year. The announcement was made Thursday morning, as the national season award winners were celebrated prior to the start of the 2026 U SPORTS Track & Field Championships

On the women’s side, McKenzie was named the outstanding Track Athlete of the Year, Shomachuk captured Field Athlete of the Year, Saskatchewan’s Hailee Woodhouse earned the Rookie of the Year and Windsor’s Chloe Vidamour took home the Student-Athlete Community Service Award.

In men’s competition, the recipients include Davies (Track Athlete of the Year), Grout (Field Athlete of the Year), and Western’s Jackson MacKay (Rookie of the Year) and Aaron Thompson (Student-Athlete Community Service Award).

The Assistant Coaches of the Year are Karlyn Wells of Saskatchewan and Marks Cocks of Alberta. The head coaches of the year are determined at the conclusion of the championship, along with the Athletes of the Meet. All-Canadians are determined by performance at the championships, with event gold medallists becoming first team All-Canadians, while second-place finishers earn second team All-Canadian honours.

The 2026 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships, hosted by the Manitoba Bisons, begin Thursday and run through Saturday. The entire championship will be webcast live on CBC digital platforms in English and Radio-Canada’s digital platforms in French.

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