Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards: Abby Guezen and Ryder Rattee named Canada West finalists
Abby Guezen, a women’s volleyball player, and Ryder Rattee, a track and field athlete – both from the University of Alberta, are the second set of finalists for the Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards as the U SPORTS athletes of the year. They are the winners of the Canada West athlete of the year awards. This is the first time Alberta has swept the Canada West awards since 1999-2000.
Abby Guezen, Alberta women’s volleyball
A kinesiology, sport and recreation student from Sherwood Park, Alta., Guezen completed one of the most successful seasons in Alberta Pandas women’s volleyball history by being named both the Canada West and U SPORTS women’s volleyball player of the year.
The outside hitter led Alberta to an 18-2 regular-season record and helped the Pandas capture the Canada West championship on their home court before winning the U SPORTS national title in Langley, B.C. It marked Alberta’s first national championship in women’s volleyball since 2007.
Guezen’s championship-winning campaign capped a remarkable three-year university career. As a rookie in 2023-24, she earned both Canada West and U SPORTS rookie of the year honours while helping the Pandas claim conference bronze and national silver. One season later, Alberta captured Canada West gold and U SPORTS bronze, with Guezen being named a conference second-team all-star.
In 2025-26, Guezen served as one of Alberta’s team captains and emerged as one of the top players in Canadian university volleyball.
Internationally, Guezen made her senior Team Canada debut at just 19 years old during the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League. She later represented Canada at the Women’s Volleyball World Championship, helping the national team advance to the round of 16.
This summer, Guezen will again suit up for Canada in the 2026 Women’s Volleyball Nations League before beginning her professional career in Italy’s Serie A1, widely regarded as one of the top women’s volleyball leagues in the world.
Guezen is the third Panda to be named a national finalist for the Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards, following Carla Somerville, who was a finalist in 1997, and Jenny Cartmell, who won the national award in 2000.
Ryder Rattee, Alberta track and field
A sophomore sprinter from Sherwood Park, Alta., Rattee enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons in recent Canada West track and field history, earning Canada West male athlete of the year honours after winning three gold medals at the 2026 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships in Winnipeg.
Rattee captured national titles in the men’s 300 metres, 600 metres and 4x400-metre relay, becoming part of an exclusive group of athletes to win triple gold at a single national championship meet.
All three performances established new Golden Bears program records, while his 300-metre winning time of 32.75 seconds also broke the U SPORTS championship record. Rattee was subsequently named championship athlete of the meet after helping Alberta finish three and a half points shy of the national team title.
Rattee went undefeated in individual races during the 2026 season despite competing through a lingering back injury. In addition to his national success, he won two conference gold medals and was named Canada West male track athlete of the year and Alberta’s male athlete of the year.
His athletic accomplishments are made even more remarkable by the adversity he faced earlier in life. At eight years old, Rattee underwent extensive medical treatment after being diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, enduring chemotherapy treatments, repeated medical procedures and nearly two years of uncertainty before later learning the original diagnosis may have been incorrect.
Throughout the process, Rattee remained determined to continue competing in sports and eventually emerged as one of the top young sprinters in the country.
Earlier this month, Rattee was part of the Canadian 4x400-metre mixed relay team that qualified for the World Championships and set a national record (3:12.43) at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana. He also plans to compete at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa this summer.
Rattee is the ninth Golden Bear to be named a national finalist for the Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards, following Isaac Heslinga (2024), Jordan Canham (2023), Ed Ilnicki (2018), Joel Schumaland (2009), Nicholas Cundy (2005), Pascal Cardinal (2003), Russ Hewson (2000) and Todd Goodwin (1994). Schumaland is, to date, the only Golden Bear to win the national trophy.
--
The Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards for the U SPORTS athletes of the year will be announced at a ceremony in Calgary on Wednesday, May 20.
Other finalists:
- AUS: Emilia Mikanovich and Mika Cyr
- RSEQ: To be announced on May 14
- OUA: To be announced on May 15