VICTORIA - The University of Victoria men's basketball team earned two major Canada West awards today, March 4, as fifth-year guard Sam Maillet and head coach Murphy Burnatowski received top honours.

Maillet, a transfer from Dalhousie in his final year of eligibility, has been selected as the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year. Previously winning the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference Defensive Player of the Year award in 2021-22, Maillet becomes the first player to win a conference defensive player of the year award in two different conferences since the award was introduced in U SPORTS in 2004-05. He was also just the second player at that time to win that award, representing two different schools, joining Franston Demosthene, who did so at Laval (2017-28) and UQAM (2021-22).

Maillet averaged 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 Canada West season and ranked eighth in the league with 4.0 assists per game. His 2.1 assist/turnover ratio tied for third-best in Canada West for the year.

"Sam is the ultimate selfless player. Being able to defend every position on the court shows how versatile he can be with the size, speed, and IQ he brings to the game," commented Burnatowski. "More important is the leadership and intensity he brings to our team. It's infectious and pushes our entire team to strive to match his energy. I am extremely grateful to have coached him over the last four years."

Burnatowski, in his first season at the helm of the program, has been named the Canada West Coach of the Year after guiding his side to a perfect 20-0 conference season, marking the fourth undefeated conference season in program history and the first since 1983-84.

Burnatowski becomes the first coach in U SPORTS men's basketball since 1975-76 to guide their program to an undefeated conference season in their first year. In addition to being ranked No. 1 in the U SPORTS Top 10 poll all season and earning the top seed in the Canada West playoffs, his team's 89.5 points per game scoring average was the second-best in the league, while the Vikes' 70.2 points per game allowed to their opponents was third-best in the conference.

"This award is a testament to the character and work ethic that Murphy and his coaching team have shown this year. As a new head coach, Murphy has assembled an exciting team of assistant coaches who collectively rallied the players this season. His natural presence and leadership shone through during our interview process, and this trait has proven to be Murphy's strength in leading our Vikes to an undefeated regular season.  We are so proud of Murphy, Josh, Joe, Terrel and Niasi, and we are beyond excited about the future of our program in the hands of the most exciting coaching staff in U SPORTS," said Dr. Nick Clarke, director of varsity performance sport. 

The Vikes take on the University of Manitoba in the bronze medal game of the Canada West playoffs on Friday, March 7, at 7 p.m. at CARSA Performance Gym. The winner will receive a berth to the U SPORTS Final 8. Get your tickets here or tune in on Canada West TV presented by BioSteel.