Marc-André Element, an assistant captain with the Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team, was awarded a $1000 Guy Lafleur Award of Merit by the Montreal Canadiens and Brasserie Molson at a press conference held at the Bell Centre in Montreal on May 27.
Since 1985 the Guy Lafleur awards have honored young hockey players who combine athletic achievement and academic excellence. Element was also recognized for his exceptional leadership and devotion to community service.
Recently he has organized fundraisers for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and la Fondation de la recherche sur les maladies infantiles. This summer he is organizing a beach volleyball tournament to raise money for Le Fond canadien de recherche sur la leucémie. It will take place July 25.
“Marc-André is such a determined and positive person,” said Concordia Stinger head coach Kevin Figsby. “He truly believes he can make a difference in everything he does. I’ve witnessed firsthand how his philosophy and ethics influence everyone around him. You see it in the locker room, on the ice and in other aspects of life as well.”
The third-year right wing from Cadillac, Que. is a defensive specialist who excels on the penalty kill. He scored five goals and added eight assists in 27 games last season.
“Marc-André is one of the top defensive forwards in CIS hockey,” says Figsby. “This past season he led our team in blocked shots and had the least goals-against when he was on the penalty kill. He’s the player other teams hate to lineup against.”
Element is the sixth Stinger to be honored with a Guy Lafleur bursary in the last nine years.
