Concordia Stingers goaltender Maxime Joyal received one of the highest honors accorded by the Fondation de l’athlete d’excellence du Québec (FAEQ) at a gala dinner in Montreal on Wednesday night.
The fourth-year member of the Stingers men’s hockey team received a $2000 bursary as the winner of the Gilden student-athlete leadership award. The bursary is presented annually to the Quebec university student-athlete who has distinguished himself through community service and has displayed a leadership role within his team.
Joyal graciously accepted his award in front of 650 members of the elite university and amateur sports communities. He thanked Concordia University, head coach Kevin Figsby and his family during his acceptance speech.
The Châteauguay, Que. native maintains a GPA over 3.5 while studying Economics at Concordia. He also puts countless hours into community initiatives, including organizing and hosting the Omnium Maxime Joyal pour la Fondation Rêves d'enfants – a fundraising golf tournament in St. Rémi, Que. In addition he has been a peer tutor, participated in Concordia’s annual Centraide Walk and volunteers with youth hockey.
Three other Stingers were also honored at the 25th annual FAEQ gala. Veteran quarterback Rob Mackay (Port Dover, Ont.) was honored with a Montreal Alouettes sport excellence bursary valued at $1250. While wreslter Riley Otto (Halifax) and quarterback Tyler Pritty (Markham, Ont.) received $3000 entry bursaries as elite non-Quebec athletes who chose to pursue academics and athletics in the province.
