Slightly less than 40 athletes. Three sets of coaches and a small handful of devoted volunteers. A sprinkling of parents strewn throughout the crowd.

Such was the gathering in May of 2006 as the Northern Chill Volleyball Club gathered for their first Evening of Excellence at the former Marguerite Lougheed Centre, with club founder Michael Margarit bringing together the three girls rep volleyball teams that took to the floor for the 2005-2006 OVA (Ontario Volleyball Association) season.

A few weeks back, there were some 200 athletes and even more parents, coaches, execs and well-wishers who now packed the upper floor of the Caruso Club for the latest edition of the year-end Chill banquet, celebrating the accomplishments of 17 teams mixed with both male and female entries.

With a grand total of 98 award presentations to be made, coaches’ speeches are no longer an option.

The NCVC has come a long way from her humble beginnings.

And if one is assume that Chill coaches and staff have a good eye for talent – which seems like a very fair assumption to me – then it’s highly likely that both Brinlay Evans and Skyler Trottier will also come a long way before their Chill playing days are done.

The teenage tandem were named as the “Players to Watch” for the 2023-2024 season, a sign of sure-fire optimism within the ranks for what the future holds for the duo.

The youngest of four boys in the family, with older brother Logan capturing the OVA Award of Excellence for the 17U Overchill boys, Skyler Trottier just completed his first year within the club system – and can hardly wait for year two to get started.

“When I was in grade six, I played for my school,” noted the 13 year-old grade 7 student at Jean-Paul II. “I got really into the sport and wanted to play club – and my brother really influenced me and encouraged me to play more.”

With both of the Trottier lads blessed with great “hops” – the ability to jump, if you will – the slotting at middle seems an all too natural fit, though Skyler must wait until September to take a crack at that position while donning a NCVC uniform.

“At my age with club, we don’t have (set) positions yet – you rotate after every serve,” he stated. “But for school, I played the same position as him. I’m good with communication and very quick with the ball, very quick thinking – and good with my blocking.”

Anxious to learn the intricacies of the “quick sets to middle” which can prove some deadly at the high-school level, Trottier added that much of his value to his team comes in the form of attributes that are different than simply physical volleyball skills.

“I have a passion for the sport; I really love the sport,” he said. “I encourage my teammates a lot during practices and games – and I am a good listener and a quick learner.”

Joining Trottier and Evans in the trophy parade were:

Player of the Year (F) – Mia Lemay-Evans
Player of the Year (M) – Zander Kasunich
McNair Cup Team Award – 18U Chill Frost – boys
Chill Award – Kaylee Seguin
Frost Award – Olivier Tremblay
President’s Award – Melissa St. Onge

18U Graduates (F) – Aly Nicholls; Mia Lemay-Evans; Fannie Gauthier; Marley Tremblay; Shae St Onge; Kate Rolston; Mia Robson; Abby Laporte; Sarah Teddy

18 Graduates (B) – James Welsh; Jordan Schwyer; Zander Kasunich; Sam George; Andrew Rose; Owen Foers; Colin Lindner; Bosco Ducharme; Alexi Rheaume

TEAM AWARDS
COACHES’ AWARD (F) – Fannie Gauthier (18U); Olivia Borello (17U); Kayiesha Thomas (17U); Madisyn Vendetti (16U); Maili Jutila (16U); Maggie Polischuk (15U); Marissa MacLean (15U); Zoe Doucet (14U); Morgan Gauvreau (14U); Lauren Sten (13U); Khloe Warren (13U); Eliza Rybiak (13U)

COACHES’ AWARD (M) – Colin Lindner (18U); Owen Perron (17U); Jack Jones (16U); Cedric Larouche (15U); Miguel Gauthier (14U); Reid Cayer (13U)

MOST IMPROVED (F) – Abby Laporte (18U); Caroline Reichle (17U); Jasmine Mills (17U); Jayda McKee (16U); Nyah Robinson (16U); Cassidy Warren (15U); Josslyne Ouellette (15U); Teah Luoma (15U); Ella Tourville (15U); Sara Labelle (14U); Luella Circelli (14U); Aviahna Cocchiola (14U); Ella Kolari (14U); Mylia Rivard (13U); Kylan Batchelor (13U); Truleigh Boivin (13U); Makenzie Switzer (13U); Lakem Lemieux (13U); Chloe Cothill (13U)

MOST IMPROVED (M) – Alexi Rheaume (18U); Ethan Wheatley (17U); Wesley Gibson (16U); Blake Roy (15U); Greg Kao (15U); Jack McDonald (14U); Travis Dickie (14U); Skyler Trottier (13U); Matteo Lachapelle (13U)

OVA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (F) – Marley Tremblay (18U); Arianna Thibodeau (17U); Reece Crane (17U); Avery Gauvreau (16U); Madison Paris (16U); Alyssa Amadio (15U); Harlym Triff (15U); Sovia Borota Thompson (14U); Maya Chretien (14U); Cloe St Amand (13U); Thalia Beaudry (13U); Sophie Marshall (13U)

OVA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (M) – Cale Bast (18U); Logan Trottier (17U); Justin Lafontaine (16U); Nicholas Mills (15U); Carson Gatien (14U); Henry Case (13U)

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (F) – Mia Lemay-Evans (18U); Emily Rocha (17U); Camille Barr (17U); Mara Kahl (16U); Mya Balfe (16U)

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (M) – Samuel George (18U); Greyson Siefert (17U); Olivier Tremblay (16U)

Still with the Chill, it was great to see a very large turnout for a recent evening of volleyball chatter as Lockerby Composite graduate and fifth year head coach of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s volleyball program, Sean McKay, returned to his old stomping grounds to share some thoughts on the game.

Just 32 years old, the local product is clearly still evolving in his role, even since the time that he first accepted the job a year or two prior to Covid. “Tactically and technically, I’ve changed a bunch – and philosophy-wise, even more," noted the young man who is now three years married, the couple having celebrated the birth of their first child (daughter – Sully) just a few months back.

“Through experience, there is a lot of learning – and then tackling some national team and provincial team opportunities, I have surrounded myself with good mentors.”

A gifted setter who went on to play with the Western University Mustangs, McKay offered the following advice that honestly holds true for every position on the floor.

“If you want to be a good setter, I think you have to be a volley nerd, engulfing yourself in the sport at every level,” he suggested. “There is so much access to international volleyball, university volleyball, college volleyball. Just watch people that are better than you.”

“Everyone is going to train hard, but can you pick up the tactics, the techniques, the creativity.”