Fifth-year BSc student Bryce Mason has been awarded Player of the Year, Men’s Badminton, by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The honour was announced on March 17 as part of the CCAA Badminton National Championships held at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, Alta.
Trish Miles, athletics coordinator at King’s called Mason’s award “very well deserved,” and added, “we are extremely proud of Bryce for winning this prestigious award. The combination of his drive and determination over his varsity career has led to this moment.”
Mason said the award is meaningful recognition both “as a player and as an athlete at King’s.”
“I look at this award as a bank of memories over the years, ever since I walked into King’s on day one. I couldn’t have earned this award without all the support from teammates, coaches and the entire University of King’s College staff,” Mason said, adding, “My badminton partners Ben Van Ryn, Jack Ronahan and Sam White deserve this award just as much as me!”
This is the fourth consecutive year that Mason has competed for the Blue Devils at the national level, where King’s has again won the right to represent the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA). In both 2019 and 2020, Mason won silver in the men’s doubles. In Edmonton, Mason is competing with long-time teammate, fifth-year student Sam White. This year marks Mason and White’s last opportunity to compete as a team on the national, intercollegiate level.
Michael Kopinak, CCAA badminton convenor described why Mason was the coaches’ choice. “Bryce is tenacious on the court, never ever giving up on any play. Off the court, he is one of the most respectful student-athletes I’ve ever come across.”
Asked how he navigates between those two mindsets, Mason said, “I like to set high standards for myself on the court but also respect the opponents that I play. I look back at the four national championships I have been to and all the friends I have made and will continue to make, going into my final year.”
In February, the ACAA named Mason its 2022 Men’s Badminton Player of the Year.
Bryce Mason stands with his father after being awarded CCAA Men’s Badminton Player of the Year.
Andrew Harding, ACAA badminton convenor praised Mason’s impressive track record and called him, “one of the most determined and nationally-decorated athletes to come out of Nova Scotia in the past 25 years.”
Echoing Kopinak, Harding added, “He fears no one on the badminton court and brings an intensity to the game that is both contagious to his teammates and a nightmare for his opponents.”
Mason was additionally honoured as a 2022 CCAA Men’s Badminton All-Canadian, along with Narayan Ramdhani of the King’s Eagles (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) and Yuge Zeng of the George Brown Huskies (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association).
In recognition of his achievement, Mason will receive a customized ring from the CCAA and an e-gift from badminton equipment supplier Li-Ning.
