Sport Newfoundland and Labrador today announced the finalists for the 2007 Provincial Annual Awards and the line-up covers an array of sports and regions of the province.

"The 2007 finalists certainly represent the stars of sports in Newfoundland and Labrador, and this is particularly pleasing as we will present the awards at our first annual Stars and Legends Gala," said Tom Godden, president of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Stars and Legends Gala 2008 combines the two preeminent celebrations of sport into one prominent recognition ceremony. Along with the annual awards presentations, the event will also celebrate the 2007 inductees into the Sport Hall of Fame.

Each year annual awards are presented to recognize the best athletic achievements in the province in seven categories. Nominations for these awards are accepted only from provincial sport organizations which are members of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador. Winners are chosen by a selection committee comprised of various sports media in the province.

"It�s never an easy task to select the finalists for the annual sports awards and this year was no different. The array of nominations for 2007 once again impressed the selection committee and speak to the caliber of athletes, coaches, teams and sport executives we have here in this province," said Godden.

The finalists for the Ferd Hayward Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award are Brad Gushue of St. John�s, curling; Stephen Mullaly of Placentia, softball and Rod Snow of Paradise, rugby.

The finalists for the Elizabeth Swan Senior Female Athlete of the Year Award are Johanna Clift of Outer Cove, rugby; Stacie Devereaux of Logy Bay, curling and Katherine Quakenbush of St. John�s, basketball.

The finalists for the Joe Mullins Junior Male Athlete of the Year Award are Sean Edwards of St. Lawerence, soccer; Robert Spearing of Conception Bay South, rugby and Matthew Young of Corner Brook, figure skating.

The finalists for the Margaret Davis Junior Female Athlete of the Year Award are Julie Devereaux of Logy Bay, curling; Victoria Ralph of Carbonear, wrestling and Katarina Roxon of Stephenville, swimming.

The finalists for the John Drinkwater Coach of the Year Award are Glen Littlejohn of Bay Roberts, softball; Diane Ryan of St. John�s, curling and Derek Strang of St. Lawerence, soccer.

The finalists for the Graham Snow Executive of the Year Award are Evan Ash, Special Olympics; Gary Corbett, softball and Patrick Parfey of St. John�s, rugby.

Softball player Stephen Mullaly, of Placentia, was a member of Canada�s national softball team and a member of the provincial Roebothan, McKay, Marshall fastpitch softball team.

Rugby player Rod Snow of Paradise, was a member of the Senior Rock Rugby team and was selected to the National Senior Men�s Team for his fourth consecutive Rugby World Cup.

Rugby player Johanna Clift, of Outer Cove, has played at the provincial and university level and was invited to the National (U20) Selection camp, based on her Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and National Women�s League performances.

Stacie Devereaux, of Logy Bay, was skip of the 2007 provincial curling championship Team Devereaux which placed second at the World Junior Curling Championship in Eveleth, Minnesota.

Katherine Quackenbush, of St. John�s, is captain of the MUN Women�s Seahawks Basketball Team - the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) champions and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Bronze medal winners.

Soccer player Sean Edwards of St. Lawrence, was a member of the Provincial Challenge Cup Tournament winning St. Lawrence Laurentians.

Robert Spearing, of Conception Bay South, was a member of the Eastern Canadian gold medalist Newfoundland U18, the Canadian U17, and the Sully Cup Champion Baymen U18 Men�s Rugby Teams.

A member of the Silver Blades Skating Club, Matthew Young, of Corner Brook, is the current Pre Novice Pairs Provincial record holder and set a new provincial record at the 2007 BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals.

Julie Devereaux, of Logy Bay, was a member of 2007 Provincial Curling Champions Team Devereaux which went on to become the first junior ladies curling team from Newfoundland and Labrador to win the Junior National Curling Championship.

Carbonear native Victoria Ralph won several provincial, regional, and national medals for wrestling, including being named most outstanding wrestler at the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association (CAWA) Atlantic Championships.

Katarina Roxon, of Stephenville, is world and national record-holder swimmer. She has set three world records in Short Course Swimming, two Senior National records in Long Course swimming and three Senior National records in Short Course swimming.

Glen Littlejohn, of Bay Roberts, coached the Roebothan, McKay, Marshall men�s fastpitch softball team to a silver medal at the 2007 Labatt Canadian Senior Men�s Fastpitch Championships in St. John�s.

Diane Ryan, of St. John�s, was coach of Team Devereaux at the Provincials, Nationals, and World Junior Curling Championships. The team won the 2007 provincial and national championships and placed second at the world competition.

Derek Strang, of St. Lawrence, coached the Provincial Challenge Cup Champion St. Lawrence Laurentians through the complete regular soccer season and provincial tournament without losing a game.

Paradise native Evan Ash has been involved in all aspects of the Mount Pearl Special Olympics Club and was instrumental in bringing the local municipal government on board to support the Special Olympics Games bid, the first time in our province�s history that a municipal government has officially been in support of a Special Olympics bid.

Gary Corbett, of Holyrood, was Chair of the 2007 Labatt Senior Men�s Canadian Fastpitch Championship. The eight-day event attracted 25,000 fans and raised a profit of $70,000 which will be utilized for the betterment of minor softball within the province.

Patrick Parfrey, O.C., of St. John�s, Vice President of the Swilers Rugby Club Executive, was instrumental in the development of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre which will provide much-needed training and development opportunities for the athletes of our province.

The 2007 national silver medal winning men�s fastpitch softball team, Roebothan, McKay, Marshall which posted an impressive 10-1 record during the 2007 Labatt Canadian Championships in St. John�s.

St. Lawrence Laurentians men�s soccer team won the provincial Challenge Cup after posting a perfect season at the provincial and won bronze at the 2007 National Challenge Cup Championship in Halifax.

The 2007 Provincial and National Junior Curling Champion Team Devereaux placed second at the World Junior Curling Championship in Eveleth, Minnesota. They are the first junior ladies team from Newfoundland and Labrador to win the Nationals.

2008 03 12                                             11:15 a.m.