A pair of veteran Golden Bears earned major awards on Wednesday, as Canada West unveiled their top Men's Volleyball players from 2022/23. 

Fourth-year Bear Jordan Canham was named the conference's player of the year, while Bears setter Cam Kern has earned the student-athlete community service award. 

Canham earns the Player of the Year award after a stand-out season that saw the Golden Bear lead his team to a 22-2 regular season record. The outside hitter posted the third-best hitting percentage (.361) in Canada West this year, finishing the season with a team-high 282 kills. 

"This is a very well deserved award for Jordan. He has put a lot of time, energy and teamwork into being the force he is through Canada West," said Bears head coach Brock Davidiuk. "He's a very mature player which is showcased through his growth as a leader and his high level understanding of what it takes to be successful as an individual and more importantly as a member of a team at this level.

I think what is additionally impressive about Jordan is that it's very likely he will continue to improve once he begins the next chapter of his career at the international level. I don't think we've seen the best of Jordan yet. Through his work ethic, passion and mind, I'm looking forward to the heights he will reach in the coming years."

The Avonmore, ON product led the country in service aces with 49 while posting 363 points on the year. His 49 aces this season, and his 99 career aces both set new Alberta program records. 

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Kern notched the second-most assists in Canada West this season while quarterbacking the nation's most efficient offence. His 922 assists this year is the fourth most in program single-season history.

Off the court, he maintains a 4.0 GPA in kinesiology while earning major academic accolades. The Edmonton, AB product also finds ways to better his community in any way he can. He led a partnership that will see varsity athletes connect with at-risk youth through volleyball.

A member of the University of Alberta Athletics Board, Kern also organized several big initiatives, like a read-in week for elementary school children, a mental health check-in, a clothing drive, and a movement and motion academy.

"I'm very happy for Cam that he has received this highly esteemed award. Cam is the first Bear in quite some time to win this prestigious award. Cam's contribution to the community is something very important to him, and something that will leave a tremendously positive impact on our culture and with all those he continues to inspire in the Edmonton area and beyond," said Davidiuk.

"It's staggering how much Cam is able to accomplish in any given day with the breadth of community service initiatives he's involved in, the near perfect or exactly perfect GPA he consistently produces in our challenging KSR faculty, all the while leading one of the strongest programs in the country as our captain and starting setter. Perhaps an equally touching accolade shared by Cam's teammate Jacob Sargent, who is the nephew of Dale Iwanoczko, is that Cam reminds Jacob's mom - Dana Iwanoczko - of the type of selfless, community minded man her brother was."

The Golden Bears' captain does this on top of being a regular participant in the team's community outreach.

If that's not enough, he's a kids' church mentor, multi-team volleyball coach, camp counsellor and guest speaker. He has also organized events for a faith-based sport ministry organization and a free skills clinic for youth.

2022-23 Canada West Major Award Winners

Player of the Year
Jordan Canham, Alberta
 
Rookie of the Year
Jordon Heppner, Manitoba
 
Libero of the Year
Darian Picklyk, Winnipeg
 
Coach of the Year
Shawn Sky, MRU
 
Student-Athlete Community Service Award (Dale Iwanoczko Nominee)
Cam Kern, Alberta