2023 Winner
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
BASKETBALL
In 2023, the Toronto-born, Hamilton-raised Gilgeous-Alexander became a bona fide superstar. He was one of the NBA’s leading scorers in the 2022-23 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder (31.4 points per game), and continued to do so in the early part of the ‘23-24 season. In between, he led Canada to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, securing an Olympic berth for Canada for the first time since 2000. The 25-year-old guard became only the second basketball player ever to be named Canada’s athlete-of-the-year (Steve Nash,. 2005), and the second winner of the newly-named Northern Star Award. “It’s like a dream come true,” he said after being told he had won the award.
2023 FINALISTS
CONNOR MCDAVID (HOCKEY)
SUMMER MCINTOSH (SWIMMING)
CAMRYN ROGERS (TRACK AND FIELD)
NICK TAYLOR (GOLF)
2023 Committee Members:
Damien Cox (Executive director, Northern Star Award committee), Dave Washburn (Toronto Star sports editors) Phil Bingley and Bob Hepburn (Northern Star steering committee/non-voting), David Amber (Sportsnet), Bruce Arthur (Toronto Star). Jennifer Botterill (Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada), Rod Black (broadcaster), Jeff Blair (FAN 590), Stephen Brunt (journalist), Anastasia Bucsis (CBC), Caroline Cameron (Sportsnet), Rosie DiManno (Toronto Star), Sean Fitz-Gerald (journalist), Dave Hodge (broadcaster), Ian Mendes (The Athletic), James Duthie (TSN), Kara Wagland (TSN), Kerry Gillespie (Toronto Star), Evans Osmak (Sportsnet), Arash Madani (Sportsnet), Willy Palov (Saltwire), Diane Sauve (Radio Canada), Hanarayan Singh (Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada), Doug Smith (Toronto Star) Karin Larsen (CBC), Clare Rustad (soccer broadcaster), Kristina Rutherford (Sportsnet), Rob Snoek (CBC), Rob Vanstone (journalist), Brian Williams (broadcaster), Steve Simmons (Toronto Star), Hailey Salvian (The Athletic), Scott Stinson (journalist), Scott Brown (CP).
History of the Northern Star Award
The Northern Star is Canada’s most prestigious award for an individual athlete.
Since 1936, it has honoured Canada’s athlete-of-the-year every year since except for 1942, 1943 and 1944 when Canada was part of the Allied effort during the Second World War. It’s always been sponsored by The Star, but over the years has grown to include voters from many different media organizations and individuals across Canada. I became executive director of the Lou Marsh Trophy committee in 2014 after rowing star Silken Laumann had done a fine job chairing the meetings since 2000.
In 2022, it was decided that the trophy would be renamed The Northern Star Award/Le Prix Etoile du Nord, and the first winner was Canadian female hockey superstar Marie Philip-Poulin.
Marie-Philip Poulin, winner in 2022
Those are the basics. The history is a lot more interesting than that.
Originally, the award was named in honour of Lou Marsh, who had been a professional referee, athlete and coach, and also the sports editor of The Toronto Star. He died suddenly in 1936, and was mourned across the nation as the country’s pre-eminent voice on sports. The first winner was runner Phil Edwards, who competed in three Olympics and went on to a distinguished career as a physician and expert on tropical diseases.
Phil Edwards, winner in 1936
Showing how different sports priorities were in those days, the second winner was Canadian equestrian champion Marshal Cleland, followed by rower Bobby Pearce. The first female winner was 16-year-old figure skater Barbara Ann Scott in 1945. At that time, the award was announced the following July.
There wasn’t a “professional” athlete from a team sport to win the award until Joe Krol of the Toronto Argonauts in 1946. “Now, I’ve had everything,” said Krol as he accepted the award in June, 1947. Barbara Ann Scott then won the award again for 1947 and 1948, the greatest run for one athlete in the award’s history. She was that dominant in her sport.
Barbara Anne Scott, winner in 1945, 1947, 1948
While hockey was Canada’s national pastime, the first hockey player to win was Maurice Richard in 1957, 21 years after the inauguration of the annual honour. He received the award officially in August, 1958 as part of the ceremony that opened Canada’s new Sports Hall of Fame on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition. The event was presided over by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. “It’s the first time I have received a big or little trophy outside Montreal and is a real thrill,” said The Rocket. He then joked, “I have been so well received in Toronto the last few seasons I am thinking of moving here to play hockey.”
In 1967 and 1968, skier Nancy Greene won the award. She won gold in the giant slalom at the ‘68 Winter Olympics in France. The 1970s marked the heyday for NHL players, with Bobby Orr (1970), Phil Esposito (1972), Bobby Clarke (1975) and Guy Lafleur (1977) all receiving the honour. Orr was the first hockey player to win after Richard, and by that time the trophy was voted on in early December and announced later that month, just as it is done today. The chairman of the four-man Lou Marsh voting committee was Red Foster, a former broadcaster, businessman and humanitarian.
In 1980, the award was given to 22-year-old Terry Fox in honour of his Marathon of Hope Campaign. “What a shock,” said Fox. “It know some people have been saying I’m not an athlete and what I did was not an athletic event. To me, there is no doubt in my mind. The challenge is, if I am not athlete for what I did. . . Then what is an athlete? By then, the voting panel, still chaired by Foster, had been expanded to include the sports editors of the Canadian Press, the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun. The Star was represented by columnist Milt Dunnell and sports editor Ken McKee.
Terry Fox, winner in 1980
In the 1980s, Wayne Gretzky set a new record by winning the away four times (1982, 1983, 1985 and 1989. He barely edged out figure skater Kurt Browning in ‘89, the first time the voting for the award had required a second ballot. Former CFL commissioner Jake Gaudaur had taken over as chairman of the Lou Marsh voting committee in 1985, and would continue as chairman until being succeeded by Silken Laumann in 2000.
In 1995, racing car driver Jacques Villeneuve won in a hotly contested vote, beating out baseball star Larry Walker. “I lost to a car,” said Walker afterwards.
After I succeeded Silken in 2015, it was decided to start expanding the award committee to include more women and a greater cross-section of Canadians, particularly minorities. By 2020, we had increased the committee to more than 35 voters.
Mikael Kingsbury, winner in 2018
In 2018 moguls skier Mikael Kingsbury was named the winner, but only after a spirited debate in which some panelists wanted to vote for the ice dancing pair of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. However, it was decided that this was in its essence an individual award, and that from 2018 forward no teams could be nominated for the trophy.
Bianca Andreescu became the first Canadian tennis player to win in 2019, and the next year soccer player Alponso Davies and NFL offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay Tardif shared the award. Duvernay-Tardif didn’t play that season, giving up his season to serve on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic.
Bianca Andreescu, winner in 2019
After Olympic decathlete Damian Warner won in 2021, there were concerns raised about continuing to honour the memory of Lou Marsh in association with the award. In particular, writings of Marsh from the 1920s and 1930s were viewed by critics as racist in nature. In September, 2022, Star publisher Jordan Bitove announced the name of the trophy would be changed, and later that year, it was renamed The Northern Star Award. “We are excited to look forward with this new name, which we feel recognizes the northern personality of our proud nation and the legacy of the newspaper in sponsoring the award,” said Bitove. “We believe this is the best option that will continue to honour our country’s elite athletes.”
Past Winners
2022
Marie-Philip Poulin
HOCKEY
Poulin became the first female hockey player ever to be named Canada’s athlete-of-the-year, and the first winner of the newly-named Northern Star Award. The 31-year-old forward was a four-time Olympian, winning gold three times. In three Olympics (2010, 2014 and 2022) she scored the game-winning goal in the gold medal game. She also scored the game-winning goal for Canada at the 2021 world championships. “Captain Clutch” was named captain of the national team in 2015. As a professional playing for Les Canadiennes de Montreal of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League she won MVP honours three times. Poulin was the 84th winner of the award as Canada’s top athlete.
FINALISTS: Felix Auger-Aliassime (tennis), Brooke Henderson (golf), Cale Makar (hockey), Summer McIntosh (swimming), Brian McKeever (Paralympic skiing)
2022 Committee Members:
Damien Cox (Executive director, Northern Star Award committee), Dave Washburn (Toronto Star sports editors) Phil Bingley and Bob Hepburn (Northern Star steering committee/non-voting), David Amber (Sportsnet), Jennifer Botterill (Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada), Rod Black (broadcaster), Jeff Blair (FAN 590), Stephen Brunt (journalist), Caroline Cameron (Sportsnet), Rosie DiManno (Toronto Star), Sean Fitz-Gerald (The Athletic), Dave Hodge (broadcaster), Ian Mendes (The Athletic), James Duthie (TSN), Kara Wagland (TSN), Kerry Gillespie (Toronto Star), Evans Osmak (Sportsnet), Scott Russell (CBC), Arash Madani (Sportsnet), Willy Palov (Saltwire), Diane Sauve (Radio Canada), Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada), Vicki Hall (Calgary Herald), Hanarayan Singh (Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada), Karin Larsen (CBC), Clare Rustad (soccer broadcaster), Rob Vanstone (Regina Leader-Post), Brian Williams (broadcaster), Steve Simmons (Toronto Star), Hailey Salvian (The Athletic), Scott Stinson (Post Media), Farhan Lalji (TSN), Scott Brown (CP), Kayla Grey (TSN).
2021
Damian Warner
TRACK AND FIELD
Damian Warner became the 83rd winner of the Lou Marsh Trophy, and the last to be named Canada’s athlete-of-the-year with that trophy as the prize. At the age of 31, he won the decathalon at the 2020 Tokyo Games, which were actually held in 2021 because of the COVID pandemic. The native of London, Ontario had previously won gold in the event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, bronze at the 2016 Summer Games and had medaled in three world championships. When he won the gold in 2021, he also set a points record for the decathlon.
FINALISTS: Alphonso Davies (soccer), Andre De Grasse (track and field), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (baseball), Stephanie Labbe (soccer), Connor McDavid (hockey), Maggie McNeil (swimming), Damian Warner.
2021 Committee Members:
Arash Madani (Sportsnet), Brian Williams (TSN), Bruce Arthur (Toronto Star), Caroline Cameron (Sportsnet), Dave Hodge (broadcaster), Dave Naylor (TSN), Evanka Osmak (Sportsnet), Farhan Lalji (TSN), Hailey Salvian (The Athletic), Harnarayan Singh (Sportsnet), Ian Mendes (The Athletic), James Duthie (TSN), Jeff Blair (FAN 590), Kara Wagland (TSN), Karin Larsen (CBC), Kayla Grey (TSN), Kerry Gillespie (Toronto Star), Kristina Rutherford (Sportsnet), Laura Armstrong (Toronto Star), Louis Jean (Sportsnet), Rob Snoek (CBC), Rob Vanstone (Regina Leader-Post), Rod Black (TSN), Rosie DiManno (Toronto Star), Scott Brown (CP), Scott Russell (CBC), Scott Stinson (National Post), Sean Fitz-gerald (The Athletic), Steve Simmons (Toronto Sun), Vicki Hall (Calgary Herald), Waneek Horn-Miller, Dave Washburn (Toronto Star), Damien Cox (Executive director, Lou Marsh voting committee).
2020
Alphonso Davies & Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
SOCCER & FOOTBALL
When the Lou Marsh Trophy was awarded for an 82nd time, it was a most unusual time. For most of 2020, Canada and other nations were locked in the throes of the COVID pandemic, which played havoc with sports competitions around the world. Despite that, Davies managed to star for Bayern Munich that season and became the first Canadian national team player to be part of a Champions League winner. Duvernay-Tardif took a very differnet path. After starting at guard for the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, he chose to step away from the game the following season to do frontline work using his medical training in the fight against COVID. The two athletes ended up in a tie during the Lou Marsh voting, and shared the award.
FINALISTS: Jamal Murray (basketball), Kadeisha Buchanan (soccer), Christine Sinclair (soccer)
2020 Committee Members:
Laura Armstrong (Toronto Star); David Amber (Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada); Bruce Arthur (Toronto Star); Jeff Blair (Sportsnet); Rod Black (TSN); Stephen Brunt (Sportsnet); Caroline Cameron (Sportsnet); Mike Cormack (The Athletic); Rosie DiManno (Toronto Star); James Duthie (TSN); Sean Fitz-Gerald (The Athletic); Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada); Kerry Gillespie (Toronto Star); Kayla Grey (TSN); Vicki Hall; Dave Hodge; Mike Koreen (Canadian Press); Karin Larsen (CBC/Vancouver); Rob Leth (Global); Scott MacArthur (FAN 590 Radio); Arash Madani (Sportsnet); Ian Mendes (TSN Radio); Dave Naylor (TSN); Evanka Osmak (Sportsnet); Scott Russell (CBC); Kristina Rutherford (Sportsnet), Diane Sauve (Radio Canada); Steve Simmons (Toronto Sun); Harnarayan Singh (Hockey Night in Canada/Punjabi); Tara Slone (Sportsnet); Scott Stinson (National Post); Dan Toman (Yahoo Sports Canada); Rob Vanstone (Regina Leader-Post); Kara Wagland (TSN); Dave Washburn (Toronto Star); Brian Williams (TSN); Damien Cox (Executive director, Lou Marsh voting committee).
2019
Bianca Andreescu
TENNIS
Andreescu, 18, came almost out of nowhere to become a major threat on the women’s tennis tour that season, first defeating four top 20 players to win the Indian Wells title in March, her first WTA win. After missing time with injuries, she then defeated Serena Williams to win the Rogers Cup in August, and followed that up by beating Williams to capture the U.S. Open singles title the next month. She was the first Canadian singles player to ever win a Grand Slam title. She was also the first tennis player to ever win the Lou Marsh, and was an unanimous winner.
FINALISTS: Jordan Binnington (hockey), Brooke Henderson (golf), Mike Soroka (baseball), Andre DeGrasse (track and field).
2019 Committee Members:
Dave Hodge (TSN), Brian Williams (TSN), Dan Toman (Yahoo Sports), Rob Leth (Global TV), Steve Simmons (Toronto Sun), Laura Armstrong (Toronto Star), Dave Washburn (Toronto Star), Mike Koreen (CP), Sean Fitz-gerald (The Athletic), Scott Russell (CBC), Kerry Gillespie (Toronto Star), Rosie DiManno (Toronto Star), Kristina Rutherford (Sportsnet), Evanka Osmak (Sportsnet), Caroline Cameron (Sportsnet), Kara Wagland (TSN), Dave Naylor (TSN), Jeff Blair (FAN 590), Damien Cox (Executive director, Lou Marsh voting committee), Mike Cormack (Sportsnet), Arash Madani (Sportsnet), Diane Sauve (Radio Canada), Karin Larsen (CBC), Andrew Paterson (Winnipeg radio).
| Year | Winner | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Mikael Kingsbury | Freestyle Skiing |
| 2017 | Joey Votto | Baseball |
| 2016 | Penny Oleksiak | Swimming |
| 2015 | Carey Price | Hockey |
| 2014 | Kaillie Humphries | Bobsleigh |
| 2013 | Jon Cornish | Football |
| 2012 | Christine Sinclair | Soccer |
| 2011 | Patrick Chan | Figure Skating |
| 2010 | Joey Votto | Baseball |
| 2009 | Sidney Crosby | Hockey |
| 2008 | Chantal Petitclerc | Paralympics |
| 2007 | Sidney Crosby | Hockey |
| 2006 | Cindy Klassen | Speedskating |
| 2005 | Steve Nash | Basketball |
| 2004 | Adam Van Koeverden | Kayaking |
| 2003 | Mike Weir | Golf |
| 2002 | Catriona Lemay Doan | Speedskating |
| 2001 | Jamie Sale & David Pelletier | Figure Skating |
| 2000 | Daniel Igali. | Wrestling |
| 1999 | Caroline Brunet | Kayaking |
| 1998 | Larry Walker | Baseball |
| 1997 | Jacques Villeneuve | Auto Racing |
| 1996 | Donovan Bailey | Track And Field |
| 1995 | Jacques Villeneuve | Auto Racing |
| 1994 | Myriam Bedard | Biathlon |
| 1993 | Mario Lemieux | Hockey |
| 1992 | Mark Tewksbury | Swimming |
| 1991 | Silken Laumann | Rowing |
| 1990 | Kurt Browning | Figure Skating |
| 1989 | Wayne Gretzky | Hockey |
| 1988 | Carolyn Waldo | Syncronized Swimming |
| 1987 | Ben Johnson | Track And Field |
| 1986 | Ben Johnson | Track And Field |
| 1985 | Wayne Gretzky | Hockey |
| 1984 | Gaëtan Boucher | Speed Skating |
| 1983 | Rick Hansen/Wayne Gretzky | Paralympian/Hockey |
| 1982 | Wayne Gretzky. | Hockey |
| 1981 | Susan Nattress | Shooting |
| 1980 | Terry Fox | Marathon Of Hope |
| 1979 | Sandra Post | Golf |
| 1978 | Ken Read/Graham Smith | Skiing/Swimming |
| 1977 | Guy Lafleur | Hockey |
| 1976 | Sandy Hawley | Horse Racing |
| 1975 | Bobby Clarke | Hockey |
| 1974 | Ferguson Jenkins | Baseball |
| 1973 | Sandy Hawley | Horse Racing |
| 1972 | Phil Esposito | Hockey |
| 1971 | Herve Filion | Harness Racing |
| 1970 | Bobby Orr | Hockey |
| 1969 | Russ Jackson | Football |
| 1968 | Nancy Greene | Skiing |
| 1967 | Nancy Greene | Skiing |
| 1966 | Elaine Tanner | Swimming |
| 1965 | Petra Burke | Figure Skating |
| 1964 | George Hungerford, Roger Jackson | Rowing |
| 1963 | Bill Crothers | Track And Field |
| 1962 | Don Jackson | Figure Skating |
| 1961 | Bruce Kidd | Track And Field |
| 1960 | Ann Heggtveit | Skiing |
| 1959 | Barbara Wagner, Bob Paul | Figure Skating |
| 1958 | Lucille Wheeler | Skiing |
| 1957 | Maurice Richard | Hockey |
| 1956 | Marlene Streit | Golf |
| 1955 | Beth Whittall | Swimming |
| 1954 | Marilyn Bell | Swimming |
| 1953 | Doug Hepburn | Weightlifting |
| 1952 | George Généreux | Shooting |
| 1951 | Marlene Streit | Golf |
| 1950 | Bob Mcfarlane | Football, Track And Field |
| 1949 | Cliff Lumsden | Swimming |
| 1948 | Barbara Ann Scott | Figure Skating |
| 1947 | Barbara Ann Scott | Figure Skating |
| 1946 | Joe Krol | Football |
| 1945 | Barbara Ann Scott | Figure Skating |
| 1944 | Not Awarded (World War II) | |
| 1943 | Not Awarded (World War II) | |
| 1942 | Not Awarded (World War II) | |
| 1941 | Theo Dubois | Rowing |
| 1940 | Gerard Cote | Track And Field |
| 1939 | Bob Pirie | Swimming |
| 1938 | Bob Pearce | Rowing |
| 1937 | W. Marshall Cleland | Equestrian |
| 1936 | Phil Edwards | Track And Field |