The VNB Male & Female Athletes of the Year are ideally graduating athletes who participates in our High Performance, Canada Cup, Summer Elite and Canada Games programs. These athletes display something special that seperates them from the others; whether that be athletic ability, passing, defending, scoring, blocking, serving, leadership, being a team player in a positive manner, or sportsmanship.

The Male and Female Coach of the Year are two coaches whose club and/or provincial teams have had significant improvement or success in the past year.

The goal of this award is to recognize athletes in our club system for on-court and off-court contributions to their team, such as, teamwork, team building, works hard, great attitude, inspiring acts of “sportspersonship”. The goal is to raise coach engagement in the nomination process and provides an opportunity for representation from our members who may not aspire to play at a high-performance level.  We all have come across kids in our journeys who we affectionately say, “that kid is the greatest teammate” or “what an amazing kid.” Ideally, this award could be awarded to an athlete from our 15U, 14U or triple ball programs.

The Canada Games Men’s Indoor Team made New Brunswick proud this year with an incredible 5th place finish at the 2025 Summer Canada Games. Their path was nothing short of remarkable, pushing eventual gold medalists Alberta to a fifth set, falling just 15–13, and battling silver medalists Manitoba in a hard-fought four-set match. Before arriving at the Games, they proved themselves on the national stage with a strong 5th place finish at the Canada Cup in St. Catharines. Competing with heart and determination, the boys left us feeling nothing but proud.

This team was two years in the making, built on the foundation of a close-knit group of athletes who had grown up playing together, some since the age of three. Their bond was matched by an incredible work ethic and a relentless drive to improve and succeed. Known for their outstanding ball control, they excelled in serve receive and defense, giving them a gritty, never-die attitude on the national stage. That determination paid off as they proudly represented New Brunswick at the 2025 Canada Games, defeating teams from BC and Nova Scotia along the way. Their efforts earned them an incredible 5th place finish in the country—an achievement that speaks to their talent, teamwork, and heart.

From the very beginning of their season, this group proved they were a force to be reckoned with. Between September and December, they didn’t drop a single set, and when given the chance to step into an older age division, they rose to the challenge—winning the only U18 tournament they could enter. Their success carried into the new year, dominating tournaments in Nova Scotia with the same undefeated record. But it was at Nationals in Edmonton where the pressure was at its highest. With all eyes on them, they carried the weight of expectations with grace, resilience, and maturity well beyond their years. Their goal was to finish 17th—the highest ranking possible—and they did just that, taking down teams like BC 2 and Alberta 4 and 5 along the way.

This past summer, Mila Karatzios and Zoe Arsenault showed what it truly means to balance passion, dedication, and excellence. While training and competing with Team NB Indoor 17U, and attending the All Canadian U15 First Look Camp, they still found time to continue growing as a beach duo. Over the summer, they reached the podium at every single event they entered, earning silver at both VNB Tour stops in the 16U division and gold at Provincials in the 14U division for the second year in a row.Their season was capped with a bronze medal at Nationals in the U14 Tier 1 division—an incredible leap forward after finishing fifth in Tier 2 the year prior. Congratulations to Mila and Zoe on an unforgettable season!

We are proud to recognize Patti-Jo Cormier as our Volunteer of the Year. Patti-Jo is the Vice President of the Bathurst Volleyball Club and the driving force behind its revival after years of inactivity. In 2023, she took it upon herself to rebuild the club—not for recognition, but to create opportunities for young athletes in her community. Growing from the ground up, the club has now grown into a thriving program with multiple age divisions, and plans to expand even further. Through her vision and perseverance, Patti-Jo has reignited Bathurst’s proud volleyball tradition and created a welcoming, sustainable space for youth to grow and thrive.

Her passion, dedication, and tireless work have not only rebuilt a club but have also rebuilt a community’s connection to the sport we all love. For all of these reasons, we are honoured to recognize Patti-Jo Cormier as our Volunteer of the Year.

We proudly present the VNB Referee of the Year award to Baylee Stockford, recognizing her exceptional dedication, professionalism, and excellence in volleyball officiating across Canada. This past season, Baylee earned her National Badge certification (Level 4) at the U18 Volleyball Canada Nationals in Edmonton and officiated the Men’s bronze medal match at the Canada Games in Newfoundland. Her leadership, strong work ethic, and passion make her a role model. Baylee, your hard work and commitment to excellence are an inspiration to all referees.