Lesage and Joqueviel MVPs

Cédric Joqueviel (5) and Nicolas Lesage (12)

Nicolas Lesage and Cédric Joqueviel received the MVP award from the CSL and the Attak, respectively. Three other players were also honoured by the Attak: Alex Surprenant, Jean-Louis Bessé and François Boivin.

Many Attak players were in nomination at the league's annual awards banquet: Nicolas Lesage and Boubacar Coulibaly (MVP); Cédric Joqueviel (Defender of the year); Alex Surprenant (Rookie of the year); Jon Paul Piques (Goalkeeper of the year); as well as Marc Dos Santos as Coach of the year.

Lesage, who had already received the top goalscorer award following the championship final won by Toronto Croatia over Serbian White Eagles, also received the MVP award.

"I have said it in the past and I say it again: soccer is a team sport and I could not have won those honours without good players around me", says Lesage.

As a team, the Attak won the league's Fair play award.

Summary of the 2007 CSL champions and league's honours:

-Playoffs champions: Toronto Croatia
-National division title: St. Catharines Wolves
-International division title: Serbian White Eagles
-Open Canada Cup champions: Attak de Trois-Rivières
-MVP: Nicolas Lesage (Attak de Trois-Rivières)
-Top goalscorer: Nicolas Lesage (Attak de Trois-Rivières)
-Rookie of the year: Tihomir Maletic (Toronto Croatia)
-Defender of the year: Domagoj Sain (Toronto Croatia)
-Coach of the year: James McGillivray (St. Catharines Wolves)
-Goalkeeper of the year: Claudio Perri (St. Catharines Wolves)
-Fair Play: Attak de Trois-Rivières

The Attak also honoured some of its players during the team's gala.

French defender Cédric Joqueviel was named the team's MVP.

"Cédric made playing in central defence look easy, he will likely get the chance to play at a higher level", says Marc Dos Santos.

Alex Surprenant, 18, received the most promising player award as a U23 player. Surprenant was a key figure in the Attak's back four, having both defensive and offensive duties.

"Even if he was the youngest player, Alex was like a veteran player with multiple responsibilities", states Dos Santos. "It says it all…"

The golden boot award went to Nicolas Lesage, who scored 20 goals.

"Nicolas has an eye for the goal and his professionalism is an inspiration for the entire team", says Dos Santos.

François Boivin was rewarded for his hard work and perseverance with the Best team spirit award. Signed as a reserve player and on loan to the Trois-Rivières Sélect at the start of the season, he was on the starting 11 for the last five games.

"I won't lie and say that François was an important member of the team at the start of the season, but he worked hard and got his chance", explains Dos Santos. "This is an example of our mission: to develop young talents."

Jean-Louis Bessé, a native of Ivory Coast, received an award for his involvement in the community.

"This is so important to him that he proposed me two different projects during the season", explains Stéphane Chiarello, GM of the team. "His involvement was crucial."

Finally, the Attak gave a trophy to each player and their match jersey as souvenirs of the Open Canada triumph.

"This triumph was a major achievement and we wanted to give the players a trophy so that they can immortalize it because this was an important moment in their career", says the team president Tony Iannitto.

Summary of the honours:

-MVP: Cédric Joqueviel
-Most promising player: Alex Surprenant
-Golden boot: Nicolas Lesage
-Best teams spirit: François Boivin
-Player most involved in the community: Jean-Louis Bessé

The Attak could also add another honour as the team is in nomination for the QSF elite male team of the year.

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