Leheta named CCAA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year
Jared Leheta of the Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers is the 2019 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Soccer Player of the Year.
Leheta received the award during the All-Canadian Banquet at the 2019 CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship, hosted by Durham College in Oshawa, ON.
“Capping off a considerable season and an incredible run with the Cavaliers, Jared has proven to be an instrumental leader within his team and across his conference,” said Wade Kolmel, CCAA Men’s Soccer Convenor. “Beyond the goals, the coaching experiences and the high-performance opportunities, it has become evident that Jared represents all of the attributes of a CCAA Player of the Year.”
Leheta, a fourth-year forward, led the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) with eight goals in eight regular season games. And, he was instrumental in the Cavaliers playoff run.
After finishing fourth in the regular season with a record of 4-2-2, the upstart Cavaliers eliminated the undefeated Indiens d’Ahuntsic in the semi-finals before downing the Nomades de Montmorency in the final at the RSEQ Championships.
Leheta captained the Cavaliers, who earned the 2019 RSEQ Fairplay Award.
Off the field, he is a respected and humble individual who is well liked by his peers. Throughout his time with the Cavaliers, Leheta has shown tremendous growth as a student-athlete.
“He’s the leader in the room and it’s been well earned,” said Vince Amato, Coordinator of Athletics & Recreation at Champlain Saint-Lambert. “It’s amazing to see someone grow like this over the course of a few years and we’re proud of all that he’s accomplished and looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”
Leheta also plays at the club level with the Longueuil Soccer Club, where he scored eight goals in eight games at the U21 level and was a regular on the backline with their semi-professional team this past season.
He is also an avid Futsal player. In addition, Leheta coaches Futsal at a local high school and has been involved with the Danone’s Nations Cup since 2017.
Other nominees for the CCAA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year award were Shun Takano of the VIU Mariners (Pacific Western Athletic Association), Ben Knight of the Lethbridge Kodiaks (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference), Leaford Allen of the Humber Hawks (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association) and Alex Allison of the UNB Saint John Seawolves (Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association).
CCAA Player of the Year winners receive a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of the CCAA National Championship Awards Banquet.
