At the completion of the 2016-17 season, 117 of the 315 University of Manitoba student-athletes qualified for U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status by maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (80%) or better in their field of study at the University of Manitoba. This is the seventh consecutive season that 85 or more Bison student-athletes have achieved this national recognition.

In addition, the accomplishment of 117 Bison student-athletes on the U SPORTS academic list represents the most-ever in one season (previous record was in 2015-16 season at 104).  

The total of 117 Bison Sport student-athletes earning U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian represents 36.5% of all Bison Sport student-athletes (315) to achieve this national recognition in the past year. The overall percentage of Bison student-athletes named as U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians has been at 20% or higher over the last 13 consecutive years and also the seventh consecutive year at 25% or higher rate.

Some major academic Bison highlights include: three Bison student-athlete to achieve this U SPORTS recognition in all five varsity years – Yash Rawal of men's swimming plus Josette Jensen and Tamara Paetsch from women's track and field.

In addition, 13 other Bison student-athletes receive this U SPORTS award for the fourth time – football player Geoff Gray, men's golfer Derek Solman, women's swimmer Ruth Ormiston, men's swimmer Jan Freihammer, women's cross country/track and field Janessa Klatt and Rebekah Sass, men's cross country/track and field student-athletes Patrique Bulloch, Mathieu Desmarais, Josh Dyck, Timothy Miller plus men's track and field Steven Bairos-Novak, Joseph Lo and women's volleyball Sarah Klassen.

There were also 26 Bison student-athletes who are now three-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians plus an additional 28 Bisons who have achieved this feat for a second time.

"I want to congratulate our 117 Academic All-Canadians! This is a new record for Bison Sports and we are so proud of our student-athletes' achievements," stated Director of Athletics and Recreation Gene Muller. "Becoming an U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian is the result of sustained discipline and application. They thoroughly deserve this accolade."

Selected highlights from the 2016-17 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian Bison list
-    Bison female athletes account for 56% (65 of 117) of this year's list, highlighted by women's cross country/track and field with seven of 11 (64%) and women's hockey with 15 of 24 players (63%); while men's cross country/track and field with eight of 10 (80%) and men's swimming with six of 12 (50%) for highest percentage of male athletes per team
-    Both track and field teams (combined with cross country) had the highest number of Academic All-Canadians with 47 (T&F: 32 and T&F plus cross country: 15)
-    Nine of the Bison teams had at least six or more Academic All-Canadians
-    For the sixth consecutive season, football had four or more Academic All-Canadians
-    There was 21 Bisons earning Academic All-Canadian status while studying at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
-    There were 39 Bison student-athletes (34% of whole Bison total) who earned a 4.0 or higher mark (an A - 90%)
-    Since Academic All-Canadians stats taken in 1990, 1,657 Bisons earned this award


2016-17 University of Manitoba Bisons U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians:
Women's Basketball
Keziah Brothers
Nicole Konieczny
Tianna Mighty
Rebecca Potter

Men's Basketball
Keenan Benarroch
Dharmjit Dhillon
James Wagner

Football
Derek Dufault
Tyler Fong
Geoff Gray
Evinn Lyons-Keely

Men's Golf
Avery Livingston
Bobby McNair
Derek Solman
Steve Young

Women's Hockey  
Alexandra Anderson
Jenai Buchanan
Nicole Carswell
Venla Hovi
Rachel Dyck
Lauryn Keen
Taryn Kokesch
Erin Kucheravy
Megan Neduzak
Courtlyn Oswald
Sheridan Oswald
Erica Rieder
Alanna Sharman
Amanda Schubert
Jordyn Zacharias

Men's Hockey
Lee Christensen
Jordan DePape
Hudson Friesen
Remi Laurencelle
Justin Paulic
Joel Schreyer
Dasan Sydora
Nick Zajac

Women's Soccer
Martie Arran
Chelsea Dubiel
Shaylyn Dyck
Britt MacSween
Bruna Mavignier
Jamie Newall
Camille Plett
Sara Schur
Alanna Shaw
Hayley Ward
Amanda Wong

Women's Swimming
Haley McKay
Ruth Ormiston
Victoria Tess
Kayln Wigston

Men's Swimming
Drew Cochrane
Jan Freihammer
Max Freihammer
Anthony Iliouchetchev
Nick Noonan
Yash Rawal

Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Nicole Balzer
Janessa Klatt
Sarah Millns
Rebekah Sass
Taylor Sprague
Erin Tramley
Janine Zajac

Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Patrique Bulloch
Mathieu Desmarais
Quinn Desrochers
Conrad Drover
Josh Dyck
Daniel Heschuk
Deric Kornelson
Timothy Miller

Women's Track & Field  
Courtney Allary
Shayna Giesbrecht
Bryarre Gudmunson
Jessica Gundrum
Josette Jensen
Sophia Mbabaali
Yvette Morgan
Foluke Ogungbemi
Tamara Paetsch
Tarina Ready
Danielle Saj
Amy Todoruk
Tamara Toews
Tegan Turner
Jade Viela
Erin White
Manzah Yankey

Men's Track & Field
Steven Bairos-Novak
Jamie Dumaran
Adam Gundrum
Eric Guy
Darian Hole
Stefan Hreno
Andrew Lawler
Bradley Ledrew
Joseph Lo
Tapiwa Matare
Chris Moskal
Gee-ef Nkwonta
Jean-Luc Perron
Matthew Van Schepdael
Carter Wilson

Women's Volleyball
Josie Abbott
Kearley Abbott
Allison Alcock
Sydney Booker
Haille Bujan
Caleigh Dobie
Sarah Klassen

Men's Volleyball
Adam DeJonckheere
Evan Jackson
Dustin Spiring
Scott Vercaigne