Hard work and dedication came to fruition for athletes of the North as the Sport North Federation announced their 2020 awards Friday. 

Thirteen were named winners of categories recognizing coaches, corporations, and athletes ranging from 14 to over 55 years old. 

In announcing the recipients, Sport North communications officer Whitney Weaver acknowledged SA国际影视传媒渁ll Northern athletes have been showing dedication and resilience in the face of adversity this year.SA国际影视传媒�

She said training can be challenging at the best of times, and the obstacles overcome throughout 2020 have especially highlighted the athletes that SA国际影视传媒渓ove the sport theySA国际影视传媒檙e in.SA国际影视传媒�

The Sport North awards, first launched in 1977, continue to grow each year to showcase the coaches, referees, and athletes themselves that contribute to Northern sports. 

This year, the organization renamed the Junior Female athlete of the year award to the Robin Mercer-Sproule Award.

Sproule, who died earlier this year, was induced in the NWT sport hall of fame in 2018. She represented the NWT in the Arctic Winter Games in figure skating, basketball, broomball, hockey, and volleyball.

SA国际影视传媒淲e believe (Sproule) was a very big contributor to sports in the North, so we wanted to honour her memory,SA国际影视传媒� Weaver said. Speed-skater Wren Acorn is the first to receive the award in SprouleSA国际影视传媒檚 name.

SA国际影视传媒淲e believe sheSA国际影视传媒檚 a good representative of what Robin Sproule believed in and how dedicated she was,SA国际影视传媒� Weaver said. 

The 2020 winners of the Sport North awards are as follows:

Youth Male athlete of the year: Nikki Gohil - Tennis

Youth Female athlete of the year: Emma Carey - Hockey

Junior Male athlete of the year: Josh Boudreau - Speedskating Special Olympics

Robin Mercer-Sproule Junior Female athlete of the year: Wren Acorn - Speed Skating

Senior Male athlete of the year: Devin Madsen - Squash

Senior Female athlete of the year: Shona Barbour - Curling

Team: Team Koe - Curling

Coach: Mario Desforges - Judo

Dennis Crane Memorial - Official of the Year Award: Rob Johnson - Softball

Delma Kisoun Community Contributor: Chuck Lirette - Biathlon

Ruth Inch - Contributor to Sport: Desiree Gautreau - Gymnastics

Corporate Contributor: CorothersSA国际影视传媒� Home Building Centre - Owner Charles Corothers

Active for Life: Bernie Bennett - Tennis