UNB's Katie Butts and Saint Mary's Ben Allison named East Coast Lifestyle AUS Athletes of the Week
Butts shines in two-win weekend for the REDS, Allison leads Huskies to three straight victories
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Katie Butts
University: University of New Brunswick
Sport: Women’s Basketball
Position: Forward
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
Year of eligibility: Fifth
Academic program: BA
Katie Butts from the UNB REDS women’s basketball team is the East Coast Lifestyle AUS Athlete of the Week for the week ending Jan. 11, 2026.
A fifth-year forward from Ottawa, Ont., Butts led the REDS to two weekend wins over the Cape Breton CAPERS.
In Friday’s 102-27 win, Butts scored 19 points and grabbed 20 rebounds and registered two steals and a block, earning Player of the Game honours.
On Saturday, in UNB’s 100-52 win, Butts scored another 20 points, pulled down nine rebounds, handed out five assists, and made three blocks.
With the weekend sweep, the REDS became the first team to clinch an AUS playoff spot. The 2026 Bell AUS Basketball Championships will be held Feb. 20 to 22 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Ben Allison
University: Saint Mary’s University
Sport: Men’s Hockey
Position: Forward
Hometown: Halifax, N.S.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: Commerce
Ben Allison from the Saint Mary’s Huskies men’s hockey team has been named the East Coast Lifestyle AUS Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending Jan. 11, 2026.
A third-year forward from Halifax, N.S., Allison has played a crucial part in three straight Saint Mary’s victories to kick off 2026.
In the Huskies’ 7-5 win over the Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday, Jan. 3, Allison scored a goal, added two assists, and recorded six shots on goal and a +3 plus/minus rating.
In the Huskies 3-2 shootout win over the STFX X-Men on Wednesday, Jan. 7, Allison scored the shootout-winning goal, added an assist and eight shots on goal.
In the Huskies’ 9-5 win over the Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday, Jan. 10, Allison scored a goal, added two assists, and recorded three shots on goal and a +3 plus/minus rating.
Through 20 games played this season, Allison has recorded 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists), tied with teammate Reid Valade for the U SPORTS lead.
Currently third in the AUS standings with a 12-6-0-2 record, Saint Mary’s has already clinched a spot in the conference playoffs. They will also play host to the 2026 U SPORTS U Cup national men’s hockey championship March 19 to 22 in Halifax, N.S.
Throughout the 2025-26 season, each East Coast Lifestyle AUS Athlete of the Week will receive a $50 ECL gift card and a signed certificate, courtesy of East Coast Lifestyle and Atlantic University Sport.