Alyssa Tran, Mischief Womens

Alyssa has developed her game through four years of Elevate camps, playing with Churchill’s Junior A team, and captaining Mischief Women’s. As captain, she leads through the respect she shows everyone on the field. Her teammates look up to her, and her nominations describe how they follow her example in their own conduct.

Throughout the summer, Alyssa shook hands with opponents after every point, regardless of which team had scored. That simple, consistent gesture helped set a tone of mutual respect for teammates and opponents alike. She received multiple spirit awards during the season, and her coach strongly endorsed her nomination. Through her actions and leadership, Alyssa makes Spirit of the Game part of her team’s everyday approach to ultimate.
 

Levi Jeske, Vortex Womens

Levi began playing ultimate in 2011 and took on his first coaching role with Vortex Open just a year later. He played with both the Vancouver Nighthawks and Riptide, along with Blackfish, DNA, Fable, and Super Dumplings. In 2023, he became head coach of Vortex Women’s, helping them earn bronze at CUC that year. He has since continued coaching with Vortex, spent a season with Vintage, and coached Blind Buddies this past summer.

Levi brings all that experience to a coaching approach centred on each player’s development. He creates space for athletes to ask questions, make mistakes, and build confidence, while making sure everyone has meaningful opportunities to play. He’s earned the trust and respect of his players, who know they can approach him with concerns or personal challenges. His care and practical support help create a team where athletes encourage one another and feel they belong.

We heard about one of his players that had considered leaving the sport, and Levi’s support became a turning point. She grew more confident in her decisions, took on a leadership role by playoffs, and committed to continuing with university ultimate.

That is the lasting value of Levi’s mentorship. Through his patience, preparation, and personal investment, he helps young athletes see what they are capable of—and gives them reasons to keep playing.
 

John Carpenter, Misfit Ultimate Club

John’s connection to youth ultimate began as a player. He came through every level of the Misfit program, from Rolling Thunder to Eclipse, and has played for Point Grey, UBC, Oni, and, most recently, Mola this past summer.

Today, he gives back to the community that helped him develop. As a coach with Misfit Women’s, John helped guide the team to win the Spirit Award at this year’s CUC. He also helped Point Grey’s win the junior division at Reign Invite this year. Through Vancouver skill camps in the fall and winter, John creates opportunities for young athletes to keep learning, developing, and connecting with the sport throughout the year.

Across those settings, he brings a passion for making ultimate both fun and challenging. He encourages athletes to play creatively, explore what they can do, and build confidence through the experience. That approach gives young players room to develop their skills while enjoying the process of becoming better.

Having experienced the pathway from junior programs to university and club ultimate himself, John now helps create those opportunities for others. His work reaches across school teams, club programs, and seasonal camps, strengthening the connections that support our youth community.

Dylan Bateman, Prism

Dylan started playing frisbee in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, which is the Plains Cree name for Edmonton, in 2016. A year later, Dylan joined us here, in the unceded, ancestral, and ongoing territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations.

They’ve played mixed club since 2019 and competed at beach club worlds with Sandy Sea Squirts. Beach remains their favourite form of ultimate. Dylan is also a co-founder of Prism Ultimate Club, where they’ve been a captain and player since 2024. As a queer-led team committed to gender equity in mixed ultimate, Prism reflects the values Dylan works to advance in our community.

That work extends well beyond their team. Dylan is a key member of our EDI committee, led a Queer Frisbee Day camp in August, and will be presenting on inclusion in our sport at this year’s Ultimate Canada conference.

Their nomination highlights the welcoming space Prism has created, bringing together competitive play and a strong commitment to team spirit. At tournaments, the team takes time to speak about its values, extending that conversation to the people they play against. Through their leadership, Dylan helps put inclusion into practice: in how a team competes, how players support one another, and how new people find their place in the sport.

Jamie Vanden Broek, Drive

Jamie began playing ultimate in 2018, joining several VUL teams before finding her way to Drive in 2022. She became captain in 2024 and continues to play with the team, as well as in our women-matching and summer leagues.

Through Drive, Jamie helps women-matching players take the step from recreational ultimate into club competition. Her teammates describe a place where players can learn, make mistakes, and build confidence, knowing they will be supported. Keeping that opportunity available takes considerable work. Jamie manages field bookings, practices, tournament logistics, and the ongoing challenge of finding enough players to compete. Even while taking more than a year away from playing to recover from an injury, she continued as captain and kept supporting the team.

This year, those efforts helped Drive reach the Canadian Ultimate Championships for the first time. For its developing players, that meant the opportunity to compete on a national stage.

Jamie’s influence is also reflected in the people stepping up alongside her. Her co-captain credits Jamie’s example with inspiring her to pursue a leadership role and give back to the team.

Through her persistence and care, Jamie has helped others find both a pathway into competitive ultimate and a community where they belong.

Amy Li

Amy has been playing ultimate for 15 years, so she may be a familiar face to many of you. In the past year alone, she’s played on Panic with the Disco, Absolute Zeroes, Macho Sidewinders, and Big Huck Hunters. At the club level, she’s played with Wendigo, Mola, and Rewind. Across all her teams, she has brought dedication, generosity, and a strong sense of community to the VUL. Her teammates are quick to describe her as a player who leads by example and makes everyone feel welcome.

As assistant captain of Absolute Zeroes, she supports new players as they learn the rules and develop their skills. She brings a calm voice to difficult calls, checks on players after collisions, and celebrates good play on both sides of the field.

There was one story from her nomination that stood out to us: When an opposing team was short of women-matching players, she volunteered to join them for the entire game, helping ensure everyone could play.

She continues to challenge herself as a player while encouraging those around her—and her teammates’ words make clear how much that support means to them. Through these acts of care, encouragement, and inclusion, she embodies the spirit of this award. 

Mina Chu

Mina began playing ultimate at Killarney Secondary in 2014 and went on to play with Vortex in the summer. Since joining our adult leagues in 2023, she’s brought her enthusiasm to Tiff Tiff, Disc-oordinated, and Unfits. Across her teams, Mina is known for her energy, encouragement, and commitment to Spirit of the Game. She welcomes new players and encourages women-matching players to take on key game roles.

Throughout her nominations, her teammates applauded her unique ability to bring people together—even on opposing teams, and even when the competition was intense. One teammate recalled a game that went all the way to universe point. With the game on the line, Mina helped keep the atmosphere positive. Players from both teams were laughing together, recording each other’s highlights, and celebrating great plays on both sides.

That commitment to community continues off the field. Mina organizes team activities, creates videos, and puts together team swag, helping teammates build friendships and share their love of ultimate. Her teammates describe Mina as someone who makes them want to play, improve, and enjoy the game together. Through her generosity and enthusiasm, Mina helps create the sense of belonging that makes our community special.