In yr of standout Canadian athletes, Gilgeous-Alexander hovered above relaxation

As we rumble towards the top of the yr, Canada can credibly declare the perfect athlete in three completely different sports activities.

It’s not usually — if ever — that that’s been the case.

Gilgeous-Alexander received MVP, Finals MVP and led the NBA in scoring; McDavid led the Edmonton Oilers again to the Stanley Cup Last and scored the golden aim for Canada on the 4 Nations Face-Off; and McIntosh received 5 medals — together with 4 golds — on the world championships.

Even much less disputable, nonetheless, is which amongst these three is most deserving of the Northern Star Award, the annual honour for Canadian athlete of the yr that’s voted on by a panel of journalists and might be decided on Tuesday.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s yr was simple. He asserted himself amongst not simply at present’s NBA’s finest however authored one of many biggest single seasons of all time, profitable nearly every part there may be to win as his Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder took residence the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

For perspective, the Hamilton, Ont., product joined a listing solely occupied by Michael Jordan (twice), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal as gamers who’ve accomplished the MVP-Finals MVP-scoring chief trifecta.

As a follow-up, Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder are, oh, simply 23-1 this season and threatening to interrupt the 2016 Golden State Warriors’ 73-win document.

Now, he’ll possible grow to be the tenth athlete to win a number of Northern Star Awards along with his second after additionally claiming the honour in 2023. Solely Wayne Gretzky and determine skater Barbara Ann Scott have received it greater than twice.

Listed below are another candidates for the award — in a nod to their greatness, if nothing else:

The reigning Northern Star winner adopted up her 2024 Olympic breakout by exhibiting she’s solely getting higher. McIntosh went to July’s world championships with the acknowledged aim of matching Michael Phelps’ document of 5 particular person gold medals — then, she almost went out and did it, profitable 4 occasions however settling for bronze in what was billed as a showdown with American star Katie Ledecky within the 800-metre freestyle.

The Toronto native, who remains to be simply 19 (!), additionally broke a startling three world information at June’s nationwide trials.

Much more than SGA, McIntosh is likely to be Canada’s most dominant athlete proper now. If she had matched that Phelps mark by dethroning Ledecky in one in all her finest occasions, it will have made for a captivating case in opposition to the NBA MVP.

As the best hockey participant of his technology, McDavid will in all probability be a candidate for this award for so long as his NHL profession persists.

In 2025, the Newmarket, Ont., native achieved main senior worldwide success for the primary time, main Canada to gold on the 4 Nations Face-Off and scoring the extra time winner within the remaining in opposition to the U.S. It wasn’t fairly Sidney Crosby in 2010, however the 4 Nations reignited the North American rivalry — particularly in opposition to a tense political backdrop — and McDavid supplied the cathartic clincher.

Again within the NHL, his common season was marred by damage, and he put up simply (simply) 100 factors earlier than main his Oilers again to the Stanley Cup Last. However, for the second straight yr, it wasn’t to be.

McDavid’s post-season run, whereas nonetheless robust with seven objectives and 26 factors in 22 video games, wasn’t fairly as transcendental because the season prior when he received the Conn Smythe Trophy in a dropping effort.

Let’s simply handle this head-on: certainly, the Montreal-born slugger is eligible for this award. In 2021, when he completed second to Shohei Ohtani for AL MVP, Guerrero was amongst six finalists who misplaced out to Olympic decathlon champion Damian Warner. So, no, the panel received’t draw back from contemplating him.

Provided that precedent, it’s onerous to not contemplate the Toronto Blue Jays star, who dedicated to Canada’s solely MLB staff for 14 years (and $500 million, in fact) in April, then got here two outs from main it to its first World Collection title in 32 years in October.

Guerrero’s post-season was one for the ages: his eight residence runs broke the franchise playoff document (like, all time — not simply in a single yr), he smashed the Jays’ first-ever playoff grand slam in an ALDS rout of the New York Yankees and he created (with some assist from Large Papi) the jingle that outlined the Blue Jays’ playoff run: Daaaaaaaa Yankees lose!

For the post-season, Guerrero hit .397 with 14 walks to only seven strikeouts. That’s dominance.

If Guerrero’s staff sealed the championship deal, his case — presumably with a World Collection MVP, in addition — would have been a robust one. As an alternative, Miguel Rojas occurred. Ache.

The breakout star of the yr on the WTA Tour, Mboko’s 2025 peaked at residence in July, when she took down Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka to win the Nationwide Financial institution Open offered by Rogers in Montreal.

Mboko, 19, was born within the U.S. however settled in Burlington, Ont., at simply two months previous. She grew to become a sensation together with her victory at residence, however anybody who was paying consideration knew it wasn’t all that shocking: the right-hander bookended her NBO win with 5 lower-level victories within the first three months of the yr and a WTA 250 title in Hong Kong in November. At one level, Mboko rattled off a 22-match win streak.

She completed the yr with a career-high world rating of No. 18 — greater than 300 spots greater from the place she began.

The 2-time main champion didn’t take pleasure in her finest season of outcomes, however one standout efficiency vaulted her onto this record.

Henderson, the 26-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., received her second nationwide title in August at Mississaugua Golf and Nation Membership, outduelling Australia’s Minjee Lee on Sunday with clutch birdies on the 14 and 16 to seize the prize. It marked the Canadian’s first Tour victory since 2023.

The burly first baseman was named the Tip O’Neill Award winner as the highest Canadian baseball participant earlier in December, beating out two-time winner Guerrero.

Naylor, of Mississauga, Ont., grew to become the primary Canadian to hit a house run in opposition to the Blue Jays within the post-season. Within the common season, he joined Larry Walker as the one Canadians with 20 residence runs and 30 steals in a single yr.

He capped off a breakout 2025 by signing a five-year, $92.5-million contract to stay in Seattle. Not too shabby.

Look away, Leafs followers. Protect your eyes, Flames followers. Stroll away now, Oilers followers.

As a result of Bennett, of Holland Touchdown, Ont., loved a surprisingly robust resume at your expense.

Bennett scored the late tying aim in opposition to the U.S. within the 4 Nations remaining. Tremendous, you possibly can handle that. Then, he led the Panthers previous the Leafs and Oilers to their second straight title with 15 objectives in 23 playoff video games, profitable the Conn Smythe within the course of. Yikes.

Love him or hate him, Bennett’s yr was an all-timer.

Homan continued her run of curling dominance — she posted a 75-8 document within the 2024-25 Grand Slam season, however that solely tells a part of the story.

The Ottawa native misplaced simply twice en path to claiming her second straight world title. She didn’t lose in any respect in capturing the nationwide title on the Scotties. Then, she rolled via the Olympic trials, dropping simply as soon as to e-book her ticket to Italy. Her complete document at these occasions? 32-3.

If Homan places collectively one other match like every of these in Cortina, profitable gold and snapping Canada’s 12-year Olympic foursome title drought, she’ll vault up this record one yr from now.