The votes are in! Patrick Chan Celebrated as Sportsnet’s 2011 Canadian Athlete of the Year

- World figure skating gold medallist dethrones three-time defending champ Georges St-Pierre -

- Sportsnet donates $5,000 to ThinkFirst, Chan’s charity of choice -

TORONTO (Dec. 8, 2011) – Figure skating sensation Patrick Chan has been voted Sportsnet’s 2011 Canadian Athlete of the Year.

The selection of Sportsnet’s ninth annual Canadian Athlete of the Year was made through a combination of fan voting on sportsnet.ca and deliberation by a panel of contributors from Sportsnet TV, radio, web and magazine.

This past year, Chan made international headlines by capturing the gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in Russia, where he achieved record marks in the short and free skate. Chan also delivered on home ice, winning his fourth consecutive Canadian title.

“It’s kind of a dream,” said Chan, in an exclusive interview with sportsnet.ca. “I always watch Sportsnet back home, and to think I’m the best is amazing. I’m with the big guys right now."

The Toronto resident captured the title previously held for three consecutive years by UFC’s Georges St-Pierre. Other nominees this year included shotputter Dylan Armstrong, soccer star Christine Sinclair, NHL MVP Corey Perry and Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto.

In honour of the win, Sportsnet is donating $5,000 to ThinkFirst, Chan’s charity of choice. ThinkFirst is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of brain and spinal cord injuries.

Chan celebrates his win across all Sportsnet platforms:

Sportsnet Connected

Chan joins anchor Hazel Mae in-studio tonight @ 6 p.m ET/3 p.m. PT on Sportsnet East and Sportsnet Ontario to discuss winning the title and what’s to expect from the champion skater in 2012.

Sportsnet 590 The FAN

Chan joins Bob McCown on Prime Time Sports this afternoon at 4 p.m. ET to discuss the victory.

Sportsnet magazine

In the latest edition of Sportsnet, Chan speaks to senior writer Ryan Dixon about coming back from a disappointing finish at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to win gold at this year’s World Figure Skating Championships.

sportsnet.ca

Online, fans can read an exclusive story, including Chan’s initial reaction to winning the award. The announcement of the award kicks off the launch of sportsnet.ca’s End-of-Year poll questions. Voting begins today for the Biggest Underachiever, Worst Haircut, Best Big-Moment Player, and many more.

About Sportsnet

Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Sportsnet is Fuelled By Fans, and delivers storytelling on a local, regional, national and global level. The multiplatform brand consists of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and the Sportsnet iPad app. Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in NHL and MLB television broadcasts and is home to 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series. Sportsnet is an official broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, the Memorial Cup, and soccer programming with UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League, MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Canadian national team matches for men and women. Sportsnet Connected is the network’s nightly news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.

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