2026 ACAC Badminton Players of the Year
Edmonton, AB (February 20, 2026) –
FEMALE BADMINTON PLAYER OF THE YEAR, MELISSA ROQUE:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Melissa Roque of The King’s University has been selected as the 2025/2026 ACAC Female Badminton Player of the Year.
Melissa, is in her second year at King’s as a Bachelor of Science student. Not only did Melissa receive Female Rookie of the year in her first year, but this is now the second year that she has been awarded the Female Badminton Player of the year. Melissa is the first King’s athlete to receive this honour.
Roque’s outstanding work ethic helped her to go undefeated in singles during the regular season, winning a number of very close matches and demonstrating her experience on the court. In mixed doubles, with her partner Mahdi Ahmadi, the team of two showed why they were national champions last year in this event by winning the final two interlock tournaments, after a second place finish in the first tournament.
Overall, Roque is a well rounded athlete whose playing style is both fierce and poised. She has great tactical knowledge of the game, as well as the ability to execute winning shots when required. Beyond the court, Roque is an honour student and is passionate about growing the sport by coaching at various camps and clinics.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2025-2026 ACAC Badminton Championship hosted by The King’s University in Edmonton Alberta .
MALE BADMINTON PLAYER OF THE YEAR, MAHDI AHMADI:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Mahdi Ahmadi of The King’s University has been selected as the 2025/2026 ACAC Male Badminton Player of the Year.
Mahdi Ahmadi is a third year Bachelor of Commerce student whose home country is Iran. Already a two-time recipient of this prestigious award, Mahdi has made King’s history by receiving the Male Badminton Player of the Year for the third year in a row!
Throughout the season, Mahdi went undefeated in singles and dominated mixed doubles with his partner, Melissa Roque. Having won gold at CCAA nationals in his first two years at King’s, Mahdi is looking forward to making another run at this title!
On the court, he is a fierce competitor whose passion and competitive drive always helps him to stay composed and play his best even when the pressure is the greatest. Beyond his personal achievements in badminton, Mahdi is a natural leader who is always encouraging teammates and helping them to train at the highest possible level. His years of experience and dedication to the sport make him an invaluable member of the Eagles team.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2025/2026 ACAC Badminton Championship hosted by The King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta .
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Emily Peterson, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
emilyp@acac.ab.ca