2026 ACAC Men's and Women's Futsal Rookies of the Year
Edmonton, AB (March 19, 2026) –
WOMEN'S FUTSAL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, SAIMAA RAWLYK:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Saimaa Rawlyk of the King’s University Women’s Futsal has been selected as the 2026 ACAC Northeast Female Futsal Rookie of the Year.
Saimaa Rawlyk entered the futsal season with no prior experience in the sport and immediately established herself as one of the division’s most complete and influential players. Her defensive awareness and determination consistently denied opposing scoring opportunities, while her composure, creativity, and attacking instinct allowed her to generate dangerous chances at the other end of the court. Saimaa led the division in both goals and total points, scoring seven times and adding an assist. Her ability to influence the rhythm of the game and elevate the performance of those around her made her an invaluable presence throughout the season.
What stands out about Saimaa is her willingness to take risks and embrace new challenges. She consistently seeks out solutions on the court and demonstrates a high level of adaptability in unfamiliar situations. Her ability to receive feedback and immediately translate it into performance made a significant impact on the team’s success this year. Her coachability, work ethic, and commitment to growth make her a player her teammates and coaches can rely on in any moment. Saimaa embodies the qualities every program values, approaching each role with humility, focus, and determination.
A graduate of Charles Spencer High School in Grande Prairie, AB, Saimaa developed a strong athletic foundation through multi-sport participation. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science, successfully balancing the academic demands of her studies with the commitment required to compete at a high level in both soccer and futsal.
This prestigious award will be formally recognized at the 2026 ACAC Women’s Futsal Championship, hosted by Medicine Hat College in Medicine Hat, AB.
MEN'S FUTSAL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, ALEKSA BIJELIC:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Aleksa Bijelic of the Medicine Hat College Rattlers has been selected as the 2026 ACAC Male Futsal Rookie of the Year.
Aleksa is an incredible player who has drawn attention to his game since the outdoor season. His skills translated well to futsal, where he scored 17 goals in only 8 games. With incredibly powerful shots, the Medicine Hat Rattlers forward has become an important piece of the Rattlers' futsal offence.
Damir Omerovic, Medicine Hat College Rattlers Men’s Futsal Head Coach, said, “In his first year with the program, Aleksa has made an immediate and remarkable impact. Finishing as the league’s top scorer in futsal, he quickly established himself as one of our key players and a major contributor to our success this season.
What sets him apart is not only his consistent performances, but also his leadership. Despite being in his first year, he has become one of our team leaders, setting the standard with his work ethic, competitiveness, and professionalism. It has been a pleasure working with Aleksa, and I look forward to seeing him continue to succeed in our program.”
Hailing from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Aleksa Bijelic is in his first year of Business Administration.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2026 ACAC Male Futsal Championship hosted by Medicine Hat College in Medicine Hat, 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