The Best of Canada's Thrilling 2015 Year in Sports

The 2015 sports year was an unmitigated success for Canada, full of defining moments and magnificent feats. New stars burst onto the scene, returning ones continued to excel, and the country's only Major League Baseball team had an exhilarating season—its most successful in over two decades.

From Canadian-born stars to stars playing on Canadian-based teams, and excelling as the host country at the Pan Am Games, Canadians had a lot to smile about this year.

We took a look at the top athletes and biggest events that shaped Canadian sport in 2015.

A picture that's worth a thousand words. A where-were-you moment. A sequence that will live on forever. It was the ultimate. Jose Bautista's home run and ensuing epic bat flip in Game 5 of the ALDS is far and wide the lasting image of 2015.

Toronto, the perennial-losing sports city, witnessed two of its biggest stars capture MVP awards.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson, who swatted 43 homers and helped power Toronto to a division title, won the second MVP award in Blue Jays history. Acquired in an offseason deal with the Athletics, Donaldson's first season couldn't have gone any better. He set a career high with a .939 OPS, was selected to his second consecutive All-Star Game, and won the Hank Aaron Award, given to the league's top hitter.

Not to be outdone, Toronto FC striker Sebastian Giovinco took MLS by storm, putting together one of the greatest seasons in league history in his first year in North America following a move from Juventus.

Giovinco set a single-season club record for goals, and became the first MLS player with a 20-goal, 10-assist season. The All-Star's sensational and jaw-dropping play helped Toronto FC reach the postseason for the first time in club history.

As good as those two were, they didn't collect as much hardware as Carey Price. The Montreal Canadiens goalie won four major NHL awards, including the Hart Trophy (MVP) and Vezina (top goalie). He also won the Lou Marsh Award, given annually to Canada's top athlete.

Price led the NHL in wins (44), goals-against average (1.96), and save percentage (.933). His 44 wins set a Canadiens franchise record.

No player exemplifies the rise in Canadian basketball more than Andrew Wiggins. He entered the NBA with more hype than any Canadian before him and sky-high expectations, but the 2014 No. 1 overall pick hasn't disappointed.

The highlight-reel 20-year-old, fast approaching superstardom, became the first Canadian to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award. He recently became the sixth-youngest player in NBA history to 2,000 career points. He's Canada's best player, tasked with anchoring a now-promising national program which will need him to lead the charge in order to secure a 2016 Olympic berth in Rio. Canada has the talent to make some noise on the international stage in the coming years, and no player will be as vital to its success as Wiggins.

How's this for some perspective: Brooke Henderson was at work, golfing, when her classmates crossed stage at their high school graduation. The 18-year-old received her diploma on the golf course, and her dedication to the sport has paid off. Henderson became the third-youngest LPGA Tour winner in history when she captured the Cambia Portland Classic by eight strokes in August, as a 17-year-old. It marked the first time a Canadian had won an LPGA Tour event since Lorie Kane back in 2001.

Henderson capped her triumphant year by being named the Canadian Press female athlete of the year. She'll begin 2016 as one of Canada's most intriguing Olympic athletes heading into Rio, playing a sport that returns to the big stage for the first time in over 100 years.

Canada put on a great showing at the Pan Am Games, securing 78 golds and 217 total medals, both ranking second only to the United States. Many signature moments occurred, but some certainly stood out from the rest.

If you're looking for feel-good stories, it would be hard to top the McClintock siblings, Whitney and Jason, who both medalled in waterskiing. Whitney took home two golds and two silvers, while Jason won a silver. Or how about Emily Overholt, who was disqualified for an illegal turn in the women's 400-metre individual medley before setting a new Pan Am record a day later with a golden performance in the 400-metre freestyle.

In terms of domination, Andre De Grasse made his presence felt in 2015. He set a Canadian and Pan Am record with his 19.88 second gold medal-winning 200-metre performance. He also won the marquee 100-metre race. His sensational year also included first-place finishes in the 100 and 200-metre events at the NCAA championship, and a bronze at the world track and field championship.

It wasn't just individual performances that took the spotlight. The men's baseball team triumphantly won a wild, winner-take-all game over the United States to secure gold on home soil. Canada won its second straight Pan Am gold after Cuba had previously won the tournament ten consecutive times.

And there was also Kia Nurse, sitting above perhaps everyone else.

Nurse, raised in a highly athletic family, had a sensational 2015 year that began with her winning an NCAA title during her freshman year at UConn.

She then starred on the Canadian women's basketball team at the Pan Ams. Nurse scored 33 points in a dominant finals showing against the United States to propel Canada to its first-ever gold in women's basketball. Shortly after, she helped Canada secure an Olympic berth by winning the FIBA Americas Women's Championship, where she was named MVP of the tournament.

*Kadeisha Buchanan, 20, was the Canadian women's soccer player of the year, was an all-star at the Women's World Cup, and captured the event's young player award. She's also a finalist for the NCAA's MAC Hermann Award, given to the top women's player.

*While the Raptors' season ended in disappointing fashion, Toronto won its second consecutive Atlantic Division title, and Kyle Lowry started the NBA All-Star Game.

*Hockey phenom Connor McDavid had a monster 2015. After helping Canada win gold at the world juniors, he was named the OHL MVP and CHL player of the year. McDavid, the OHL playoff MVP, was then selected first overall by the Oilers in the NHL draft.

*Alex Anthopoulos revamped the Blue Jays with a flurry of stunning moves to help the team reach the postseason for the first time since 1993. Toronto's former general manager was named the Sporting News' executive of the year, and hauled in a number of Canadian-specific awards.

*Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin inked the richest free-agent contract in team history, and months later was representing the American League in his fourth career All-Star Game.

*Reds first baseman Joey Votto finished third in MVP voting after hitting .314/.459/.541 with a major league-best 143 walks.