Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – In one of their most complete efforts since joining Canada West in 2021, the Griffins fed the visiting Mount Royal Cougars a little bit of their own medicine – relentless, speedy time-and-space killing hockey – in a dominant 3-1 victory on Friday.
MacEwan rode another strong effort from Eric Ward (27 saves on 28 shots) to their first home win of 2025-26 to get back to .500 in the standings at 2-2-1. MRU falls to 2-3-0.
"I was really impressed," said Griffins head coach Zack Dailey. "I don't think we gave them a lot of time or space. I think we did a great job of competing the whole game.
"In other situations, we've had really good starts and kind of tailed off as the game went on. I thought our play throughout was pretty darn solid and we just stuck to what was making us successful. I was really happy with the effort tonight."
Ward followed up a 38/40-save effort against Alberta last Saturday with another gem, where he didn't face as many breakaways as that one and wasn't asked to steal it, but still needed to be sharp against the nationally-ranked Cougars.
"He was solid again," said Dailey. "He gave us a chance to win. He made some great saves when we needed him. Really impressed with his calm and poise in the net. He made a lot of those saves look easy even though I know they weren't."
Kadyn Chabot, who last week became the program's career Canada West goals leader, set the tone 7:48 into the game with the type of goal one scores through pure hard work. He opened the scoring when he picked the pocket of an MRU defender on a short-handed forecheck and rifled it five-hole past rookie goaltender Ethan Buenaventura.
"They were just a little slow (moving the puck) and I just got a couple good sticks and put it five hole," said Chabot of his third of the season and 23rd of his career, which extended his new program goals record after passing Ethan Strang (21) last Saturday against Alberta.
"It feels good," he added of now holding the mark. "Just trying to do as much as I can. Stranger was a good player. Love that guy. But it's good."
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 18, 2025
Shorty alert!
Kadyn Chabot picks a pocket and laces it five-hole to open the scoring for the @MacEwanGriffins vs. @MRUCougars midway through the first.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/Y4pSHA0xjX
Dailey noted he's challenged Chabot, who leads the Griffins with four points in five games this season, to step up and lead the charge both with and without the puck.
"One thing I talked to him about was just the added leadership role with some of those fifth-year guys graduating," he said. "Even though he's not wearing a letter, he's looked upon by our group to lead by example. I've been super impressed by his play away from the puck. His play with the puck is (well known). He's a great player. He makes plays, he scores goals. But I've been super impressed with his overall game.
"He's been out last minute, he's killing penalties, as well as doing well on the powerplay. Super proud of him and great to see him get rewarded. He's been really good for us so far."
Ethan Sundar scored what would stand up as the game-winner in the second period, breaking the powerplay goose-egg the Griffins have pitched so far this season when he finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play by wiring a hot shot past Buenaventura.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 18, 2025
Tic-tac-toe
Ethan Sundar with the finishing blast on a great passing play!
The snipe gives the @MacEwanGriffins their first PPG of the season and a 2-0 lead over @MRUCougars in the second period.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/bm5fWbVSFk
"I actually didn't like our powerplay to start the day, but as it went on, it got going and clicked," said Dailey. "It created a lot of energy for our group. We had sustained zone time, we had a lot of chances. The goal was a bit of scramble play, but I thought overall our powerplay looked a lot better and created a lot of chances tonight."
NCAA transfer Brett Bamber got in on the scoring fun, netting his first as a Griffin with 5:07 remaining when he wired a point blast in through traffic.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 18, 2025
Brett Bamber has his first as a Griffin on a point blast through traffic that puts @MacEwanGriffins up 3-0 late in the third!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/7wqOH2bV2o
MRU pulled Buenaventura with 3:04 left to create a two-man advantage with 21 seconds left on a powerplay. It paid off just as the PP expired when Remy Aquilon golfed a one-time pass from Connor Bouchard past Ward with 2:43 remaining to spoil his shutout bid.
They poured on more pressure to try and draw closer, but the Griffins didn't yield.
"It was probably our first game where we actually played a full 60," said Chabot. "Ward was kicking it, so that always helps. Everyone was grinding. We played our game."
The teams will meet again on Saturday in Calgary (5 p.m., Canada West TV).