MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Ryan Benn is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after leading the Griffins men's hockey team to a sweep over Briercrest in their final regular season weekend.
Benn, most notably, scored the overtime-winning goal on Saturday that clinched a first-round playoff bye for the Griffins.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Kyrelle Skoye of the women's hockey team and third star Brittany Costa of the women's soccer team.
All three have previously been named to the Three Stars list earlier this season – Benn (third star on Nov. 14), Skoye (third star on Jan. 9) and Costa (first star on Oct. 31).
1st star: Ryan Benn, F, men's hockey
Spruce Grove, AB, fifth-year, Communications
Playing in the final regular season game of his five-year ACAC career on Saturday, the Griffins' all-time leading scorer scored the overtime game-winning goal that gave MacEwan a 2-1 win over Briercrest.
Benn took a stretch pass from Austin Yaremchuk and beat hot Clippers goaltender Dan Dekoning on a slick deke with just 0.5 seconds showing on the clock.
The result allowed the Griffins to clinch the ACAC's ever-important No. 2 seed, which carries with it a first-round playoff bye.
Benn also factored prominently into MacEwan's 7-1 win over the Clippers on Friday, recording a goal and an assist. His tally came while short-handed and was another nice move while alone in front of Dekoning.
For the season, the Griffins captain finished fourth in team scoring with eight goals and 25 points in 28 games.
2nd star: Kyrelle Skoye, D, women's hockey
St. Albert, AB, second-year, Science
Skoye continued to build off a terrific second half of the season by leading the Griffins to a 2-0 sweep over the Olds College Broncos in the first round of the playoffs.
The defenceman scored the game-winner in both contests – a 6-0 victory at home on Thursday and a 4-2 win at Olds on Saturday.
She also added an assist in Game 1, was a rock defensively for a team that allowed just 29 total shots against in both tilts and played a key role on both special teams units.
With a three-point weekend, Skoye shares the team's playoff scoring lead with Amanda Murray, Chantal Ricker, Shyla Jans and Raven Beazer.
Skoye and the Griffins will open the best-of-five ACAC Championship final against Red Deer College on Thursday (7 p.m., Downtown Community Arena).
Kyrelle Skoye scored game-winning goals in both of MacEwan's victories over Olds in their first-round playoff sweep (Matthew Jacula photo).
3rd star: Brittany Costa, M, women's soccer
Delta, BC, first-year, Science
The first-year midfielder led the Griffins in tackles and aerial battles during a Reading Week trip to the Netherlands.
Costa logged big minutes and was a midfield general as MacEwan upset semi-pro Ajax affiliate Ter Leede 3-2 before battling hard in losses to top Dutch pro sides ADO Den Haag (4-1) and PEC Zwolle (1-0).
Costa's success rate in connecting passes, combined with her intensity and battle were big reasons why the Griffins held their own against higher-level teams.
During the 2017 Canada West season, Costa had three goals – all game-winners – and five points in 13 games, and was named to the conference All Rookie team.
Brittany Costa, right, in action against UNBC in the fall season, led the Griffins to some solid results on a Reading Week exhibition tour of Holland (Chris Piggott photo).
