MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Shyla Jans is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after leading the women's hockey team to a sweep over the Olds College Broncos last weekend.
The fourth-year forward scored two goals and added an assist in a pair of wins – 2-1 in a road shootout last Thursday and 4-2 at home on Saturday.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Emma Steele of the women's cross-country team and third star Marc-Olivier Daigle of the men's hockey team.
Both Jans and Daigle are making their first appearances of the 2018-19 season on the three stars list, while Steele is being honoured for the second time, having previously been named second star on Oct. 2.
1st star: Shyla Jans, F, women's hockey
Edmonton, AB, fourth-year, Science
Jans was a difference-maker for the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team in a weekend sweep over Olds College.
Last Thursday in Olds, she scored MacEwan's lone goal in regulation, tying the contest 1-1 with a backhander through goalie Victoria Eilers' legs.
It was the only time the Griffins beat on 41 tries through two overtime periods, but they later won the game in a shootout.
On Saturday in Edmonton, Jans had a goal and an assist as the Griffins won 4-2 to sweep the Broncos. Her goal in the second period stood up as the game-winner after she finished off Carley Jewell's rush into the zone by juking goalie Lexi Bruce and tucking a backhand under the bar.
For the season, Jans is tied for second in the ACAC with four points in four games.
She'll lead the Griffins into a home-and-home series against cross-town rival NAIT this weekend. Friday's game is at the Downtown Community Arena (7 p.m.).
2nd star: Emma Steele, women's cross country
Edmonton, AB, first-year, Arts
Just two weeks after recording a top-10 finish in her university debut (ninth at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Sled Dog Open), Steele repeated the performance at the tougher University of Victoria Invitational on Saturday.
The first-year runner finished ninth amongst a field of 8K university competitors that included Canada West powerhouse teams Victoria, UBC and Trinity Western.
Steele's time of 31:23 was only 18 seconds slower than her time in Saskatoon on a much tougher course in Victoria.
As she continues to get stronger for nationals, set for Kingston, Ont., on Nov. 9-10, Steele next leads the Griffins into the Stewart Cup in Calgary on Oct. 27.
Emma Steele runs to a ninth-place finish at the University of Victoria Invitational on Saturday.
3rd star: Marc-Olivier Daigle, G, men's hockey
Delson, QC, fourth-year, Commerce
The reigning ACAC playoff MVP picked up where he left off last season, recording a sizzling save percentage of .960 in a pair of games against Portage College over the weekend.
He made 48 saves on a combined 50 shots over two nights as the Griffins split with Portage.
On Friday, Daigle made 31 saves, including several point-blank big ones to ensure the Griffins won their home opener handily, 7-1.
Supposed to back up Ryan Larochelle on the bench in Saturday's contest, plans changed when the Griffins gave up three goals on five shots in the first period. Daigle played the final 46:02 of the contest, allowing just one goal against on 18 shots in what turned out to be a 4-3 defeat.
Daigle will lead the Griffins (3-1-0-0) into a series against SAIT this weekend. Saturday's game is at the Downtown Community Arena (6 p.m.).
Marc-Olivier Daigle had a .960 save percentage in a pair of games against Portage over the weekend (Melbourne Disbrow photo).
