Three Stars: Baskerville, Simard, Kurjata earn honours

Ryan Baskerville had two goals and four points in the ACAC Championship series against NAIT, most memorably scoring the golden goal that sealed a third-straight title for the Griffins (Matthew Jacula photo).

Posted: Mar 26, 2019

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Men's hockey student-athlete Ryan Baskerville is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week for his performance in leading the Griffins to their third-straight ACAC Championship.

The fifth-year graduating senior went out on top, scoring the golden goal in double overtime in the final game of his university career on Saturday night that sealed a third-straight ACAC Championship for the MacEwan Griffins.

Other athletes recognized on the final three stars list of the 2018-19 season include second star Ashton Simard and third star Andie Kurjata of the MacEwan women's curling team.

This is the first time during the season that Baskerville and Kurjata have been recognized, while Simard is being honoured for the fourth time, having also earned second star on Nov. 27 and first star on both Jan. 29 and Feb. 26.

1^st star: Ryan Baskerville, F, men's hockey

Edmonton, AB, fifth-year, Commerce

The final goal of Baskerville's five-year university career will also be his most memorable as it clinched a third-straight ACAC Championship for the MacEwan Griffins.

On Saturday, Baskerville beat NAIT goalie Brenden Jensen with 9:01 left in the second overtime period to give MacEwan a 5-4 win over the NAIT Ooks and kick off a wild celebration at the Downtown Community Arena.

He also scored MacEwan's third goal of the game – a key tally in their incredible rally back from 4-0 down in the contest – and added an assist.

Altogether, he led the Griffins with four points in the two-game championship series, also adding an assist in MacEwan's 5-2 win in Game 1 on Friday at NAIT Arena.

For his efforts, Baskerville – who led the Griffins with seven points in five playoffs games – was named ACAC playoff MVP. It's a stellar closing act to his Griffins hockey career.

2^nd star: Ashton Simard, women's curling

Chauvin, AB, fourth-year, Commerce

Displaying masterful poise, shot-making and strategy, the MacEwan Griffins women's skip led her rink to a silver medal at the CCAA curling national championship in Fredericton, N.B. last Tuesday.

It's the best finish by a MacEwan women's rink in program history.

At the CCAA curling awards banquet on Tuesday night, Simard was named the tournament's all-star skip, leading all curlers at the event in shooting percentage with a sizzling 81 per cent in the round robin.

Teammates Erin Wells and Andie Kurjata were named as the bonspiel's all-star third and second, respectively, repeating MacEwan's run at the ACAC Championship awards table.

At the nationals, Simard led the Griffins to a 6-1 round robin record, qualifying for the playoffs in first place. Included in that was a 8-3 dismantling of defending national champion Fanshawe. The Griffins defeated UAlberta-Augustana 8-7 in the semifinals before losing 9-7 to Douglas College in the gold medal game.

Ashton Simard receives her awards for being the all-star skip at the CCAA national curling championship (CCAA photo).

3^rd star: Andie Kurjata, women's curling

Meadow Lake, SK, fourth-year, Arts

Only teammate Ashton Simard had a better curling percentage among all players who met the minimum playing time standard at the CCAA national championship than Kurjata.

Hitting at a 77 per cent accuracy rate in helping the Griffins finish atop the round-robin standings at 6-1, Kurjata was a big reason why MacEwan posted the best finish in program history last Tuesday – a CCAA silver medal.

At last Tuesday night's CCAA banquet, she was named the tournament's all-star second.

A big honourable mention for the third star goes to the rink's third, Erin Wells, who also won a CCAA all-star award at the third position after curling at 73 per cent during the round-robin – top five among all curlers at the bonspiel. It's the second-straight season that Wells has been named a CCAA all-star.