Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – After a bye weekend, the Griffins men's hockey team is back ready to build upon their performance against the top team in Canada West.
Earlier this month, they earned a weekend split against the Alberta Golden Bears, handing their cross-town rivals just their fourth loss of the season when they won against them at Clare Drake on Jan. 3.
If anything, it's proven when the Griffins are playing the right way, they can challenge anybody in Canada West. That's a vein of belief that they'll need to tap into this weekend as they head into a home-and-home series against the second-best team in the conference, the 15-5-0 Mount Royal Cougars.
"Absolutely, it certainly does," responded head coach Zack Dailey on if the result against Alberta gave them confidence they can hang with top teams. "That's something we've talked about these last couple of weeks is just the consistency piece. When we're on top of our game and playing some good hockey, we can compete and be in games with any team.
"Our problem so far this season is just the inconsistency we've shown. Our goal is to try to play good hockey consistently."
The Griffins basketball teams will also be at home this weekend, welcoming the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
MEN'S HOCKEY
On Tap
Friday: at Mount Royal, 7 p.m., Canada West TV
Saturday: vs. Mount Royal, 5 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV
Last meeting
Feb. 17, 2024: MacEwan 4 at Mount Royal 6 (Canada West quarter-final)
Last game
Jan. 4: Alberta 5 at MacEwan 2
Jan. 11: Mount Royal 2 at UBC 5
2024-25 records
MacEwan (8-8-2): 3rd, East Division
Mount Royal (15-5-0): 1st, West Division
Zack Dailey's coach's quote
"It's always a good test against these guys. They're obviously a good team – look at the standings this year. They skate extremely well, they are structured and well coached, so it's a great test for us. We like these tests as we get down the stretch. We get to compare our game and see where we're at. Hopefully we're trending in the right direction and playing some very good hockey before playoffs."
Players to watch
MacEwan: Ethan Sundar – The talented rookie forward is on a tear of late with three goals and seven points in his last five games with the Griffins, stretching back to the first semester. He was named MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week on Jan. 6 after his three-point game helped the Griffins knock off the Alberta Golden Bears on Jan. 3.
Mount Royal: Clay Hanus – He's the Canada West leading scorer … and he's a defenceman. The former Portland Winterhawks captain is in the midst of an incredible season for the Cougars with 11 goals and 31 points in 20 games so far. It should come as no surprise as Hanus won the Canada's West top defenceman award last season and was named to the first all-star team.
Notable
This will be the first meeting between the rivals since they faced off in the opening round of the Canada West playoffs last season. MRU won the best-of-three quarter-final series 2-0.
Sarah Burnell looks for a rebound against Regina last weekend. She'll lead the Griffins into action against Lethbridge on Friday and Saturday (Sydney Wszolek photo).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
On Tap
Friday: vs. Lethbridge, 5 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV
Saturday: vs. Lethbridge, 3 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV
Last meeting
Jan. 20, 2024: Lethbridge 75 at MacEwan 41
Last game
Jan. 11: MacEwan 34 at Regina 70
Jan. 11: Alberta 75 at Lethbridge 51
2024-25 records
MacEwan (0-10): 10th Prairie Division
Lethbridge (4-6): T7th Prairie Division
Katherine Adams' coach's quote
"I think Lethbridge is a very well-rounded team. They have a lot of people who can score, and score in different ways, so it's going to take a solid defensive effort across the board for us to compete and be in a game with them for two nights.
"The girls that we have healthy are competing hard and are really showing some great growth and responding well to being in some new roles. That's a great thing for us, so when we do get those people back in the lineup, it's going to make us more versatile and increase our depth."
Players to watch
MacEwan: Sarah Burnell – The fourth-year forward battled an injury that limited her minutes in the first semester, but in just her second game of the season where she played over 20 minutes last Friday at Regina, she nearly delivered a double double with 12 points and nine rebounds. She seems primed to reach new heights in the second semester.
Lethbridge: Courtnee McKee – The 5-foot-9 guard cracked the 2024 Canada West All-Rookie team and is continuing to get better this season, currently second on the Pronghorns in scoring by averaging 11.0 points/game.
