Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
This is the third of three features on the inductees into the MacEwan Griffins' 2025 Wall of Distinction class, who will be celebrated at the department's annual Awards Gala on Saturday.
WEDNESDAY: Jordan Steinke, curling (2011-15)
THURSDAY: Áine Humble, badminton (1987-89)
TODAY: Megan Wood, basketball (2012-16)
EDMONTON – If not for a twist of fate, the entire post-secondary basketball career of Megan Wood – MacEwan's all-time leading scorer – might never have happened.
All 1,504 points in four seasons – 237 more than second-place in 50 years of Griffins women's basketball – would have been alternate history if she'd stayed on the path she first embarked on after graduating from Jasper Place high school in 2011.
She was a Red Deer College volleyball player in her first year of post-secondary eligibility.
"I grew up playing both volleyball and basketball and really did love them both," said Wood, who will be inducted into the Griffins Wall of Distinction on Saturday during the MacEwan Athletics Awards Gala. "I played club volleyball and was on Team Alberta volleyball for two or three summers. I really enjoyed basketball, but at that point of my life I was really committed to volleyball. I thought that's what I wanted to do."
But, while playing for the Queens, she took a basketball class at RDC and realized how much she missed the sport.
That's when she e-mailed then-Griffins women's basketball coach Rob Poole.
"It was funny," recalled Wood. "I said to Rob, I haven't played basketball in over a year, I don't know if you know who I am.' So, I came to an ID camp and after the camp, he said, 'yes, we have a spot for you. If you want to come, we'd love to have you.' "
It turned out to be a fortuitous decision by the former coach, who retired following the 2014-15 campaign after six seasons at the helm of the Griffins. Little did he know it at the time, but he just landed the best player in program history out of an ID camp tryout.
Over her four-year MacEwan career, Wood not only surpassed Michelle Mackinnon's career record of 1,267 points to become the first Griffin to reach the 1,500-point milestone, she also finished with 593 rebounds – third all-time.
"Really, I just credit my coaches that I had and the teammates I got to play with," said Wood, who was surprised when informed of where her career stats sit in program history. "I was so lucky to play with the girls that I did. We just worked so hard for each other. I always played on teams where we had so many different threats. Maybe if I wasn't able to get it done that night that someone else was going to step up.
"We were able to spread our offence so well that I was able to get those opportunities. I think that was really helpful for me to be able to accomplish that."
Thus, she will join fellow Wall of Distinction inductees Jordan Steinke and Áine Humble in the Griffins' 2025 class to be feted on Saturday.
"I just think it's such an honour to be recognized for this because I truly loved my time at MacEwan," said Wood. "I just thank you guys, I thank Joel (Mrak, Athletic Director) and I really do appreciate being given this award."
Megan Wood puts up a shot against Regina in the Canada West semifinals in 2016, the program's first time in the Final Four tournament (File photo).
Wood has the unique distinction of playing in both MacEwan's ACAC and Canada West eras – two seasons in each. The teams she was on went a combined 65-17 over four seasons and were responsible for two of the biggest moments in MacEwan basketball history.
In the Griffins' final season in the ACAC, they not only won the conference title, but they also claimed a bronze medal at the CCAA national championship.
"We had won ACAC that year, so we were hoping to do well," said Wood of the nationals tournament, held in Montreal. "We lost a tough game early on and we had to come back and win to get into that bronze medal game.
"Those girls worked so hard. We just continued to battle, which I think gave us a great mindset moving into Canada West. We knew that we were the underdogs, and we had some work to do. So, that was a good note to end on as we transitioned into Canada West."
Their 77-53 win over Algonquin College in the 2014 bronze match delivered just the second CCAA medal ever won by a Griffins women's basketball team, following the bronze that the 2001-02 group won.
"In that moment, you weren't thinking about how exciting it was," recalled Wood, who was named to the CCAA tournament first all-star team. "Now, looking back, we were at nationals. It was amazing and I think when we were there, we were in the moment. We were enjoying it, we were excited to be there supporting each other.
"I think having your teammates and family that was there, was very exciting. Being able to come home with a bronze medal and being able to end our chapter in the ACAC with that was really fantastic."
Megan Wood (#9) and her teammates on the 2014-15 Griffins women's basketball team under head coach Rob Poole, top left, were MacEwan's first team in Canada West (File photo).
Now, it was time to prepare for the higher-level Canada West, which the Griffins joined in 2014-15. Surprisingly, the newcomers on the block just kept winning, finishing 16-4. Less than a month into their inaugural Canada West campaign, Wood dropped 34 points on UBC Okanagan – a single game program record that stood for 10 years until it was broken by Noelle Kilbreath (39) in 2024.
"It was a lot different," said Wood of the transition into Canada West. "I think because it's a larger pool of players and you have those schools that have been around for so long with established programs. We were aware of what that transition was going to be, but that first game, we had to be quicker, we had to think faster, and we had to rely on all of our teammates and our coaches on what to do and how to make those adjustments.
"I think that first year was a really good year and we continued to build on that into my last year when we were able to host a playoff game against UVic. One of my standout moments of being at MacEwan would be that UVic game."
Wood led the Griffins to a 17-3 record in 2015-16 with the best points/game average to date by a MacEwan player in a Canada West women's basketball season (18.4), which earned her a spot on the conference's second all-star team.
That allowed them to host Victoria in a Canada West quarter-final and they put the boots to the Vikes, sweeping them in two straight to earn a historic inaugural berth in the conference's Final Four. Although they lost 65-59 to Regina in the semifinals and fell 66-55 to Alberta in the bronze medal game, it's a moment Wood and her teammates will never forget.
"Looking back, one of those standout moments was when we got to host Vic in that playoff game and we won the series," said Wood, whose 34 points in Game 2 remains a Griffins single game playoff record. "Just the excitement of our families and the community, I think people were rallying behind us to do well.
"I think for that group, we had four people graduating that year, including myself. What a way to go out for a program that I absolutely love."
Megan Wood hugs teammate Kendall Lydon after they eliminated the Victoria Vikes and booked their ticket to the Canada West Final Four in 2016 (File photo).
Wood had some of the best players the Griffins have ever had playing alongside her, including all-time program career rebounds and blocks leader Kelly Fagan – a player that sharpened her.
"When I came in, being able to play with Kelly Fagan, she always raised the bar," said Wood. "Getting to play with her and against her in practice, I think she's definitely a very big reason why I was able to put up some big rebounding numbers. But I think that piece of wanting to get after it for the other girls on the floor and being able to do whatever I could in those moments to help out the rest of my team (was big also).
"I knew Kelly Fagan was always going to battle and I was going to go to battle with her. Really, (it was) working as hard as you can because you know the girls around you are doing the exact same."
Wood graduated from MacEwan with an Arts degree and finished up with two more years in the education program at Concordia. She's now six years into a teaching career at Inglewood School, currently instructing Grade 4.
"It has been absolutely amazing," she said. "I could not be happier to be at Inglewood School and be teaching. It is so much fun. I think being able to instill some of the things I'm so passionate about and that I've been able to experience at MacEwan – just my passion for wellness, health and sports has been really fun to bring that into my school and into my classroom. Being a part of kids discovering and learning new things is why I love this profession."
And her connection to nearby MacEwan where she starred on the basketball court for four years remains intact. She regularly has Griffins student-athletes come into her classroom for Read-In Week.
"MacEwan has done a fantastic job of supporting me as an alumnus," she said. "We had the men's soccer team come out and run a skills clinic last year one day. I've had MacEwan hockey players come help tie skates when we at the Community Arena.
"I think that connection has been really cool to share with my kids because MacEwan is such a big part of who I am and how I got to where I am."
In a light-hearted moment following a Griffins playoff game in 2016, Megan Wood, right, shares a laugh with women's volleyball player Michelle Bodnarek (File photo).
Now, she will forever be remembered for her contributions to Griffins Athletics with a spot in the Wall of Distinction.
"Looking back and thinking about the teammates that I had and the coaches," she said when asked about her favourite memories. "I was lucky enough to play for Rob Poole for a few years and then in my last year I played for Dave Oldham. I think the coaches, coaching staff and everyone involved stands out to me. They made my experience just phenomenal. I think that the players and the girls that I'm still friends with stand out.
"Of course, the basketball was the highlight of me being at MacEwan."
