The Rundown - All-Star Week

There are no games this week or for the next few weeks, so this gives me time on The Rundown to explore some other things. If there's one thing that I wish Canada West did, I wish they played an All-Star Game for deserving players who have had themselves great starts to their respective seasons. There would be time to do so after Christmas as all schools are closed, no classes are being taught, and players could congregate in one city for this event. None of the schools would want to pay for this, I'm sure, but it still would be a fun game where the best players could really show off their skills.

Each year prior to the divisional format that we're in this season, I'd choose two teams based on first-half performances. The two teams included the four Alberta-based teams known as "Team Rockies" versus the five remaining teams from BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who were called "Team Surf-and-Turf". Every team was represented with at least one player, and there was always at least one rookie named to each squad. Six forwards, three defenders, and two netminders made up the teams so that there would be three lines of 3-on-3 hockey at this All-Star Extravaganza.

The format will remain the same, but we're reconfigure the player distribution by remaining under the East and West Divisions rather than lumping the four Alberta teams on one side and the remaining five on the other. Players that are chosen won't necessarily be the top scorers, but they will be the players who stood out on each of the teams in this writer's view. In saying that, though, let's look at who I chose for the Canada West All-Star Extravaganza!

• Grace Elliott (UBC) - leads the conference in scoring.
• Aliya Johma (MRU) - leads the Cougars in scoring.
• Brooklyn Anderson (CAL) - leads the Dinos in scoring.
• Olivia Leier (TWU) - leads the Spartans in scoring.
• Chanreet Bassi (UBC) - second on T-Birds in assists and points.
• April Klarenbach (CAL) - leads all rookies in scoring.**
• Summer Fomradas (MRU) - top defender scorer for MRU.
• Kasey Ditner (TWU) - Spartans' top-scoring defender.
• Jaylyn Morris (UBC) - leads all defenders in scoring.
• Kaitlyn Ross (MRU) - second in wins; backbone of MRU team.
• Elise Hugens (UBC) - most wins; .773 win% all-time.

There should be no surprises here as the top three scorers in the conference in Elliott, Bassi, and Jomha all find their way onto this All-Star team. Olivia Leier led Trinity Western up the standings, Brooklyn Anderson leads the Dinos in goals, and April Klarenbach is the top-scoring rookie so far. Each of the defenders spark the offence from the blue line for their teams, and both Ross and Hugens have been nearly unbeatable all season. This squad will have no problem lighting the lamp as it may be one of the most offensively-gifted teams ever assembled with two outstanding goalies to stop pucks.

• Paige Hubbard (REG) - leads the Cougars in scoring.
• Norah Collins (MAN) - leads the Bisons in goals, 2nd-overall.
• Maia Ehmann (ALB) - leads the Pandas in scoring.
• Kori Paterson (MAC) - leads the Griffins in scoring.
• Jayde Cadieux (SAS) - leads the Huskies in scoring.
• Aimee Patrick (MAN) - leads the Bisons in scoring.
• Sara Kazeil (ALB) - top defender scorer for Alberta.
• Kendra Zuchotzki (SAS) - Huskies' top-scoring defender.
• Jules Stokes (REG) - leads all rookie defenders in scoring.**
• Grace Glover (ALB) - the only goalie with a sub-1.00 GAA.
• Natalie Williamson (REG) - 1.10 GAA and a .960 sv%.

While the East team may have less points collectively than the West team, there's no doubt that this team can find the back of the net with regularity as well. Hubbard is tied for fifth-overall with six goals, Collins has been lighting the lamp regularly, Patrick has been good both scoring and setting up goals, and Maia Ehmann has five goals. Paterson has shown good play-making skills with a MacEwan team struggling to score while Cadieux has been solid all season at both ends of the ice. Kazeil, Zuchotzki, and Stokes have been jumping into the offensive side of the game while playing strong defence, and both Glover and Williamson have shut down scorers all season long. This squad would be fun to watch.

Thoughts on these selections? Any you'd change? Personally, there were a handful of players who just missed the cut for various reasons, but they would have been good choices as well. In the end, these are the players I'd send to a Canada West All-Star Extravaganza, and I think that the game and the skills competition would be fun!

Award Winners?

Yes, I'm very aware that there are a few winners of Canada West awards for outstanding seasons, so let's expand that opportunity and name a few players who likely could end up winning NHL Awards with the seasons they're having to this point.

• "Rocket" Richard Trophy: Grace Elliott (UBC). She may be unstoppable at times, but she has only scored two-or-more goals once this season. Her consistent play may fetch her 20 goals this season. She's currently one off her career-best of 13.
• Vezina Trophy: Kaitlyn Ross (ALB). She's second in wins and is top-five for all other major statistics. She has played every meaningful game for Mount Royal, but has allowed less goals and made more saves than her closest competitor.
• Calder Trophy: Jules Stokes (REG). This was the toughest vote for me, but Stokes gets the nod for playing in all situations while being the top-scoring rookie defender.
• Norris Trophy: Jaylyn Morris (UBC). Last season's pick for Rookie of the Year continues her solid play as the top-scoring defender in all situations. She has two GWG this season.
• Jack Adams Trophy: Brandy West-McMaster (REG). Did anyone have Regina at 20 points at the December break? Regina finds ways to record points, and it shows in the standings.
• Hart Trophy: Grace Elliott (UBC). Elliott has been on some kind of tear this season as she's using her size, skating, and hands to decimate opponents. She holds a ten-point lead over second-place in scoring, and it doesn't seem like anyone will close that gap. She has been the best player thus far.

I'll be completely transparent here and say that the Calder Trophy could be won by others as April Klarenbach could have a big second-half if the Dinos find their game again while players like Seanna Price in Manitoba and Dara Thompson with Mount Royal have scored at better rates than any of the rookie leaders. Stokes has helped Regina to a playoff spot with her play, though, and that's the wild card here.

The Vezina Trophy race could be tighter as it's Ross and UBC's Elise Hugens who are neck-and-neck, but Alberta's Grace Glover and Regina's Natalie Williamson need to play more to jump into the conversation while TWU's Kate Fawcett has to win against the better teams to add her name into the debate. Ross has been a difference-maker for Mount Royal, but the January 10 and 11 games against UBC could push Hugens ahead of Ross depending on the results.

Ontario Contenders

Being that the OUA is still airing games for free, it's a lot easier to see these teams play than other conferences. That being said, there are six teams that look like they could challenge for the OUA banner this season. Let's take a look at who's playing well in Ontario.

The Nipissing Lakers hit the December break as the top team in the OUA both in points and statistically. They are tied for most goals-for, they are tied for least goals-against, they have the best goal differential, they have three players with 15-or-more points, they have the top goaltender in terms of GAA, save percentage, and shutouts. Nipissing has won games at the National Championship before, but this might be the best team that head coach Darren Turcotte has assembled to date.

The other team that looks like a serious contender already has a spot at the National Championship booked as the Waterloo Warriors are hosting. Waterloo sits a point back of Nipissing, is second in goal differential, is tied for scoring the most goals in the conference, has balanced scoring, and Kara Mark has the third-best GAA and save percentage. After seeing them in person, Waterloo didn't look as polished as I thought they may be, but one game is hardly a solid sample size. Clearly, they're winning often in their own conference, and they could be a threat to win the Golden Path Trophy.

The Ottawa Gee-Gees are quietly putting together a solid campaign as they have the third-most goals-for and third-best goal differential. They have the conference's top scorer in Arianne Gagnon and four more players with 12-or-more points. Mireille Kingsley gives them solid goaltending with a 1.87 GAA and a .935 save percentage, but Ottawa's losses have come to Toronto, Guelph, Waterloo, and Nipissing - teams they'll have to beat in the playoffs. Ottawa looks like a threat, but they have to beat the good teams as well.

The Guelph Gryphons are among the OUA's best once more, and they're paced by the goaltending of Martina Fedel as she's second in GAA, save percentage, and shutouts. Guelph doesn't score a lot as they're tied for eighth-best goals-for in the 14-team conference, but they are tied for the least goals-against as well. Their goal differential won't wow anyone, and Jamie Magoffin leads the team with nine points - tied for 11th-highest in the conference. Guelph will rely heavily on goaltending as they push for a spot at the National Championship, but that may also be their downfall if they fall behind.

Both Toronto and Windsor are in virtually the same spots in the two divisions, and both have statistically similar numbers. Where they differ is that Windsor's goaltending is significantly better as Rebecca Noble and Chantal Petitclerc split games whereas Toronto's Lyla MacKinnon plays almost every game. The Windsor tandem has better numbers overall comparatively, so they could be better off if defence wins championships. However, Windsor doesn't score a lot either as no player has more than four goals, but that distribution is more balanced than Toronto. The Varsity Blues do have Alli McKeown with seven goals, but things drop off after the Delahey sisters. In short, Toronto and Windsor could challenge, but they seem to be long shots when compared to the four teams above.

Four-Team Conference

The RSEQ still somehow gets two National Championship spots despite only having four teams, so I'll point out how ridiculous it is that a Quebec-based team needs to win one playoff round to go to Nationals. That being said, there's one team who is a lock unless something goes dramatically wrong while two others will battle in their annual playoff series.

Concordia is the class of the four-team circuit as they have an 11-0 record, and only Bishop's seems to be able to give them a competitive game. Bishop's is 0-4 against Concordia, but they did get a point in an overtime loss. However, Concordia appears to be a lock to defend their championship in Kitchener-Waterloo at this point.

Bishop's and Montreal are separated by one point in the standings, but Montreal holds a 2-1-1 edge in the head-to-head with Bishop's. Bishop's can score and have shown that against Concordia whereas Montreal has been blown out by the Stingers in a couple of games. That being said, whatever Montreal does against Bishop's seems to work, so goal differential may be deceiving despite Bishop's have excellent scoring. This playoff series may come down to defence and goaltending, and Bishop's Erika Gagnon holds the statistical edge over the Montreal tandem of Maude Desroches and Élissa Jean.

It would seem that, based on what the RSEQ is giving us, one of Bishop's and Montreal will join Concordia at Nationals this season unless the McGill Martlets can figure out a way to shock the hockey world and upset the Stingers.

Representing The Country

Congratulations to all the players who were named to the 2025 FISU Team Canada women's hockey team this past week! Canada appears to be taking another powerhouse team to the tournament being held in Torino, Italy, and that could mean a second-straight gold medal finish for the team if they play to their potential.

Specifically, I want to highlight Mount Royal's Aliya Jomha, Alex Spence, and Kaitlyn Ross, UBC's Sophia Gaskell, and Calgary's Sydney Mercier on their selections for the team, and I'll be watching as they look to replicate Canada's success in Lake Placid in 2023. These five players have shown they're among Canada's best, and they often appear here on The Rundown as some of Canada West's top performers week-in and week-out.

We all cheer for the maple leaf, so fans can put team allegiances aside when it comes to cheering on Canada. No matter what colour of medal Canada comes home with, these women should be proud of their selections to represent the country. Cheer them on via FISU.tv as they look to win Canada's second-straight gold medal!

The Path Walked

Next week, I'll have updates on all the former Canada West players who have gone off to play professionally somewhere on the globe. Whether it be here in North America, Sweden, Switzerland, China, Russia, or anywhere else, next week is all about getting caught up with players who walked the path that the current teams are following. If you're wondering where a player landed or how well they may be doing with their new team, I'll have that update next week here on The Rundown! Don't miss this one!

The Last Word

I don't have much for this one other than I hope exams are going well for everyone writing them. I hope the holiday shopping and festivities have been fruitful. And, if you're travelling to get home this month, I hope your travels are safe and efficient so get as much time to spend with the people you love.

We're ten days from Christmas, so be merry, give everyone a little more benefit of the doubt, and smile often. Most of all, enjoy the break in whatever form it takes for you, and we'll reconvene next week for another installment of The Rundown!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!