Your 2020-21 Grant MacEwan Griffins

Today, we take a look at one of the new kids on the block who were supposed to start in Canada West women's hockey this season, but that debut has, of course, been delayed until September. The Grant MacEwan Griffins come in as one of the best ACAC teams to have ever been assembled and were on their way to what appeared to be a fourth-straight ACAC championship when the pandemic shut down their playoff final series. We saw Mount Royal follow this path into Canada West as a dominant ACAC team before finding out that Canada West is a whole other level of hockey, and it will up to head coach Lindsay McAlpine to have her squad ready. Having been both a Canada West and a CIS national champion herself, Lindsay will likely have her team in the right mindset, but can the Griffins come in and shock western Canada with an inspired run to the playoffs or more?

In having the biggest roster I've ever seen for a Canada West team, I can assure you that the lineup posted above is entirely wrong. Lindsay McAlpine knows her team far better than I do, and I will assume that she would look at this lineup and cringe. That's ok, though, because she's the head coach of the Griffins and I am not. In saying that, the video-game version of the Griffins allows you to see all 30 players MacEwan was planning on skating in 2020-21.

From everything I've been able to gather on the MacEwan Griffins, they're going to come in with zero fear of any team in Canada West and play like they have nothing to lose. They have solid scorers, good depth by default because their roster is a small army, and a variety of goaltending styles from which to choose. Lindsay McAlpine's biggest challenge, it seems, is how to get all of these players some ice time while not seeing a drop-off in scoring or defence. If I am concerned, the blue line that the Griffins would have used this season is a little low on experience at the Canada West level when it comes to the speed at which the games are played, and that may be their Achilles heel until they adjust when games finally take place.

It will remain to be seen which of the seven senior players return for 2021-22 as scoring threats Chantal Ricker, Breanna Golosky, and Jill MacWilliam are among those players. There could be significant holes left if these players choose to move on rather than return for their fifth years of eligibility, but the Griffins are building for the future as well with former Ottawa GeeGees scorer Makenna Schuttler, former Pronghorns Mila Verbicky and Sage Sansregret, and ACAC holdovers Shyla Kirwer and Jayme Doyle providing good options. Natalie Bender and Brianna Sank look like a very talented goaltending tandem, and both Courtney Beierbach and Brooke Fawcett can easily step in if required.

Here are the 30 players who would have played in the Griffins' inaugural Canada West season in hockey card form. As you'll note, there are a pile of players who have no in-game action shots. I find it hard to believe with all the hockey these women have played in their lives, there aren't more images of them than less, but c'est la vie. Here's hoping we get to see them in action in real life come September when more action shots can be captured of these players.

2020-21 Grant MacEwan Griffins Women's Hockey Team

Will the MacEwan Griffins win Canada West in their first year in the conference in 2021-22? That seems very unlikely given the quality of the competition, but this team seems determined not let anyone push them around as they determine their finish. If they can be a thorn in the sides of a few teams, the Griffins will likely find themselves in a playoff spot sooner than later, and that bodes well for the future of the program. They should be able to light the lamp regularly depending on who plays in 2021-22, but it's a whole new world for the Griffins starting in September. Will they be ready for Canada West? Maybe the bigger question is will Canada West be ready for the Griffins?

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!