The Rundown - Week 10

Officially, we're ten weeks into the season and all nine teams are going on break for the next month as players, coaches, and staff get set for exams, holidays, and travel as many players will be returning to their homes once exams are completed. This week will also see each team officially cross the halfway wark of the season with six teams having played 18 games and three teams sitting at 16 games played. That means every game on the new calendar is that much more important for playoff positioning. Only the Calgary Dinos started their break early as they had the bye leading into December, so let's check out who did what this week on The Rundown!

FRIDAY: We'll start on the west coast where the two BC teams met in a matinee affair in Langley. The UBC Thunderbirds were aiming to wrap up a playoff spot before flipping the calendar to 2026 while the Trinity Western Spartans were looking to close out their 2025 home schedule with a win over their provincial rivals. There was also a chance for more history on the UBC side, and I'll discuss that below!

Thunderbirds goals: Grace Elliott (16), Hanna Perrier (2), Grace Elliott (17)
Thunderbirds assists: Meadow Carman (2), Vanessa Schaefer (8), Annalise Wong (16), Annalise Wong (17), Jaylyn Morris (9)
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (14/16)

Spartans goals: Charlotte Swanton (1), Olivia Leier (1)
Spartans assists: Sadie Isfeld (6), Kyra McDonald (7), Casey Ditner (6)
Spartans netminders: Kate Fawcett (30/33)

Result: 3-2 victory for UBC over Trinity Western.

SATURDAY: Historical moments aside, the fact that UBC clinched a playoff spot already is one of the reasons this divisional format is all kinds of ridiculous. I'm not saying they didn't earn it, but the fact that they played just over half a season and can rest players for the second half of the season if needed is why this divisional mess doesn't work. Nonetheless, good on UBC for taking care of business, but the Spartans were heading to UBC ice to take care of their own business. Which side would enter the break on a winning note?

Spartans goals: none
Spartans assists: none
Spartans netminders: Olivia Davidson (24/27)

Thunderbirds goals: Grace Elliott (17), Hanna Perrier (3), Vanessa Schaefer (5)
Thunderbirds assists: Annalise Wong (18), Audrey Church (2), Jacquelyn Fleming (5), Meadow Carman (3), Grace Elliott (7), Mia Bierd (3)
Thunderbirds netminder: Mya Lucifora (14/14)

Result: 3-0 victory for UBC over Trinity Western.

FRIDAY: We jump to the next interprovincial matchup as the U Prairie Challenge had another chapter added to its history. The Regina Cougars headed north to Saskatoon where the Saskatchewan Huskies waited, and these two squads were wanting to take points off one another to grab a better hold on a playoff spot while pushing their opponents further down the standings in the East Division!

Cougars goals: none
Cougars assists: none
Cougars netminder: Natalie Williamson (27/30)

Huskies goals: Shelby Williamson (2), Kaysah Nurani (2), Kahlen Wisener (4)
Huskies assists: McKenna Bolger (6), Avery Gottselig (3), Paris Oleksyn (3), Kara Mitenko (1), Peppi Virtanen (3), Bronwyn Boucher (3)
Huskies netminders: Clara Juca (20/20)

Result: 3-0 victory for Saskatchewan over Regina.

SATURDAY: The flatland Cats came home after a night where they could not solve the Huskies' defence, so they needed a bigger effort on home ice. The Dogs were looking for another solid performance from their squad as the Huskies looked to close out 2025 with a sweep and put some space between themselves and the Cougars. Game Four of the annual U Prairie Challenge went on Saturday night!

Huskies goals: Paris Oleksyn (2)
Huskies assists: Bronwyn Boucher (4), Jacquelyne Chief (4)
Huskies netminders: Colby Wilson (32/32)

Cougars goals: none
Cougars assists: none
Cougars netminder: Amy Swayze (29/30)

Result: 1-0 victory for Saskatchewan over Regina.

FRIDAY: The third interprovincial set of games this weekend was actually an all-Edmonton affair with the MacEwan Griffins making their way to Clare Drake Arena for Friday's game with the Alberta Pandas. The Pandas had a chance to close out 2025 in second-place in the West Division if they played well and got some help while the Griffins were looking to continue their improved play from the last few weeks to put pressure on the teams above them. Both teams wanted points, but would they find them?

Griffins goals: Kali MacDonald (1)
Griffins assists: Jordan Brown (2), Rian Santos (1)
Griffins netminder: Lindsey Johnson (32/35)

Pandas goals: Natalie Kieser (4), Hailey Carothers (3), Riley Smith (1)
Pandas assists: Sara Kazeil (1), Riley Smith (2), Jadynn Morden (4), Riley Smith (3), Abby Soyko (7), Annie King (2)
Pandas netminder: Mackenzie Dojahn (17/18)

Result: 3-1 victory for Alberta over MacEwan.

SATURDAY: The loss on Friday put the Griffins ten points back of the Pandas with ten games to go, so they needed to start winning games if they hoped to make a run at the playoffs. The Pandas were looking to close out 2025 on a high note with a sweep and second-place in the West Division while putting more pressure on MacEwan. Who was going to go home happy from downtown Edmonton?

Pandas goals: Kate Williams (1)
Pandas assists: Kelly Stanford (2), Ryann Perrett (3)
Pandas shootout scorers: Hailey Carothers
Pandas netminder: Grace Glover (14/15) in 65:00 plus 2/4 in the shootout

Griffins goals: Sydney Jack (3)
Griffins assists: none
Griffins shootout scorers: Marley Howes, Allee Isley
Griffins netminder: Taya Currie (27/28) in 65:00 plus 3/4 in the shootout

Result: 2-1 shootout victory for MacEwan over Alberta.

FRIDAY: It wasn't an interprovincial matchup in the fourth series of the weekend, but it may have felt like one with all the Manitobans on the Mount Royal roster while Manitoba has both Jordan Colliton and Lyndsey Janes behind their bench who were with the Cougars last season. These two teams book-end the East Division, so the Bisons were looking to send the mountain Cats home with their tails between their legs while the Cougars were looking to take a bite out of the Bisons and extend their lead over the rest of the division.

Cougars goals: Jerzey Watteyne (6)
Cougars assists: none
Cougars netminder: Scout Anderson (24/26)

Bisons goals: Julia Bird (5), Jessie Haner (1)
Bisons assists: Sara Harbus (3)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (20/21)

Result: 2-1 victory for Manitoba over Mount Royal.

SATURDAY: After winning their first game this season against a Calgary-based team on Friday night, the Bisons were looking to close out the 2025 calendar with a sweep as they could potentially move out of the East Division basement. The Mount Royal Cougars, though, rarely lose back-to-back games, so a strong finish to their 2025 was going to be needed to bring home the split adn two more points. Who would earn the win and go into the break on a festive note?

Cougars goals: Isa McPhee (1), Jerzey Watteyne (7), Ava Metzger (2), Jori Hansen-Young (1)
Cougars assists: Summer Fomradas (6), Sydney Benko (7), Julia Duke (3)
Cougars netminder: Katherine Holan (26/28)

Bisons goals: Norah Collins (3), Sadie Keller (2)
Bisons assists: Julia Bird (2), Alyssa Rasmuson (4), Claire Moorman (2)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (21/24)

Result: 4-2 victory for Mount Royal over Manitoba.

Don't even ask about divisions. I'm not interested in that setup. It's one conference, nine teams, and we'll see who is best in the west.

CANADA WEST WOMEN'S HOCKEY

School	Record	Points	GF	GA	Streak	Next
UBC	16-1-1-0	34	55	15	W4	JANUARY
Mount Royal	9-3-5-1	29	44	25	W1	JANUARY
Calgary	10-4-1-3	25	39	27	L2	JANUARY
Alberta	7-6-0-5	19	37	42	L1	JANUARY
Saskatchewan	5-6-3-2	18	25	31	W2	JANUARY
Trinity Western	3-9-5-1	17	38	39	L5	JANUARY
Regina	3-8-2-3	13	22	35	L6	JANUARY
Manitoba	2-8-2-4	12	26	44	L1	JANUARY
MacEwan	2-12-2-2	10	16	44	W1	JANUARY

Honour Roll

Each week on The Rundown, I highlight the best performances from the weekend's games. It won't always be the top scorer or the best goalie, but I'll have a reason for who gets picked each week. This week's player was one half of the wall put up in Saskatchewan, but her work this season has been sensational including this weekend where she picked up another clean sheet. This week's Honour Roll candidate is Saskatchewan Huskies goaltender Clara Juca!

Having three capable goalies who are ready to roll at any time always means that ice time is less than what everyone wants. Clara has appeared in six games this season, so her time has been limited when it comes to standing in the crease. That being said, she's making the most of those opportunities when she's between the pipes as she has a 3-1-1 record with a pair of shutouts. To date, she's allowed just seven goals on 142 shots for a .951 save percentage, her only loss came against UBC where she stopped 39 of 40 shots, and she's shutout each of the Cougars teams. That's a solid campaign!

Some will say, "Saskatchewan is a defence-first team, though" to which I say "1.30 GAA and a .951 save percentage in 322 minutes of action". In none of her four starts prior to this weekend did she face less than 25 shots, and she stopped all 20 that Regina threw at this weekend. Saskatchewan does play a defence-first system, but they still need good goaltending to win games. Clara Juca has provided that by backstopping the Huskies to seven of ten points in her starts. That includes helping the Huskies open a five-point gap on Regina for the final playoff spot in the East Division this weekend, and that's how Saskatchewan Huskies netminder Clara Juca made the list!

Yet Another Honour

UBC's Grace Elliott continues her assault on the UBC record books as she blew past both Tatiana Rafter and Chanreet Bassi for first-overall in career points in UBC program history. In fact, she's now at a 120 points and counting after scoring three goals and an assist this weekend. She also blew past a former Regina Cougars forward-turned-head-coach in Brandy West-McMaster who had 117 career points in Canada West as she's now climbing past other stars!

Grace now sits alone in 11th-place all-time in Canada West, three points back of former Bisons forward Addie Miles, and five points back of former Pandas teammates Autumn MacDougall and Alex Poznikoff. At this point, it's not a matter of "if", but "when".

UBC starts January in Calgary against Mount Royal before hosting the Calgary Dinos at UBC, so her current pace should see her pass those three players by the end of the fourth game if everything stays the same. Will it? We'll find out, but Grace will be a top-ten scorer in Canada West history before all is said and done. That's a guarantee.

Congratulations again to Grace Elliott, the top scorer in UBC history!

We're Not Done Yet

For those who have been keeping score at home, the last four UBC games have all featured something that no one has seemed to notice. In each of those games, Grace Elliott has scored the game-winning goal, pushing her total this season to ten game-winners. That's a ridiculous number when you consider UBC has played 18 games, but what's even more impressive is that Grace started the season with 13 game-winners to her name. That's how good she's been!

Why is that important? According to the Canada West record book, Grace Elliott is now the most clutch scorer when the game is on the line as she passed Hayley Wickenheiser's total of 20 game-winners a week ago against Saskatchewan when she scored the lone goal of the game in a 1-0 road win. Adding two more goals made it harder for everyone chasing her, and she still has time to add more!

Let's fire up the congratulations machine again as Grace Elliott is your new Canada West game-winning goal record holder!

You're Still Talking About Her

I am because Grace Elliott is also tied with former Manitoba Bisons forward Meghan Ross with 20 career power-play goals, and she's one back of former Bisons forward Tammy Brade, former Huskies forward Danny Stone, and former Pandas forward Autumn MacDougall. She's also five back of UBC's record holder Tatiana Rafter who finished her career with 25 power-play goals and sits in second-place in Canada West history. Again, we're on the verge of witnessing history!

Elliott also has two shorthanded goals this season, pushing her career total to three. That has her one back of the UBC program record held by Mackenzie Kordic and she currently sits tied in UBC history with former Thunderbirds forward Kaitlin Imai. This is another record that could fall before the season closes. Based on all her stats, I don't think it's a stretch at this point to say she might be the best offensive player in UBC history without any exaggeration or debate.

It's All Made Up

Before the U SPORTS National Rankings graphic comes out on Tuesday, I want to remind everyone that the rankings are meaningless. Last year, the third-ranked team at Nationals beat the eighth-ranked team for the National Championship, the top seed lost in the opening round, and the second-seeded team won the bronze medal over the fifth-seeded 2023 National Champions. The rankings did not matter when it came to who was best prepared for their opponents.

Feel free to celebrate if you made the list, but, with no conferences ever having teams meet regularly throughout the season, the algorithm that builds the Elo ranking system is flawed. Last year's seedings at Nationals thanks to the upsets we saw in the conference playoffs blew up the Elo model entirely. The only thing that was predictable was that everything was unpredictable. And it was.

This is your reminder: the rankings are meaningless. Always.

The Last Word

It's time for the "student" part of student-athlete to shine for all of the athletes playing in Canada West and across Canada as conference shut down for exams and the holidays. I implore all student-athletes to study hard, seek help for things one doesn't understand fully, and be ready when exam day arrives. Like hockey games, those who do the work before the game starts often will find success.

The Rundown will be back next week with the first-half All-Star selections, and I want to be clear that my selections are based on my limited capacity for viewing games plus any and all statistical analysis I have. Six forwards, four defenders, and two goaltenders from each division will make up the teams with every team having at least one player on the rosters with one rookie from each conference.

By no means should anyone take my selections as anything more than my own opinion which is worht the same amount as the subscription to this blog. In short, they're like U SPORTS rankings: meaningless!

Enjoy the break, study hard, and we'll see you next week!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!