The Rundown - Week 12

There were all sorts of playoff implications in the games featured this weekend in Canada West as eight teams looked to strengthen their chances for playoff spots and the related benefits that come with those playoff berths. The only team who wasn't participating was the MacEwan Griffins, and they needed a few teams to help them out by beating the teams they were chasing. Some teams will only have six games remaining on their schedule after this week, so the push for points has to be now if teams are going to make a run. Let's find out who made that push for points this week on The Rundown!

FRIDAY: The Trinity Western Spartans headed out to the flat land of Manitoba to meet the Bisons in a two-game set where both teams had playoff aspirations that required points. Trinity Western was looking to maintain their hold on second-place in the West Division while Manitoba was looking to overtake Saskatchewan and grab a playoff spot in the East Division for the first time this season. Both teams came into the weekend having won their last two games, so someone was going to be on the wrong side of the ledger after Friday night.

Spartans goals: Chayce Kullman (2), Presleigh Giesbrecht (5), Kailey Ledoux (3), Kasey Ditner (1), Kyra McDonald (8)
Spartans assists: Emily Karpan (5), Kyra Anderson (3), Michela Naccarato (1), Kyra McDonald (9), Ella Boon (8), Chloe Reid (9)
Spartans netminders: Kate Fawcett (26/30) in 64:30

Bisons goals: Sophia Anderson (1), Dana Goertzen (4), Louise Fergusson (1), Aimee Patrick (7)
Bisons assists: Julia Bird (4), Hanna Bailey (4), Claire Moorman (4), Kelsey Huibers (1), Dana Goertzen (6), Aimee Patrick (7), Dana Goertzen (7), Sophia Anderson (3)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (29/34) in 64:30

Result: 5-4 overtime victory for Trinity Western over Manitoba.

SATURDAY: I'm pretty sure that Manitoba wasn't pleased with surrendering a three-goal lead on home ice before salvaging a point, so it was expected that the Bisons would come into Saturday's game with a more focused defensive effort. Trinity Western was looking for the full four-point effort as they looked to carry the comeback effort forward in this game. If this is going to be one of the playoff series this season, fans should be excited for another chapter in this battle!

Spartans goals: Michela Naccarato (1)
Spartans assists: Chloe Reid (10), Kasey Ditner (7)
Spartans netminders: Olivia Davidson (19/23)

Bisons goals: Aimee Patrick (8), Dana Goertzen (5), Sophia Heidinger (1), Norah Collins (5)
Bisons assists: Sara Harbus (5), Claire Moorman (5), Aimee Patrick (8), Sara Harbus (6), Sara Harbus (7), Alyssa Rasmuson (7)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (23/24)

Result: 4-1 victory for Manitoba over Trinity Western.

FRIDAY: The Mount Royal Cougars went northeast to Saskatoon where the Saskatchewan Huskies were hosting their two-game set, and this would be the second time that the Cougars and Huskies had met in the last two weeks. The exhibition game they played saw the Cougars prevail by a 1-0 score as the Cougars looked to put more distance between themselves and Calgary this weekend with wins. The Huskies were looking to get back into the win column after dropping a pair of games to Manitoba as they looked to hold onto their playoff spot.

Cougars goals: Kaia Borbandy (2), Julia Duke (7), Isa MacPhee (2)
Cougars assists: Jordyn Hutt (3), Summer Fomradas (9), Kaia Borbandy (4), Kiana McNinch (8)
Cougars netminder: Scout Anderson (10/12) in 60:43

Huskies goals: Jaiyana Nurani (1), Shelby Williamson (3)
Huskies assists: Kahlen Wisener (4), Jessica Anderson (1), Kahlen Wisener (5), Paris Oleksyn (4)
Huskies netminders: Colby Wilson (28/31)

Result: 3-2 overtime victory for Mount Royal over Saskatchewan.

SATURDAY: After an emotionally-charged game on Friday that featured Saskatchewan's outstanding Play For A Cure jerseys where they raised funds to battle breast cancer, the Cougars and Huskies were back at it on Saturday with both teams still seeking points. The Cougars were needing to add more points in order to secure first-place in the East Division while the Huskies were aiming to end their three-game skid that has opened their 2026 calendar.

Cougars goals: Allee Gerrard (9), Kiana McNinch (5), Sydney Benko (9), Breanne Comte (1), Jerzey Watteyne (9)
Cougars assists: Summer Fomradas (10), Allee Gerrard (6), Breanne Comte (6), Allee Gerrard (7), Keyana Bert (4), Julia Duke (4), Ava Metzger (3)
Cougars netminder: Katherine Holan (20/21)

Huskies goals: Sara Kendall (3)
Huskies assists: Jaiyana Nurani (3)
Huskies netminders: Colby Wilson (42/47)

Result: 5-1 victory for Mount Royal over Saskatchewan.

FRIDAY: The Alberta Pandas collected their gear and went southwest to visit the Regina Cougars this weekend. The Pandas were looking for points in an effort to overtake the Trinity Western Spartans whereas the Cougars were needing points to stay in the race in the East Division. Alberta could also put a gulf of space between them and MacEwan, so both teams were playing with a purpose this weekend. Would either make a dent in their quests to secure a playoff spot?

Pandas goals: Natalie Kieser (5)
Pandas assists: Jadynn Morden (5), Abby Soyko (8)
Pandas netminder: Mackenzie Dojahn (10/10) in 62:19

Cougars goals: none
Cougars assists: none
Cougars netminder: Natalie Williamson (50/51)

Result: 1-0 overtime victory for Alberta over Regina.

SATURDAY: Both teams grabbed points on Friday, and they returned to the rink with the same goal omn Saturday. Regina needed a two-point effort if they were going to close the gap on the teams ahead of them while Alberta was looking to close the gap between them and the Spartans while having two games in-hand. Regina had to get more pucks to the net if they wanted those two points while Alberta was hoping not to get goalied in a second game. Who'd grab the points?

Pandas goals: Riley Smith (2), Riley Smith (3)
Pandas assists: Annie King (3), Natalie Kieser (6), Natalie Kieser (7), Hailey Carothers (3)
Pandas shootout scorers: none
Pandas netminder: Grace Glover (31/33) in 65:00 plus 1/2 in the shootout

Cougars goals: Rayna Hennie (2), Maggie Kate Fitzpatrick (1)
Cougars assists: Maggie Kate Fitzpatrick (2), Brooke Fofonoff (2)
Cougars shootout scorers: Jordyn Blais
Cougars netminder: Amy Swayze (23/25) in 65:00 plus 3/3 in the shootout

Result: 3-2 shootout victory for Regina over Alberta.

FRIDAY: In what could potentially be a Canada West semifinal preview, the Calgary Dinos headed to Vancouver where the UBC Thunderbirds were waiting. UBC knew they were headed to the playoffs, so they were looking to send a message to the upstart Dinos. Calgary was looking to prove that UBC wasn't all that invincible. Calgary has had UBC's number on occasion in past seasons, so would we see another Dinos victory against the Thunderbirds?

Dinos goals: Brooklin Fry (1)
Dinos assists: Brooklyn Anderson (5), Evelyn Lawrence (6)
Dinos netminder: Amelia Awad (33/38)

Thunderbirds goals: Karine Sandilands (6), Karine Sandilands (7), Jaylyn Morris (7), Grace Elliott (20), Grace Elliott (21)
Thunderbirds assists: Annalise Wong (19), Elise Hugens (1), Kailee Peppler (6), Annalise Wong (20), Hanna Perrier (5), Kailee Peppler (7), Annalise Wong (21)
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (15/16)

Result: 5-1 victory for UBC over Calgary.

SATURDAY: UBC took one step closer to securing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, and they looked to take another step towards that outcome on Saturday. Calgary, however, wanted to get back into the win column as they still had hopes for first-place in the East Division. If Calgary was going to rattle the Thunderbirds' cage, they needed a win on UBC ice while UBC was looking to bury the Dinos for the sweep and a four-point weekend to send a message.

Dinos goals: April Klarenbach (4), Evelyn Lawrence (5)
Dinos assists: Kyla Mitenko (5), Jess Martens (6), Brooklyn Anderson (6), Alex Spence (10)
Dinos netminder: Maisie Cope (55/58) in 62:18

Thunderbirds goals: Hannah Perrier (4), Grace Elliott (22), Ashton Thorpe (3)
Thunderbirds assists: Kailee Peppler (8), Madisyn Wiebe (2), Olivia Buckley (5), Jaylyn Morris (11), Grace Elliott (8)
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (17/19) in 62:18

Result: 3-2 overtime victory for UBC over Calgary.

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	18-2-2-0	40	67	21	W2	vs TWU
Mount Royal	11-4-6-1	35	55	32	W3	vs REG
Calgary	12-5-1-4	30	52	40	L2	BYE
Trinity Western	5-10-6-1	23	51	50	L1	@ UBC
Alberta	8-6-0-6	22	40	44	L1	vs SAS
Manitoba	5-8-2-5	19	42	51	W1	vs MAC
Saskatchewan	5-9-3-3	19	29	47	L4	@ ALB
Regina	3-10-3-4	16	29	48	W1	@ MRU
MacEwan	2-14-2-2	10	19	51	L2	@ MAN

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 has quietly become one of the best two-way defenders in Canada West and, dare I say, all of U SPORTS. She may not appear on the scoresheet every week, but her impact on the game is hard to miss while watching her team play and win and that's how Mount Royal Cougars defender Summer Fomradas lands on The Honour Roll!

Fomradas set career highs with three goals and 15 points last season, and she has two goals and 12 points in her third season this year. Consistency has always been her best quality as a defender, even when she was playing in the AFHL, and she's brought that with her to Canada West where she's become head coach Scott Rivett's trusted defenders. Summer plays both sides of the puck equally well, often being a stopper against the oppositon's best players while also chipping in offensively when Mount Royal gets to the offensive zone.

With key losses on the blue line over the last couple of seasons, Fomradas' emergence as one of Mount Royal's best defenders has helped them remain an elite team. She won't razzle-dazzle anyone when she has the puck, but her first pass is usually good, her vision on both sides of the puck is excellent, and she reads plays well. Being a third-year player, she'll continue to lead the Cougars with her play and her hockey smarts, and she has a chance to equal or break her offensive career-high totals with six games to play this season.

Fomradas was solid all weekend in making life difficult for the Huskies' offensive players just as she's done all year to other Canada West teams, and adding a pair of assists while being so defensively-responsible this weekend wasn't missed by this writer. I'm not here to jinx her chances, but she'd be on my short list for Canada's FISU team next year! A two-assist weekend where she helped the Mount Royal Cougars to a pair of wins is how Summer Fomradas made the list!

A Justified Absence

I had noticed that there was a player missing from the action at Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg on Friday night as I watched the CBC broadcast. I had heard that this player had officially moved on after a ceremony last week, but I thought there might be some way she'd want to finish the season considering how well her team has been playing. It turns out, though, that Trinity Western Spartans forward Jordyn Matthews has moved into a new chapter of her life!

Make no mistake that Jordyn Matthews was a competitor night-in and night-out. She played 122 Canada West games where she recorded 21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points, finishing her career as Trinity Western's all-time leading scorer in Canada West play. She played in all situations for the Spartans, recording six power-play goals and two shorthanded goals, and she never recorded more than 20 penalty minutes in a season. For a kid who came through the AFHL's Rocky Mountain Raiders program never having scored more than six points at the AAA level, Jordyn Matthews showed that it's not how your start, but how you finish with her solid five-year career at Trinity Western!

Jordyn's next chapter has her returning to Alberta where she'll begin a nursing job as she moves into the next chapter of her life! I'm sure there will still be time for hockey in a senior women's league and I hope she continues to play. Jordyn was a great competitor in Canada West, a cherished teammate by the Spartans, and I suspect she'll be loved by anyone she treats in Alberta in her new profession!

Congratulations on a great career, Jordyn, and here's hoping the nursing career is as rewarding, as challenging, and just as fun as your university hockey experience! HBIC wishes you all the best!

Special Threads

The Saskatchewan Huskies will always have a place on The Rundown for their big night where they raise money for various cancer initiatives to help save lives. It doesn't really matter what type of cancer that the Huskies are raising money to abolish because all cancers are brutal to those who get those diagnoses and to their families whose lives change because of those diagnoses. Major kudos go out to the Huskies for their annual Play For A Cure night!

For this year's game, the Huskies suited up in pink to honour Kerri Backman in the picture to the left. Kerri is goaltender Emma Backman's mom, and she recently defeated breast cancer in her life which is amazingly good news. What people should remember, though, is that breast cancer will affect 1-in-8 women in North America in their lifetimes, and that roughly 1-in-100 cancers detected in men are breast cancer. If you're doing the math, a team of 25 women's hockey players means that three of those women will, at some point, be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes. That's a scary thought for a number of reasons, so early detection and early treatment go a long way in helping women overcome this disease. Thankfully, Kerri did.

The Huskies fell just short of $17,000 in their fundraising total last season, so they had their sights set on that $17,000 mark this season. I am pleased to report that not only did the Huskies hit that mark, but they surpassed it! In total, the Department of Oncology at the University of Saskatchewan will be receiving a donation earmarked for breast cancer research and initatives from the Saskatchewan Huskies for a total of $19,195! How awesome is that effort?!?

You don't need to answer because I'll show you how awesome it is!
HuskieFan app Senior Producer Host and Partnership Coordinator Wray Morrison reached out to Ron MacLean on Saturday with the photo and information, and MacLean got it mentioned on Sportsnet's Hockey Day In Canada yesterday! How cool is that? Great job, Wray, on getting the Saskatchewan Huskies women's program a little exposure for the amazing work they're doing to fight cancers!

May I add this is why he should run Canada West's marketing and communications departments? If I was in charge, he would be!

What About Everyone Else?

We've seen what the Huskies have been doing, and, to date, they've donated nearly $120,000 to various cancer-related research organizations and initiatives that help cancer patients. That's a huge amount of money when you consider they raise that on one night, and it got me thinking as to why this isn't a Canada West initiative.

If nine programs were able to raise $10,000 or more in their communities for cancer research, wouldn't $100,000 annually going to cancer research have a significant impact on cancer diagnoses and treatments? Prostate cancer makes up about 23% of all new male cancer diagnoses while breast cancer accounts for about 26% of new cancer diagnoses in women. Lung and bronchus cancers make up the second-most diagnoses in Canada. In total, those cancers make up nearly half of all cancer diagnoses in both men and women!

What angers me the most about Canada West is that there isn't a mention of Saskatchewan's Play For A Cure game anywhere on the Canada West website nor do they seem to care to highlight the efforts and amazing results that the Saskatchewan Huskies women's hockey team turn in every year on that night. I live a province away and I'm emailing the Huskies every September about the dates for their Play For A Cure game, yet Canada West completely ignores everything about it despite these young women being everything that Canada West implores its athletes to be. Baffling, isn't it?

Again, I'll let Bob and Bob ask the obvious question of Canada West.

Scheduling Note

I will admit right here and now that I will be watching zero Canada West games next weekend thanks to my involvement in the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge hosted by Balmoral Hall School and the Balmoral Hall Blazers. UMFM has the honour of calling tournament games from the PCL Arena at Winnipeg's Hockey For All Centre, so I'll be in a rink for four-straight days watching the next stars of U SPORTS battle for the gold medal and bragging rights!

With Balmoral Hall taking over as hosts from the previous school, they've reduced the field to nine teams as they learn how to manage this tournament. All nine teams are Manitoba-based team, in fact, so that's where the bragging rights come into play. In saying that, there are a lot of already-recruited players and a pile of uncommitted players playing next weekend, so tune into the tournament on UMFM's Second Stream internet stream or watch on FloHockey.tv if you have a subscription. The hockey should be awesome, so we'll see you at the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge next weekend!

The Last Word

Playoff spots will be on the line next week again in Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. The home-and-home series between UBC and Trinity Western will also have ramifications, but Trinity Western seems almost assured of their inclusion in the playoffs. Unless MacEwan can win seven of eight games while getting some help, the Spartans and Pandas could clinch playoff spots next weekend.

Out in the East Division, Manitoba occupies third-place and the final playoff spot due to them holding the tiebreaker over the Saskatchewan Huskies, so that battle may come down to the last weekend of the season. Of course, Regina's right behind them and could catch one or both if they falter, so that race in the East might come down to who makes the least mistakes over the final four weeks of the season. Regina plays both Saskatchewan and Manitoba in two and three weeks, respectively, so those games likely will determine whether or not Regina will play into late February.

Mathematically, no one is out, but every game's result will determine where and how each of the nine Canada West finish the season.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!