Three Stars: Mrkonjic, Kinsella, Ricker earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Tyler Mrkonjic is MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after leading the Griffins men's hockey team to a pair of victories over the Portage College Voyageurs.
Mrkonjic now has nine points in his last four games after potting two goals and three assists to lead the Griffins to 5-3 and 4-1 wins in ACAC men's hockey action.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Cassidy Kinsella of the women's volleyball team and third star Chantal Ricker of the women's hockey team.
Mrkonjic has now made the three stars list in back-to-back weeks, as he was named second star on Jan. 9. Kinsella is making her third appearance of the season on the list, having previously been named third star on both Oct. 24 and Nov. 28. Ricker earns the honour for the first time this season.
1st STAR: Tyler Mrkonjic
F, men's hockey (St. Albert, AB, first-year, Arts)
Since the Griffins returned from semester break earlier this month, the rookie forward has been on a tear. Mrkonjic has two goals and nine points in four January games, including a five-point weekend against Portage College, Jan. 13-14.
During a 5-3 MacEwan victory in Edmonton on Friday night, he recorded three assists. The former Calgary Hitmen forward then followed that up with a two-goal effort in MacEwan's 4-1 win over the Voyageurs in Lac La Biche on Saturday night.
It was the second-straight weekend that Mrkonjic has recorded a three-assist game – also performing that feat against the SAIT Trojans on Jan. 6.
For the season, Mrkonjic is among the top rookies in the ACAC and sits fourth in Griffins' scoring with four goals and 15 points in 18 games.
2nd STAR: Cassidy Kinsella
OH, women's volleyball (Leduc, AB, fifth-year, Science)
Accounting for a game-high 23.5 points on Friday, Kinsella led the Griffins to their first win of the Canada West season, 3-2 over Saskatchewan. The fifth-year outside hitter was sensational, putting pressure on the Huskies all match, finishing with 19 kills and seven blocks.
The teams again went the distance in Saturday's rematch as Kinsella again led the Griffins in kills (14) and points (16.0).
Following the weekend, she moved into fifth in all-time points in conference women's volleyball history, which is remarkable considering she's only in her fourth season, having played one at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference level before the Griffins transitioned into Canada West.
In her final season of eligibility, Kinsella is ninth in the conference in both kills (185) and kills/set (185), while she sits eighth in points (215.0) and ninth in points/set (3.8).
Cassidy Kinsella had another big weekend for the Griffins women's volleyball team and makes the MacEwan Three Stars list for the third time this season (Chris Piggott photo).
3rd STAR: Chantal Ricker
F, women's hockey (Calgary, AB, second-year, Open Studies)
Ricker was the star of the show on Saturday as the Griffins beat a hungry SAIT Trojans team 4-2 to complete a weekend sweep.
Scoring twice – including the game-winning goal – and adding an assist, the second-year forward led MacEwan to a victory that put them into first place in the ACAC standings.
Her big game came a night after the Griffins beat the SAIT Trojans in Calgary 3-1.
For the season, the Calgary Midget AAA Fire product has five goals and eight points in 11 games this season.
Chantal Ricker had two goals and an assist to lead MacEwan to a 4-2 win over SAIT last Saturday night (Len Joudrey photo).
