Three Stars: Yaremchuk, Majeau, Jap earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Men's hockey student-athlete Austin Yaremchuk is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after his performances in leading the Griffins to a weekend sweep over the SAIT Trojans.
Yaremchuk had three assists in Friday's 4-1 win over the Trojans and stepped up all weekend with strong play in the defensive end to help curtail SAIT's tough, physical style.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Shannon Majeau of the women's basketball team and third star Alex Jap of the men's basketball team.
It's the first inclusion on the three stars list this season for all three student-athletes.
1st STAR: Austin Yaremchuk, D, men's hockey
Sherwood Park, AB, fourth-year, Commerce
Stepping into an assistant captain's role as one of the key veterans on a young Griffins team, Yaremchuk has logged big minutes in all situations for MacEwan this season.
His gritty defensive style was key against a big, physical SAIT team this past weekend as he limited the Trojans' attack in a pair of victories that allowed the Griffins to leapfrog them for third place in the ACAC standings.
But Yaremchuk also contributed at the offensive end, recording three assists in Friday's 4-1 win, setting up two goals by Bryan Arneson and one by Cam Gotaas. He also added six penalty minutes, stepping into the fray of a physical battle on a night where the two teams combined for 89 minutes in infractions.
Yaremchuk's defensive battle and ability to move the puck in transition helped the Griffins to a 3-2 win over SAIT on Saturday to complete the weekend sweep.
For the season, Yaremchuk has a goal and nine points in 10 games.
He leads the Griffins into action against Portage on Friday (7 p.m., Downtown Community Arena).
2nd STAR: Shannon Majeau, F, women's basketball
Spruce Grove, AB, third-year, Science
Always a strong defensive presence for the Griffins, Majeau's work in the paint led the charge in taking away Thompson Rivers' inside scoring game in Saturday's 65-52 victory for MacEwan.
The WolfPack were generally consigned to throwing up prayers from the outside as Majeau and her teammates took lanes away.
On the offensive end, the 6-foot-1 forward was the Griffins' most consistent scorer in a weekend split with TRU at the David Atkinson Gym.
In Friday's 59-48 loss, she scored 11 points, adding seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in 29 minutes of work.
In Saturday's victory, Majeau hit double digits again with 10 points, adding five boards, two steals and an assist in 31 minutes on the court.
For the season, Majeau is averaging 11.2 points per game (second on the Griffins), 3.7 rebounds (fourth) and 1.0 steals (tied for third).
The Griffins are on a bye week and will return to action next weekend at Trinity Western.
Shannon Majeau drives past Thompson Rivers' Brooklyn Golt on Saturday. She was a force at both ends of the floor for the Griffins (Eduardo Perez photo).
3rd STAR: Alex Jap, F, men's basketball
Sherwood Park, AB, second-year, Communications
The 6-foot-6 sophomore was MacEwan's most consistent player during a weekend home series against Thompson Rivers University, making important contributions in both games.
In Friday's 79-56 loss, Jap narrowly missed a double double with 11 points and nine rebounds, adding two assists in 29 minutes of work out of the starting lineup.
In Saturday's 79-74 defeat, the big man produced nine points, five boards, three blocks, three assists and two steals in a workhorse 37 minutes. His performance was a big reason the Griffins pushed the WolfPack to the limit before falling in the final minute.
For the season, Jap is averaging 8.8 points per game (fourth on the Griffins), 6.0 rebounds (tied for first) and 0.8 blocks (second).
The Griffins are on a bye week and will return to action next weekend at Trinity Western.
Alex Jap gets ready to put up a shot after eluding TRU defenders in the paint on Saturday (Eduardo Perez photo).
