Three Stars: Mwasalla, Chambers, Kope earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's soccer student-athlete Grace Mwasalla is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after her performance at the Canada West Final Four last weekend.
The rookie forward produced a goal and an assist as the Griffins blanked Saskatchewan 2-0 to win the Canada West bronze medal and punch their ticket to U SPORTS nationals for the first time.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Aryn Chambers of the women's hockey team and third star David Kope of the men's hockey team.
It's the third appearance of the 2021-22 season on the list for Mwasalla, who was named second star on Oct. 19 and first star on Oct. 26.
Both Chambers and Kope are appearing for the first time in 2021-22.
1st STAR: Grace Mwasalla, F, women's soccer
Chatham, ON, first-year, Arts
Mwasalla provided the spark that pushed the MacEwan Griffins over the top and onto the program's first U SPORTS national championship.
The rookie set up the winning goal and scored the insurance marker in a 2-0 win over Saskatchewan in the Canada West bronze medal game last Saturday.
Dominant throughout the game and in MacEwan's 1-0 loss to UBC in Friday's Canada West semifinal, Mwasalla sent in a pass against the Huskies that Nikki Brodeur cashed on in the 58th minute for the winning goal.
Less than three minutes later, she ran down the right side with some space and slotted the insurance marker in the far corner.
In the regular season, Mwasalla led the Griffins in scoring with five goals and eight points in 12 games and made the Canada West All-Rookie team.
She will lead the Griffins into the U SPORTS national championship in Sydney, N.S. Nov. 18-21.
Aryn Chambers had two assists and played big minutes for the Griffins in a 4-3 win over Calgary on Saturday (Joel Kingston photo).
2nd STAR: Aryn Chambers, D, women's hockey
Edmonton, AB, first-year, Arts
The rookie rearguard led the Griffins with two assists and five shots in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Dinos last Saturday.
Chambers set up Jayme Doyle for the game's opening goal at 11:57 of the first period and later drew an assist on Chantal Ricker's game-winner at 10:54 of the second.
She also played a key role defensively for the Griffins, playing huge minutes for the team as they secured their third win of the season.
Chambers was also a rock for MacEwan in Friday's 3-0 loss to Mount Royal University.
For the season, she has a goal and four assists in eight games so far.
Next action for the team, which is on a bye this weekend, is at Trinity Western on Nov. 26-27.
David Kope had a goal and an assist in MacEwan's 3-2 loss to Calgary last Saturday (Joel Kingston photo).
3rd STAR: David Kope, F, men's hockey
Edmonton, AB, first-year, Arts
The rookie forward had a two-point game in last Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Calgary Dinos.
With MacEwan trailing 2-0 in the second period, Kope was sprung on a breakaway pass by Cameron Reagan and he chipped it under the bar to get the Griffins on the board.
Then, with the home team trailing 3-1, he drew an assist on Curtis Roach's powerplay goal with 2:54 left that pulled MacEwan within one.
For the season, the former Kelowna Rockets and Edmonton Oil Kings forward has produced a goal and two assists in four games played.
Kope will lead the Griffins into action this weekend at Mount Royal University (Friday, 7 p.m.) and at Calgary (Saturday, 6 p.m., both Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
