2022-23 Griffins Awards: Introducing our Team of the Year finalists
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Another season of Griffins Athletics is in the books with big wins and great memories to cherish.
Excellence was evident on the field, court and ice as MacEwan student-athletes displayed character, commitment and talent throughout the 2022-23 season.
As we count down to the our annual MacEwan Griffins' Awards Banquet this Saturday we will be revealing the finalists for our major awards in the following order:
Monday: Male Rookie of the Year
Tuesday: Female Rookie of the Year
Wednesday: Female Athlete of the Year
Today: Male Athlete of the Year
Friday: Academic Team of the Year and Team of the Year
CATHRYN HESLEP ACADEMIC TEAM OF THE YEAR
Here are the three finalists for Academic Team of the Year (in alphabetical order by sport):
Women's Basketball
Women's Soccer
Women's Volleyball
MURRAY ORVIS TEAM OF THE YEAR
Here are the three finalists for Team of the Year (in alphabetical order by sport):
Men's Hockey
Record: 9-18-1-0
Synopsis: In their second season in Canada West, the Griffins men's hockey team took a huge step forward, taking their playoff bid down to the final day of the regular season before losing out on the final spot to Regina on a tiebreaker (they tied for sixth in the standings). Along the way, the scrappy, underdog Griffins turned heads with huge wins over conference powerhouses Alberta, UBC, Mount Royal and Saskatchewan. Their win over the Golden Bears – a 4-3 overtime triumph on Oct. 7, 2022, in the Clare Drake – was the program's first victory over their cross-town rivals in 5,509 days, dating back to a 4-3 MacEwan triumph on Sept. 7, 2007 in a preseason contest.
Academic: Had 11 U SPORTS Academic All Canadians, tied for the eighth-most by a team in MacEwan's history (and second-most in program history).
Men's Soccer
Record: 3-7-4
Synopsis: A year after making the Canada West playoffs for the first time, the Griffins men's soccer team nearly did it again, taking their bid down to the final day of the regular season before losing out on a tiebreaker to Saskatchewan (they tied for fourth in the Prairie Division). It was a heartbreaking finish for the Griffins, who were in a playoff position almost all season, at one time strongly holding down second in the division.
Community: Volunteered with Free Play for Kids, helping low-income youth in after-school sports programs as a catalyst for inclusion and character growth. Also helped coach and run sessions for the players attending the Alberta Indigenous Games. The players also assisted with 'Soccer4Me' – a free soccer program that ran periodically for members of the community.
Academic: Had nine U SPORTS Academic All Canadians, matching the most the program's had since joining Canada West in 2014.
Women's Soccer
Record: 12-2 (changed to 3-11 after a forfeit for an ineligible player)
Synopsis: Before the U SPORTS ruling, the Griffins finished with the best record in program history after an unprecedented 10-game winning streak. They led Canada West in scoring with a program-best 46 goals in 14 games, while also having the second-best goals against (11 allowed in 14 games). The Griffins finished the season ranked No. 5 in the country.
All-stars: Three U SPORTS all-stars – Grace Mwasalla (1st team), Anneke Odinga (2nd team) and Kiann Bohnert (All-Rookie team) … Five Canada West all-stars – Grace Mwasalla, Anneke Odinga and Maya Morrell (1st team); Kiann Bohnert (2nd team); and Bohnert and Amelia Russo (All-Rookie team).
Community: Volunteered for over 100 hours with the following organizations: Reading at Schools, Brain Freeze, Santa's Workshop, Bell Let's Talk, Edmonton Warriors S.C., and Ottewell School Track & Field.
Academic: Had 17 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians to set a new record for the most in program history (tied for third-most in any sport) and had the highest combined GPA in program history (3.44).
