Three Stars: Mwasalla, Chabot, Johnson earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's soccer student-athlete Grace Mwasalla is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after becoming the 15th player in Canada West women's soccer history to reach 30 career goals.
Mwasalla recorded two goals and an assist in the Griffins' two wins over Winnipeg and Manitoba and sits tied for 12th in Canada West all time in goals.
Men's hockey forward Kadyn Chabot and women's hockey goaltender Lindsey Johnson were named the second and third stars, respectively.
This is the second time this season that Mwasalla has made the Three Stars, after previously being named third star on Sept. 3. Both Chabot and Johnson are appearing for the first time in 2024-25.
Grace Mwasalla scored the 10th game-winning goal of her career against Manitoba on Sunday (Norman Bo photo).
1st STAR: Grace Mwasalla, F, women's soccer
Chatham, ON, fourth-year, Arts
Self-admittedly stuck in a scoring slump with just one goal on the season before last weekend, Mwasalla hit the scoresheet twice, leading the Griffins to 4-0 and 1-0 wins over Winnipeg and Manitoba, respectively.
The Griffins' career points and goals leader came through in a big way and reached 31 career regular season goals, which is tied for 12th in Canada West women's soccer history.
Against the Wesmen on Saturday, she got a touch on a cross from Alyx Henderson that landed for Sophie Lavallee to slot in the net – a goal which stood up as the game-winner.
Mwasalla also scored in the contest, netting the Griffins' second goal as she was played in alone by Hannah Harper and made no mistake.
Against Manitoba on Sunday, Mwasalla recorded her program-leading 10th career game-winning goal, putting home a rebound off Brynn Hobal's initial chance for the only tally the Griffins would need to net their eighth win of the season.
Mwasalla is now up to three goals and seven points in 2024, second-best on the Griffins.
MacEwan heads into a home-and-home series vs. cross-town rival Alberta on Saturday (12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish) and Sunday (12 p.m., Foote Field, both Canada West TV).
Kadyn Chabot celebrates his goal against Alberta on Friday at the Downtown Community Arena. He scored two more and added an assist in Saturday's rematch at Clare Drake Arena (Rebecca Chelmick photo).
2nd STAR: Kadyn Chabot, F, men's hockey
Cranbrook, BC, second-year, Arts
With the Griffins graduating three of their top four scorers from 2023-24, they are looking for guys to step up and fill the void.
Did Kadyn Chabot ever do that on the weekend as he finished with three goals and an assist in two games against cross-town rival Alberta.
In Friday's 6-2 loss, Chabot scored MacEwan's first goal of the 2024-25 season, wiring one upstairs off a great behind-the-back pass from Sam Simard.
In Saturday's 6-4 defeat at Clare Drake Arena, Chabot finished with three points. With the Griffins trailing 4-0 in the second period, he started the play and drew an assist on the play that ended up in Spencer McLean's goal.
Chabot then brought the Griffins within two early in the third with a powerplay goal before scoring a short-handed tally with 3:49 left that closed the gap to one.
For the season, Chabot is currently tied for sixth in Canada West in scoring.
The Griffins hit the road this weekend for two games at the Regina Cougars (Friday, 7 p.m. MT and Saturday, 5 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).
Goaltender Lindsey Johnson stopped 30 of 32 shots against the Pandas in Saturday's home opener (Rebecca Chelmick photo).
3rd STAR: Lindsey Johnson, women's hockey
Edmonton, AB, third-year, Nursing
Although the Griffins were shut out twice by the Alberta Pandas on opening weekend, their goaltending was a major bright spot.
In particular, the play of Johnson gave them a chance to win their home opener on Saturday as she stopped 30 of 32 shots in the 3-0 loss, which included an empty-netter. Her best save came in the second period when she sprawled out to deny Abbey Bourdeau'Hui.
That performance gives her an early save percentage of .938 on the season, which is ninth-best in Canada West.
Johnson and the Griffins will host the Regina Cougars on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m., both Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV).
