Griffins add AJHL record-breaking Wolverines goaltender Onyskiw, solidifying crease corps
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – After a record-setting final junior season with the Whitecourt Wolverines, Edmonton goaltender Zac Onyskiw is returning home to embark on a promising U SPORTS career with the MacEwan Griffins, starting in 2025-26.
The product of the South Side Athletic Club will replace graduated senior Brett Epp on MacEwan's roster, joining returners Eric Ward and Carson Ironside in a battle for minutes.
"He's going to create a lot of competition for our two guys who are already here," said Griffins head coach Zack Dailey. "The message has been clear – whoever performs the best is going to play. I do think that competition brings out the best in people.
"I think he is going to be someone who is going to push right away to start games and help us win, but the long-term goal is that he's going to be a starter for us down the road."
Onyskiw's resume is impressive; in 2024-25, he not only won the Alberta Junior Hockey League's top goaltender award, he also took home the prestigious MVP honour, and combined with goalie partner Elliott Pratt to win the AJHL's top team goaltenders award.
In addition, he was recently named as a finalist for the Canadian Junior Hockey League goaltender of the year.
"He obviously got a whole bunch of accolades in the AJHL," said Dailey. "So, we're excited to have him. I think he's someone who can help us right away and add to the goaltending we already have and look to potentially be a starter in his first year."
Zac Onyskiw led the AJHL in all major goaltending categories in 2024-25 (Melissa Baker photo).
Onyskiw led the AJHL in all major goaltending categories in 2024-25, highlighted by breaking the league's save percentage record that had stood for more than a decade. In 37 games, he posted a .939 save percentage (topping the .935 Jesse Gordichuk had in 2013-14), had 26 wins and posted a 1.87 goals against average. He also had more shutouts (3) than games where he allowed four goals against (2).
Prior to finishing his junior career in Whitecourt, Onyskiw played three seasons for the Spruce Grove Saints, where he was teammates with current Griffins Kadyn Chabot, Ethan Sundar and Caden Cabana. In his youth, he played for both SSAC and Edge School.
Dailey first met him at Edmonton's Vimy Hockey Academy when he was an instructor there. He began to see the traits that set Onyskiw apart now.
"I think the calmness is the biggest thing," he said. "He's a kid we had at Vimy when he was a little bit younger, so I have good things to say about him. He was a nice person who was kind to people, treated people with respect and had some talent then. Now, fast forward, and he's still a really good person, treats his people and his teammates the right way, and he's an exceptional goaltender.
"Calmness is the biggest thing, and it looks like his movement is very smooth. He sees pucks well and has good reaction time."
