Promising attacker prospects Mahfouz, Whittaker set to boost Griffins' scoring this fall
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Six of the Griffins' 14 goals scored during the 2024 season were from players who won't be on the roster in 2025, so replenishing that offence has been a key off-season task for head coach Adam Loga.
Replacing graduating forward Ricky Yassin, who led the team with five goals and took 50 of their 141 shots a season ago, won't be an easy task.
The job will be done a bit by committee with returning top scorers Chance Carter and Ali Yildiz supported by solid attackers like Felix Guité, Jamal Ajab and Abhiroop Sandhu, among others.
Loga has also added two key rookies to the forward group: Mohammed 'Macky' Mahfouz and Leo Whittaker.
"Hopefully, within the group we have, one or two are always in form throughout the year," said Loga. "It's a tough thing to do to be in form, banging in goals-in and game-out at any level. So, to have a group of guys – a cohort, if you will – where one or two or three of them are going at a time, when the lulls happen if one steps up that would be great."
Mahfouz certainly has the capability to step up and score as a rookie. The product of BTB Soccer Academy – also playing with them at League One – was the leading scorer at club nationals last fall.
"He just finishes," said Loga. "He'll finish the most random goals, too. He has a knack for goal."
And he has other skills that will make him a dangerous attacking player in Canada West.
"He does dribble at pace very well," said Loga. "He's also got a mentality where he can be a bit of a pest to the opposition. He's got that swagger that you need from a nine. So, I'm looking forward to his growth here, for sure."
Whittaker is set to offer the Griffins some size to the interior of their front three that they've been missing since Alvin Mazaheri (2021) left the program following a sizzling five-goal campaign.
"He plays up top and he's a shoot-first guy," said Loga. "We haven't had many of those since Alvin. Leo has similar ability to shoot from long range and catch the keepers off guard.
"Ricky shot lots, too, don't get me wrong, but he was more from a wide area and Leo's going to be more central. Hopefully with his size and striking ability he's able to find the back of the net for us along with Macky and some of the current guys who are here."
The 6-1 London Whitecaps product comes to the Griffins out of Ontario, but via Whitehorse, YK. He continues the strong pipeline of players from the Yukon who've made an impact with the Griffins, including 2006-07 MacEwan Male Athlete of the Year Ammon Hoefs and 2001-02 ACAC all-star Ash Jordan, who coached Whittaker and put Loga onto him.
"Bigger body and we needed to add some size," said Loga. "He was playing the highest youth level out in Ontario. So, he's coming from playing with and against good competition. Super smart kid, which is always nice.
"I'm just looking forward to having him. He was wanted by several schools around Canada West, so to be able to land him was great."
