Wall of Distinction 2026: Two-time ACAC player of the year Woolger led Griffins to first WHKY title
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
This is the second of four features on the 2026 class being inducted into the MacEwan Griffins' Wall of Distinction, which will be celebrated during the department's annual Awards Gala this Saturday.
Tuesday: Linda Swallow (Marshall), Swimming
Today: Melody Woolger (Howard), Women's Hockey
Thursday: TBA
Friday: TBA
EDMONTON – From an unassuming start playing hockey in tiny Grovedale, Alta., rose a player who is in the conversation as one of the greatest Griffins women's hockey players of all time.
When she was encouraged by a friend to join a hockey team in the tiny northern Alberta hamlet at age 7, Melody Woolger (Howard) had no idea that one day it would lead to her being the first MacEwan women's hockey player to be inducted into the Griffins' Wall of Distinction.
She will earn that honour as part of the Class of 2026 being inducted during the MacEwan Athletics banquet on April 11.
"It's very cool and I'm glad to be a part of it," said Woolger, who was named ACAC Player of the Year twice during a three-year career at MacEwan from 2006-09. "Tons of hard work and years of playing hockey to get to this point.
"Also, I'm excited to be the first, knowing it will open up some doors for other female hockey players to get on there down the road."
Melody Woolger (Howard) was named women's hockey's Most Outstanding Player at the 2009 MacEwan Athletics banquet - the second time in her career that she won the award.
While living in Grande Prairie, Woolger and her sister were asked to join the Grovedale Vipers because they were short on players. At age seven, she played hockey for the first time.
"We'd been skating a bit before, but we'd never played hockey," said Woolger. "We just kind of strapped the skates on and went out. My sister lasted only two years and didn't like it. I fell in love and kept playing. No one in my family had played. My parents and older brothers hadn't played, so it was really like a random thing I fell into."
Eventually, she was playing Midget AAA hockey in Grande Prairie and checking out post-secondary options.
"I actually went to look at a couple schools in the States – I went down and did some tours," said Woolger. "And I just kind of couldn't bear to be that far away from home. Then my best friend and I, we played together (growing up) – Haley Hommy – we both decided to come to Grant MacEwan. She was going to come here for school anyways. We got to move in together and go to Grant MacEwan and play hockey. She only played for one season.
"I did talk to the coaches and stuff, but it made my decision a lot easier that it was the closest team to home. That was my first time moving out of Grande Prairie, experiencing living on my own, playing college hockey."
It would prove to be a fortuitous decision for her and the Griffins.
Melody Woolger (Howard) is among the all-time leading scorers in Griffins women's hockey history and was also key on the face-off dot.
Woolger went on to amass 61 career regular season points (fourth all-time at MacEwan), made the ACAC all-star team in all three seasons (first team in 2006-07 and 2008-09, and second team in 2007-08) and won Team MVP twice (2006-07 and 2008-09). Her achievements and accolades are among the best ever by a Griffins women's hockey player.
"It was so long ago," said Woolger. "This is probably going to sound silly, but I barely remember that. I remember so many key moments – the year we won and so many fun things that we did – but (the awards) just do not stick out in my mind at all, which is kind of crazy.
"I would say in getting those awards, I felt super supported by my teammates and loved and had such great years. It felt good to cap it off with that, for sure. My team contributed so much for me to be able to get those types of awards. I'm very thankful."
Despite the individual accolades, Woolger considers her biggest achievement at MacEwan to be helping lead the Griffins to their first ACAC women's hockey championship in 2008.
The Griffins finished fifth during the regular season at 11-10-1, but proceeded to go on a Cinderella run, sweeping Red Deer College 2-0 in the quarter-finals, upsetting top-seeded Mount Royal 2-1 in the semifinals and defeating the University of Calgary Dinos 3-1 in the best-of-five championship final.
"That felt so, so great," said Woolger, who had nine points in nine 2008 playoff games. "We had such a hard-working team that year, so it just felt so right."
The 2007-08 Griffins went from fifth in the regular season to ACAC champions, relying on their chemistry, hard work and talent to claim MacEwan's first ACAC women's hockey championship (Courtesy, Melody Woolger).
The team was the ultimate underdog, playing with a short bench after a few players lost academic eligibility halfway through the season.
"I think we only had 14 players going into the second half of the year," recalled Woolger. "So, we had a very small roster, but all the girls that were there were so bought in. Everybody cared so much. Our coaches, trainer, manager and every single player was just so dialled.
"Getting to win that, I just feel like we were working so hard we knew we had a shot at it," she added. "We gave it our all every game. Especially with so few players, we all had to play, we all had to contribute, and we all had to be there for each other. It's such a good memory.
"I don't think people thought we were going to be winning that year, that's for sure."
But that team had something special that can't be understated – they were all incredibly connected.
"Because it was such a small team, everybody got to know everybody," said Woolger. "You didn't have a choice. No cliques, no small groups. We spent so much time together outside the arena, as well. We went out together, we studied together, we just did a ton of things together.
"I think when you get to know a group of girls like that when it comes down to game time, you kind of put yourself out there more for them. You're not just doing it for you, you're doing it for every girl you've gotten to know who wants to win. You've watched them work so hard and do extra workouts. I think watching other girls give it their all makes you step up a little bit.
"I think that's what was special about that year. Really true friendships were made – lifelong friendships."
Melody Woolger (Howard) - middle - said chemistry was the biggest reason why the Griffins won the 2008 ACAC Championship (Courtesy, Melody Woolger).
The legacy of that 2008 championship would live on as the Griffins became the powerhouse of the ACAC women's hockey ranks less than a decade later, winning three-straight titles from 2017-19 – a run that almost certainly would have been four in a row if not for COVID-19 forcing the cancellation of the 2020 final with MacEwan leading 2-0 in a best-of-five series over NAIT.
As the program shifted to the Canada West ranks in 2020, Woolger has remained active amongst the alumni, helping the program continue to grow.
"Once Lindsay (McAlpine) became involved with the school in coaching, I always wanted to be there for her," said Woolger. "I told her I'd love to help, but there wasn't as many opportunities at Grant MacEwan at the beginning to do alumni stuff. It looks like it's getting bigger and more involved, which is pretty exciting."
Ultimately, Woolger wants all future Griffins to have the experience she did as a college student-athlete.
"It's amazing and so special," she said. "I don't even think the girls when they're in it realize how special the experience is. Your growth through team sports and college experience, education, friendship and all the things that come with being a part of a team like this, you learn so much going through the sports experience in general – winning, losing, hard work, pushing yourself.
"Seeing the Griffins just get better and better and seeing them move to the university division and do well there, it's just amazing to see how the program has grown and how many girls get to experience this and have that as they grow older."
The 2008-09 Griffins women's hockey team was led by Melody Woolger (Howard) - front row, fourth from left - the last season of her ACAC career before she transferred to the University of Alberta, helping the Pandas with the 2010 CIS Championship.
Woolger went on to play two seasons with the University of Alberta following her three-year run at MacEwan, helping the Pandas win the 2010 CIS championship by scoring the winning goal in the gold medal game against McGill. She finished up with 19 points in 24 games in her fifth and final university season in 2010-11.
While there, Woolger completed her elementary education degree and is currently a substitute teacher in the Edmonton area but has landed a full-time job teaching preschool in the fall.
Her hockey playing career now includes some "beer league" action and she's on a team with six girls she played with at MacEwan.
Being a part of MacEwan Athletics will always be special for Woolger with her experience now forever enshrined in the Griffins' Wall of Distinction.
"Thank you to the program," she said. "I just feel like I got to learn so much over the years and have so many great experiences. Getting to still be a part of this alumni and school is really great."
