CW Announces Players of the Week

March 5, 2024 – We know we say it often. But what a weekend it was across Canada West.

The UBC Thunderbirds made history on the ice, capturing both men's and women's conference championships in exciting Game 3's on Sunday. The UBC women claimed their third-straight Catherwood Cup, needing a thrilling third period comeback to tame the Alberta Pandas. On the men's side, the T-Birds rebounded from a lopsided Game 1 defeat and ended a 53 year championship drought with wins on Saturday and Sunday.

The Canada West volleyball semifinals also did not disappoint, with UBC and Manitoba sweeping aside their opponents on the women's side. The men's final will feature Trinity Western and Alberta for the fourth straight year after the Golden Bears swept UBC and TWU pulled out a Game 3 win over Winnipeg.

There were great Canada West stories to celebrate at the 2024 U SPORTS Wrestling nationals in Guelph, Ont. last Saturday as well, with CW athletes taking home seven gold medals.

Here are your Canada West Players of the Week.

Women's Hockey - Annalise Wong (UBC)

It wasn't easy, but the UBC Thunderbirds secured their third-straight Catherwood Cup this weekend after a thrilling three-game series victory over Alberta. Third-year forward Annalise Wong was key to the win, driving offensive play and adding clutch scoring. The Richmond, B.C. product tallied two goals and added an assist in three games, pouring 13 shots on net and finishing an impressive +4.

No goal was bigger than her dramatic tally late in game one. With the T-Birds trailing by one with just four minutes to go, a scramble in the crease left Wong with the puck. Seeing an opening, she fired it in off the post to push the game into overtime, where a Joelle Fiala tally in triple-OT gave UBC a crucial win.

Wong was named the second star in Game 1, and was also named third star in Game 3.

The Thunderbirds will now make their way to Saskatoon for the U SPORTS National Championship tournament, beginning March 14.

Men's Hockey - Chris Douglas (UBC)

Douglas and the UBC Thunderbirds made history on Sunday, ending their 53 year title drought by clinching the Canada West championship with a 5-3 victory over Calgary.

The third-year Richmond, B.C. product was instrumental to the Game 3 victory, scoring a pair of goals and being named the game's first star. The UBC captain led by example all weekend long, pouring in three goals in three games, including a power play marker, and sending seven shots on net.

"You dream of moments like this as a kid," said Douglas after the victory. "You want to play for a championship and I haven't been able to play for a championship in seven or eight years since I was in my teenage years. I'm just so proud of every single guy. I hope guys can look back and be like 'I was a part of this', the guys that aren't here right now that are alumni. I'm so happy right now, it's unexplainable what I'm feeling right now."

The T-Birds will savour the Canada West win but will quickly shift focus to an even bigger prize with the University Cup National Championship set to begin on March 14 in Toronto.

Women's Volleyball - Julia Arnold (Manitoba)

The fourth-year libero made history while setting a Canada West three-set playoff record with 24 digs on Thursday, helping the number two seeded Bisons reach the CW Final with an impressive sweep of third seeded UFV.

The hometown Winnipeg product was all over the floor, recording 51 total digs in the two game sweep of the Cascades, averaging 6.38 digs-per-set. She also added five assists.

Arnold and the Bisons will now prepare to take on UBC next Saturday night in the CW Final. First serve is set for 5 p.m. PT from Vancouver.

Men's Volleyball - Anselm Rein (Trinity Western)

Rein's blistering serve was on full display last weekend, as the second-year setter from Erfurt, Germany helped guide the Spartans back to the CW Final with a semifinal series win over Winnipeg.

His eight service aces in Thursday's 3-1 win were just one off the TWU and Canada West record for service aces in a playoff match. He added 33 assists in the victory, also contributing three blocks.

His passing accuracy and smart decision making was evident all weekend, delivering 98 total set assists over ten sets, along with six blocks. He was at his best in a do-or-die situation in Game 3 on Saturday night, finishing the match with 32 set assists while helping TWU hit at a series-best .356.

The Spartans will now travel to Edmonton next Friday to take on familiar rival Alberta in the CW Final. It'll be the fourth straight year the two conference powerhouses meet up in the conference championship, with first serve set for 7 p.m. MT.

Wrestling - CW Gold Medal Winners at 2024 U SPORTS Wrestling Championships

Canada West student-athletes had a great showing at the 2024 U SPORTS Wrestling National Championships last Saturday in Guelph. Alberta led the way with five gold medallists as their men's and women's programs finished in second place in the team standings. Calgary also had a pair of gold medal winners, as the Dinos finished fourth overall in the team standings in both the men's and women's competition.

Women’s

59kg

68kg

72kg

76kg

Men’s Wrestling

76kg

82kg

90kg