Canada West BioSteel Players of the Week: Jan. 7

Jan. 7, 2025 - A pair of hat trick performances has headlined the first 2025 edition of the Canada West Players of the Week - Presented by BioSteel.

In women's hockey, Mount Royal and Alberta each started the new year on the right note with a pair of wins over their respective crosstown rivals. For MRU, it was fourth year forward Aliya Jomha leading the way offensively, including netting just the second hat trick in Cougars program history in a 6-2 win over Calgary on Friday night.

The Alberta Pandas also captured two big wins over MacEwan, padding their lead atop the Canada West East Division. Jadynn Morden was the offensive catalyst for the Pandas, tallying three goals and three assists in the two games.

On the men's side, the MacEwan Griffins turned heads by defeating Alberta 4-3 on Friday night, marking just the second time the Griffins have defeated their crosstown rivals since joining Canada West in 2021. The Bears got their revenge the following night, however, with a 5-2 comeback win led by a hat trick from rookie defenceman Marc Lajoie.

Down the highway, the MRU Cougars picked up two key victories in a wildly entertaining home-and-home set over the rival Calgary Dinos. MRU exploded offensively in a 7-4 triumph on Friday, before securing a 5-4 shootout victory at home on Saturday. Cougars defenceman Clay Hanus had four points in the two games, taking sole possession atop the Canada West scoring race. He leads the conference with 27 points in 18 games played, including nine goals and 18 assists.

Here are your Canada West Players of the Week - Presented by BioSteel.

Women's Hockey - Aliya Jomha (Mount Royal Cougars)

Jan 3 vs CGY: 3 Goals (Hat Trick), 1 assist, 4 points, +2 rating in 6-2 win
​Jan 4 vs CGY: +1 rating in 1-0 win

Aliya Jomha started the second half of the season with a bang, recording her first Canada West hat trick in a 6-2 win over rival Calgary on Friday night.

Jomha's scoring touch was key to Friday night's big win. She opened the scoring with a power play goal just 23 seconds into the second period, perfectly floating a shot from the slot past the Dinos keeper. Calgary would tie the game shortly after, but Jomha quickly responded with her second tally of the period to give her team a lead they would not relinquish. She put the icing on the cake with a slick breakaway goal late in the third period, squashing any hopes of a Dinos comeback.

The hat trick was the second hat trick in MRU program history.

Jomha was effective again in Saturday night's rematch, finishing with a +1 rating in a tightly contested 1-0 victory.

The fourth year forward from Edmonton currently sits second in conference scoring with 10 goals and nine assists in 18 games.

View WHKY: Standings | Schedule | Statistics

Men's Hockey - Marc Lajoie (Alberta Golden Bears)

Jan. 3 vs GMU: 4 shots, 2 PIM, even rating in 4-3 loss
​Jan. 4 vs GMU: 3 goals, 6 shots, +2 rating in 5-2 win

Rookie Bear Marc Lajoie recorded a natural hat trick in their 5-2 win on Saturday, the first hat trick by a Golden Bears defenceman in conference play since 2004. Harlan Anderson was the last Golden Bears blueliner to register a hat trick in conference play, scoring three times in an 11-1 conference win vs Lethbridge on Feb. 21, 2004
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​With three points in two games against MacEwan, Lajoie now sits sixth in Canada West with 21 points through 18 games, second only to teammate Sean Tschigerl (22) among conference rookies.

View MHKY: Standings | Schedule | Statistics

About Players of the Week:

The Canada West Players of the Week, Presented by BioSteel is a weekly celebration of athletic achievements across the conference. Each week, deserving student-athletes are nominated by SIDs from each member institution. Canada West office staff review nominations and select the recipients.

About BioSteel

BioSteel is a leading sports hydration and nutrition brand, delivering clean, high-performance solutions trusted by professional athletes, top universities, and teams across North America and Europe, including major organizations like the NHL, MLB, NFL, MLS, NBA, and their affiliates. Alongside hydration, BioSteel offers premium protein and sports nutrition products, catering to athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and those striving for a healthier lifestyle. Committed to excellence, BioSteel equips top athletes and active individuals with the essential tools to reach peak performance and sustain wellness every day.

About Canada West:

As the leading university athletic conference in the country, Canada West is home to student-athletes that excel in the classroom and their communities. The conference is comprised of 17 member institutions spanning from Victoria to Winnipeg, with over 3,200 student-athletes competing across 14 sports. Canada West’s mission is to train leaders and build champions by providing leadership in the delivery, regulation, and promotion of university level high performance sports programs throughout western Canada.