Canada West BioSteel Players of the Week: March 25

March 25, 2025 - Can you believe it? We've reached the final edition of our BioSteel Players of the Week for the 2024-25 campaign - and what a season it's been.

Who could have dreamt up a better final act than the Brandon Bobcats men's volleyball team, defying the odds as a No. 8 seed to win their first U SPORTS national title on their home floor.

The victory made headlines across the nation, with Tyler Crayston's legendary PxP call even garnering a spotlight from TSN's Jay Onrait.

On the ice, the Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team ended their season a strong note, bouncing back from a tough semifinal defeat against Concordia to earn a national bronze medal after a 4-1 win over TMU.

The Mount Royal Cougars men's hockey team also deserves a shoutout. While their U CUP journey ended in heartbreaking fashion in the quarterfinals, the team fought tooth-and-nail in what ended up becoming the longest U SPORTS men's hockey game ever played. They battled TMU for five overtime periods before eventually falling 5-4.

In the women's tournament, both UBC and Alberta fell in the quarterfinals but bounced back with wins in the consolation semis. In the consolation final, the T-Birds eventually got their revenge against the Pandas in what was a Canada West Final rematch, with UBC prevailing 5-1.

A special thank you to BioSteel for sponsoring this segment all season long, celebrating tons of incredible student-athlete performances along the way.

Now for the final time in 2024-25, here are your Canada West Players of the Week - Presented by BioSteel.

Women's Hockey - Mackenzie Kordic (UBC Thunderbirds)

March 21 - 1 Assist, 2 shots in a 4-3 OT loss to Bishop's in the U SPORTS QF

March 22 - 2 Assists, 5 shots, +1 in a 5-1 win over UNB in the U SPORTS Consolation SF

March 23 - 2 Goals, GWG, 1 Assist, 4 shots, +3 in a 5-1 win over ALB in the U SPORTS Consolation Final

Leading the T-Birds at the U SPORTS National Championship tournament with a combined two goals and four assists, Kordic was key to UBC's bounce-back performances over both UNB in the consolation semifinal and the Alberta Pandas in the consolation final.

Scoring twice against the Pandas, including the game winner, Kordic led the T-Birds to a redemption win after falling to Alberta in the Canada West Final.

Men's Hockey - Justin Ball (Saskatchewan Huskies)

March 21 - U SPORTS QF vs Queen’s - 1 Goal, 3 shots in 4-2 win

March 23 - U SPORTS Bronze Medal Game vs TMU - 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots in 4-1 win

The fifth-year hometown Saskatoon product left it all out on the ice, ending his collegiate career on a strong note by helping the Huskies to a U SPORTS bronze medal.

The forward started his U CUP tournament with a goal and 3 shots in a 4-2 win over Queen's in the quarterfinals. After a tough defeat in a hard-fought game against Concordia, the senior ended his Huskie career strong with a goal and an assist in a 4-1 bronze medal game victory over TMU.

Men's Volleyball - Philipp Lauter (Brandon Bobcats)

March 21 - U SPORTS QF vs Winnipeg; won 3-0; eight kills on nine attempts; hit .778.

March 22 - U SPORTS SF vs Saskatchewan; won 3-2; five kills on 11 swings; hit .455; seven block assists; one solo block.

March 23 - U SPORTS Final vs Alberta; won 3-1; 10 kills on 17 swings and no errors; hit .588; nine block assists.

You couldn't have scripted a more perfect ending to a U SPORTS career if you tried.

Playing in front of raucous hometown fans, Lauter and the Bobcats started the U SPORTS Championships in dramatic fashion by sweeping the Canada West champion and top-seed Winnipeg Wesmen in straight sets. The fourth-year middle had eight kills on nine attempts to hit a sparkling .778.

Brandon battled another Canada West opponent in the semifinals and pulled off a reverse sweep against the Saskatchewan Huskies. The ‘German Express’ had five kills on 11 swings to hit .455. He added seven block assists and one solo block.

Lauter cemented his place as a BU icon by helping the Bobcats prevail against the Alberta Golden Bears in four sets in the gold medal match. He had 10 kills on 17 swings with zero errors to hit .588. He was also a major force at the net with nine block assists.

Lauter completed his university volleyball career by being recognized as tournament MVP as the Bobcats captured their first-ever national title.

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.