CW Announces Players of the Week

Oct. 3, 2023 – The Canada West Universities Athletic Association is proud to announce its Players of the Week.

Football Offensive Player of the Week – QB Jackson Tachinski (Manitoba)

A commanding performance from the Bisons quarterback helped Manitoba take sole possession of the final Canada West playoff spot. He led all players with 110 rushing yards (his first time going over 100 as a Bison) on just 13 carries for an 8.5 yard average and two scores. Tachinski is now fourth in Canada West with 297 yards on the ground. He also threw for 171 yards and a score on 15-of-19 passing. Over the last two games since returning from injury, Tachinski has 683 all-purpose yards and six majors. 

Football Defensive Player of the Week – DB Mack Bannatyne (Alberta)

Bannatyne's big interception helped Alberta keep their early momentum rolling in a 46-27 win over Regina. The 69-yard interception return for a touchdown came with just under two minutes left in the half, extending the Golden Bears lead to 17-7. The third-year defensive back from Calgary also had six solo tackles in the win, which propelled move Alberta to 4-1 and a share of top spot in the CW standings.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week – K David Solie (Saskatchewan)

Solie's accuracy and distance was the difference in helping the Huskies win a thriller at Griffiths Stadium, as they took down the previously undefeated UBC Thunderbirds by a narrow 34-31 score. A fifth-year hometown Saskatoon product, Solie went 4-5 on his FG attempts, including hitting an impressive 50-yarder just as the first half expired. He also hit from 42, 23 and 16 yards out.

Women’s Soccer – Kayley Lidstone (Victoria)

Lidstone put up the brick wall in a huge weekend for the Vikes, and was instrumental in Victoria handing UBC a 2-0 defeat as Victoria became the first team to knock off the nationally ranked T-Birds this season. She had eight saves in her shutout of the Thunderbirds, the Vikes’ first shutout of UBC since 2017 and first win over UBC 2019. She also picked up two saves in a clean sheet against UNBC. She's been a major contributor to the Vikes during the team's recent string of solid play, which includes four straight clean sheets.

Men’s Soccer – Dominic Anamali (Calgary)

The rookie had a breakout weekend to help the Dinos secure a six-point weekend, keeping the team firmly in the Prairie Division playoff picture. He opened the scoring in a 4-0 win over a quality Lethbridge side on Saturday, then added a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Saskatchewan on Sunday.

Women's Hockey - ​ Sophie Lalor (Saskatchewan)

Lalor's three goals and two assists helped the Huskies to an opening weekend sweep of Manitoba. She scored two goals and an assist on Friday, including the game winner in a 4-2 season opening win. ​ She then added another goal on Saturday in the Huskies' 4-0 win. She was a +2 in both games, while recording six shots on Friday and another two on Saturday.

MHKY - Connor Blake (Mount Royal University)

It was a memorable and emotional weekend for Blake, as the fifth-year defenceman put up two goals and two assists in the opening two games of the season for the Cougars.

His overtime game winner on Saturday against Regina was extra special because it happened on the same night when he received the inaugural Tim Callaghan Memorial Hockey Scholarship. Tim Callaghan was a huge part of the MRU hockey program and captained the team for four years. The Callaghan family generously created the scholarship in his memory and was in attendance for Saturday's game. Blake was recognized as the first recipient of the scholarship for "showing dedication to his academics and demonstrating outstanding leadership and character through their commitment to the team." 

Connor scored the overtime goal right in front of the Callaghan family and celebrated with them through the glass in an emotional moment for everyone in attendance.

Rugby – Maggie MacKinnon (Victoria)

MacKinnon was instrumental in a big Vikes win over Lethbridge, scoring a try and adding seven successful converts, scoring a total of 19 points. The seven converts, scored on the first seven attempts of the game, was tied for most in a single CW game this season.

Field Hockey Player of the Week – Libby Hogg (Victoria)

Hogg helped the Vikes to a weekend sweep of the Calgary Dinos, scoring two goals in Sunday's 5-0 victory. She got the Vikes on the board in the third minute, capitalizing on a penalty corner opportunity to give UVic a 1-0 lead. Hogg then struck again in the 24th minute on a second penalty corner, doubling the Vikes lead.

GOLF - Kalee Seto (Alberta) & Sean Robertson (Alberta)

It was a golden week for the Alberta golf program, as Sean Robertson and Kalee Seto both captured the individual titles at the Dinos Open at Springbank Links Golf Course. 

Robertson captured the men's individual title, finishing with a 70-74 (+2) to win by two shots over Calgary's Ethan Banks. Robertson fired an even par 36 on the back nine on Monday to hold off Banks, who shot a three-under 68 in the final round. The win also helped the Golden Bears win the team title at the event.

Meanwhile, Seto overcame a four-shot deficit, firing a final round 78 to capture the Dinos Open women's individual title. The Rookie Panda finished her round on Monday with an even-par 36 on the back nine, recording birdies on her 17th and 18th holes of the day to win by four shots. The performance helped Alberta take second in the team event.

XC - Allison Grajczyk-Jelinski (Saskatchewan) & Jonathan Podbielski (Regina)

Grajczyk-Jelinski and Podbielski raced to the top individual spots at the inaugural Dakota Classic, hosted by the University of Saskatchewan Huskies at the Whitecap Dakota First Nation last weekend. Grajczyk-Jelinksi placed first overall on the women's side after delivering an 8km time of 31.35.5, while Podbielski took top spot in the men's race in an exhilarating finish, completing the 8km track in 27:02.9, just 0:03.4 seconds faster than the second place competitor.