CW Announces Players of the Week

Sept. 17, 2024 - It was another busy weekend of action across Canada West as fall sports have hit full swing.

Week 3 in CW Football saw Saskatchewan and UBC both get their first wins of the season, while Manitoba improved to 3-0 after a dramatic 24-23 victory over Alberta.

MacEwan and Calgary both had two win weekends in men's soccer, while Alberta, UBC and Saskatchewan each had a pair of triumphs on the women's side. Field hockey action saw UBC start their season with two victories over Calgary, while Victoria, UBC and Alberta all picked up wins in women's Rugby 15s.

On the links, golfers from Alberta, Calgary, Lethbridge and Regina competed at the University of Lethbridge Invitational.

Here are your Canada West Players of the Week.

Football Offensive Player of the Week - Ryker Frank (Saskatchewan Huskies)

Sept. 13 vs CGY: 34 carries, 223 yards, 3 TDs, 2 receptions, 8 yards

Frank was crucial in Saskatchewan's 2OT win over Calgary, rushing for a career-high 223 yards on 34 carries and three touchdowns.

The fourth year from Regina, Sask. moved into the school’s record books for single-game carries, rushing yards, and touchdowns. His first touchdown came just before the half, a 9 yard dash for the endzone that gave the Huskies a lead heading into the break. He added a 15 yard touchdown run in the third, and a 4 yard touchdown run in the fourth.

Looking ahead to Week 4: Frank and the Huskies (1-2) head to Vancouver this Friday night to face UBC (1-2) in what will be a pivotal game for both teams. Fans can watch the game on SaskTel maxTV and maxTV Stream or stream live on Canada West TV.

View CW Football: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Football Defensive Player of the Week - Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown (UBC Thunderbirds)

Sept. 14 vs REG: 3 solo tackles, 7 tackle assists, 1 fumble recovery

Ciraolo-Brown led UBC's defence with 7.5 total tackles and a fumble recovery in their dominant performance over Regina, holding the Rams to just 12 points. He now leads Canada West in tackle assists and is fourth in total tackles.

In a tight defensive affair, Ciraolo-Brown made two huge plays on Regina fumbles to help secure the UBC victory. With the T-Birds clinging to a two point lead and plenty of time left for the Rams to score, he forced a fumble to generate a key turnover. He then recovered another fumble on the Rams' next drive on a ball punched out by Deacon Sterna.

Looking ahead to Week 4: With a win under their belts, Ciraolo-Brown and his T-Birds teammates will look to keep the momentum going as they host Saskatchewan on Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium. With both teams coming off wins and sitting at 1-2, it'll be a pivotal matchup. Fans can watch the game on SaskTel maxTV and maxTV Stream or stream live on Canada West TV.

View CW Football: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Football Special Teams Player of the Week - Connor Jones (Calgary Dinos)

Sept. 13 vs SSK: 5 tackles, 4 solo, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 TD

Rookie linebacker Connor Jones blocked a punt and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown in Calgary’s narrow 2OT defeat against Saskatchewan. Jones also recorded five tackles and forced a fumble.

The Coquitlam, B.C. product helped the Dinos get on the board first with his big play, blocking Saskatchewan's first punt of the night and immediately scooping up the ball and sprinting for the score.

Looking ahead to Week 4: Calgary (1-2) has a tough test next Saturday when they host No. 5 ranked Manitoba (3-0). Fans can watch the game live on Canada West TV.

View CW Football: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Women's Rugby 15s - Kira Peary (Victoria Vikes)

Sept. 12 vs LET: 1 try, 2 converts, 1 PG for 12 points

Peary led the Vikes to victory against Lethbridge. She successfully made two convert attempts, scored a try, and added a penalty goal for a total of 12 points in the game.

She also assisted a teammate's try with a chip kick and made the first Vikes penalty goal of the season.

The Vikes will host Alberta on Thursday to kick off the fourth week of CW Rugby action. Fans can stream the game live on Canada West TV.

View Women's Rugby 15s: Standings | Schedule

Women's Field Hockey - Sydney Le (UBC Thunderbirds)

Sept. 14 vs CGY: 1 goal

Sept. 15 vs CGY: 1 goal, 1 GWG

The North Vancouver product made a dynamic Canada West debut this weekend. Le scored her first two collegiate goals in UBC's weekend sweep over Calgary, including the game-winner on Sunday.

UBC is back in action this weekend as they travel to Victoria to take on the Vikes on Sept. 21 and 22.

View Women's Field Hockey: Standings | Schedule

Women's Soccer - Brityn Hinsche (UNBC Timberwolves)

Sept. 15 vs UBCO: ​ 14 saves, 1 shutout

Hinsche returned from injury to record 14 saves and a shutout in UNBC’s 1-0 victory over UBCO, earning her third career clean sheet.

The Timberwolves received an immediate boost with the return of Hinsche, last year's team MVP and UNBC's Female Athlete of the Year. The third-year keeper from Williams Lake, B.C. was injured early in the team's opener last weekend, and the return of her energy and confidence naturally had a calming effect on her team. Her performance gave the T-Wolves their first win of the season, making a Blake Plummer goal in the 74th minute stand up as the game winner.

UNBC are back at home this weekend with games on Friday against UFV, and Sunday against Trinity Western. Stream the games live on Canada West TV.

View WSOC: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Men's Soccer - Rakan Yassin (MacEwan Griffins)

Sept. 13 at TRU: 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 5 shots

Sept. 15 at UNBC: 1 Goal, GWG, 3 shots

Yassin broke MacEwan’s program record for career goals, notching his 12th career marker while scoring three goals over the weekend. He also tied program records for career winning goals and shots on goal.

The fifth year from Edmonton opened the weekend with a key performance against Thompson Rivers, scoring twice and adding an assist in a key 3-2 road victory. He then added the game winning goal on Sunday at UNBC, helping MacEwan secure a six-point road weekend.

The tally against the T-Wolves also gave him three career game-winning goals, matching Stefan Gajic's program mark and moving him within one of the Griffins' career points record of 18 held by Lahai Mansaray.

The Griffins return home this Saturday and Sunday, taking on BC rivals UFV and Trinity Western. Fans can stream the games live on Canada West TV.

View MSOC: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Women's Golf - Kalee Seto (Alberta Pandas)

U of L Invitational First round: 85 (+14)

U of L Invitational Second Round: 77 (+6)

Seto won her second consecutive tournament, taking the 2024 University of Lethbridge Invitational title at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort with a final round of 77.

The second year Edmonton product was tied for the lead after the opening round, then pulled away from the field on Monday for the victory. She was also named last week's CW Women's Golfer of the Week after a win at the U of A Invitational.

View GOLF: Schedule

Men's Golf - Sam McKeown (Calgary Dinos)

U of L Invitational First round: 73 (+2)

U of L Invitational Second Round: 68 (-3)

McKeown claimed the University of Lethbridge Invitational title in a battle that went down to the wire, besting Alberta's Nick Mah by a single stroke for the individual title.

The first year Calgary product ended the event at -1, including finishing with a five stroke improvement during Monday's final round.

View GOLF: Schedule

About Players of the Week:

The Canada West Players of the Week 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 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.