CW BioSteel Players of the Week: Feb. 3

Feb. 3, 2026 - Rivalries took centre stage across Canada West this past weekend as the conference calendar has surged into its stretch drive.

The 12th annual Crowchild Classic delivered another unforgettable spectacle, setting a new U SPORTS hockey attendance record as 13,324 raucous fans packed the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, split between Dinos red and Mount Royal Cougars blue. Each school got to celebrate a victory, with the Dinos women and Cougars men each earning 2–1 wins.

The cross-city rivalry between Winnipeg and Manitoba reignited during the 34th annual Duckworth Challenge, an eight-game volleyball and basketball showdown. The Bisons claimed the series 5–3 to retain bragging rights for a third straight year, highlighted by a pair of wins from the Herd's men’s volleyball team.

The U-Prairie Challenge between Regina and Saskatchewan also delivered plenty of drama. The Cougars men’s hockey team stunned the No. 3-ranked Huskies with a 5–4 road win on Friday, powered by 46 saves from rookie goaltender Damon Cunningham. The rivalry also featured a clash between two of the nation’s top women’s basketball programs, as top-ranked Saskatchewan extended its undefeated season with a 63–45 victory over No. 4 Regina. The two schools will meet again tonight for a basketball doubleheader in the Queen City.

Another big weekend is on deck, highlighted by the final weekend of the basketball regular season with multiple playoff spots still up for grabs. Rugby 7s action also returns for Tournament No. 2, hosted by Victoria this Saturday and Sunday.

Let's get to our BioSteel Players of the Week.

Women's Hockey - Natalie Kieser (Alberta Pandas)

Jan. 30 vs MAN: 2 goals, OT winner, 1 assist, five shots, +2 rating in 5-4 OT win

Jan. 31 vs MAN: 1 assist in 4-2 loss

Almost single-handedly pulling out a win on home ice, fifth-year captain Natalie Kieser came up clutch over the weekend, highlighted by a heroic performance late in Friday night's win over the Bisons.

Trailing 4-3 in the final minutes of regulation, Kieser scored the game-tying goal with just 57 seconds left, ripping a shot past Manitoba goalie Emily Shippam from the slot. Kieser then followed that up in overtime, first drawing a penalty midway through the extra frame, before converting on the powerplay with a one-timer from the circle.

The fifth-year captain also added an assist on Friday as well as an assist on Saturday, and has moved into the top ten in conference scoring with 17 points in 22 games.

View Women's Hockey: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Men's Hockey - Shane Farkas (Mount Royal Cougars)

Jan. 29 vs CGY: 23 saves, .958 SV% in 2-1 win

Jan. 31 vs CGY: 18 saves, .857 SV%, 7 shootout saves (1.000 SOSV%) in 4-3 SO win

Farkas was impressive as the Cougars men’s hockey team captured two massive wins over their crosstown rivals from the University of Calgary, including a 2-1 win in the 12th annual Crowchild Classic at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
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The Penticton, B.C. product started in both games and was a massive reason why Mount Royal pulled off the sweep. Farkas made 23 saves in his fourth career Crowchild Classic on Thursday, including arguably the Cougars' save of the year late in the third period to keep MRU ahead. In Saturday’s rematch at Flames Community Arena, the netminder made 18 saves in regulation and overtime, then stopped all seven Calgary skaters in the shootout to secure a 4-3 win.
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Farkas also became the Cougars’ all-time leader in games and minutes played by a goalie (in the U SPORTS era) on Thursday. After missing the first half of the season due to injury, the fourth-year has gone 6-1-0 for the Cougars, posting a 2.69 goals against average.

View Men's Hockey: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Women's Volleyball - Justine Kolody (Alberta Pandas)

Jan. 30 at TRU: 39 assists, 9 digs, 2 aces, 2 kills in 3-1 win

Jan. 31 at TRU: 60 assists, 17 digs, 2 kills in 3-2 win

In one of the most impressive weekends for a Pandas setter in team history, fifth-year Justine Kolody was utterly dominant in a pair of road wins over the U SPORTS #4 ranked TRU WolfPack.

In arguably their most important weekend of the season, Kolody dished out an astonishing 109 assists over nine sets, as the Pandas clinched a top-two seed in CW with the road sweep.

Highlighting her weekend in Kamloops was a career-high 60 assists in Saturday's five-set win, which was the fourth most assists in a single game by a Panda ever. Kolody also added a career-high 17 digs to go along with two kills in what might be the best performance of her varsity career.

The night before, Kolody was terrific in guiding the Pandas offence with 39 assists, adding nine digs and four block assists in a 3-1 win.

The Pandas now own a CW-best 16-2 record with two home matches left this season.

View Women's Volleyball: ​ | Schedule | Leaders

Men's Volleyball - Jonah Dueck (Manitoba Bisons)

Jan. 30 at WPG: 3 solo BLKS, 5 assisted BLKS, 2 kills, 4 digs in 3-0 win

Jan. 31 vs WPG: 4 solo BLKS, 4 assisted BLKS, 4 digs, 9 kills, .643 hitting % in 3-1 win

Playing in his final Duckworth Challenge, and regular season home game as a senior, middle Jonah Dueck didn't disappoint. He put down a combined seven solo blocks (including tying his career-high with four solos on Saturday) and was all over the court as the Herd swept Winnipeg for the first time since 2021-22.

Dueck's final solo of the game on Saturday put Manitoba on match point, which they earned one point later to secure the Duckworth trophy for the Bisons for the third year in a row.

The Rosenort Boogeyman's 16 total blocks were a two game season best, and he has 324 regular season blocks in his career, fourth all-time in the rally scoring era for the program.

View Men's Volleyball: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Women's Basketball - Piper Ingalls (Brandon Bobcats)

Jan. 30 vs GMU: 32 PTS, 11-18 FG; 4-7 3PT; 7 AST in 108-91 win

Jan. 31 vs GMU: 27 PTS, 8-14 FG; 5-8 3PT; 6-7 FT in 72-66 win

Piper Ingalls powered the Bobcats to back-to-back victories to vastly improve their playoff chances this past weekend. Ingalls wowed the crowd at the Healthy Living Centre with an electrifying 32-point performance on Friday as BU cracked the century mark in a 108-91 victory over MacEwan. Ingalls shot 11 of 18 from the floor and was four of seven from distance.

The fifth-year guard followed that by scoring 27 points in her final home outing on senior night. The 'Hot Rod' also reached a special milestone becoming the first BU women's basketball player in Canada West history to each 1,000 career points.

Ingalls and her Bobcats visit the Manitoba Bisons this coming weekend to conclude the conference schedule. BU is on the verge of clinching a spot in the post-season for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.

View Women's Basketball: Standings | ​ Schedule | Leaders

Men's Basketball - Sultan Haider-Bhatti (Brandon Bobcats)

Jan. 30 vs GMU: Triple-double with 23 PTS, 15 REB and 11 ASST in 100-89 win

Jan. 31 vs GMU: Career-high 36 PTS; 10 REB, six three-pointers in 96-84 win

The Bobcats' Batman put his super powers to good use for the final time on home court over the weekend. Sultan Haider-Bhatti registered a triple-double in last Friday's win as the Bobcats hit the century mark in a 100-89 triumph over MacEwan. He scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter while adding 15 boards and 11 assists.

Then on his senior night, Haider-Bhatti continued to cement his legacy as a clutch performer. He drained three shots from distance in a quick time span in the fourth quarter to help secure a 96-84 victory and the weekend sweep. Haider-Bhatti finished the contest with a career-high 36 points while adding 10 rebounds.

Haider-Bhatti and his playoff-bound Bobcats visit the Manitoba Bisons this coming weekend to conclude the Canada West regular season.

View Men's Basketball: Standings | Schedule | Leaders

Women's Track and Field - Jinaye Shomachuk (Lethbridge Pronghorns)

Jim Daly Bison Classic - 1st Place Weight Throw (21.67m)

Jim Daly Bison Classic - 1st place Shot Put (13.66m)

It was another historic performance from Jinaye Shomachuk, who continues to etch her name into multiple record books in the women's weight throw.

Shomachuk captured two gold medals at the Jim Daly Bison Classic hosted by the University of Manitoba, including a massive 21.67m distance in the Weight Throw, a distance that qualifies as the farthest throw ever recorded by a woman in U SPORTS history. It also improves on her previous record breaking throw two weeks ago at the Golden Bear Open, where her 21.35m toss set a new Alberta provincial indoor record that hadn't been broken in 15 years.

She also grabbed first in the Shot Put, throwing 13.66m. That distance ranks her first in Canada West this season, and second in U SPORTS.

Men's Track and Field - Daxx Turner (Manitoba Bisons)

Jim Daly Bison Classic - 1st Place Triple Jump (16.05m)

Neepawa native Daxx Turner continued his impressive start to the track and field season, breaking his own school record in the triple jump at home at the Bisons Classic, with a leap of 16.05m. That distance is also tenth all-time indoors in Canada.

It's the third different meet this year where Turner has jumped above the U SPORTS auto standard, with top leaps of 15.34 and 15.67 in Sask, and Alberta, respectively. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in the event.

Women's Swimming - Alexanne Lepage (Calgary Dinos)

It was an impressive final home meet of the year for third-year standout Alexanne Lepage. The 2023 Canada West Swimmer of the Year won both of her individual events and carried that speed with outstanding individual swims in both relays.
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​Lepage got her night started with a massive win in her first individual event. In the 200 IM, she touched the wall in 2:09.82 - a new personal best and two seconds ahead of 2025 CW Swimmer of the Year Kayla Noelle Sanchez. Lepage showed she still had plenty left in the tank, winning the 100 breaststroke with a winning time of 1:07.00 - well over a full second ahead of second place at the loaded Canada West meet.
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​The Vernon, B.C. native also had a strong showing in both of Calgary's relays on the night, turning in the fastest split time across the board in the women's 200 free relay at 25.55. Lepage also had the fastest breaststroke split of 30.10 in the 200 medley relay.
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​As a team, the Dinos finished a mere three points shy of UBC for the team title at the annual Mountain Cup.

Men's Swimming - Kai Lilienthal (UBC Thunderbirds)

UBC’s second-year standout earned a pair of first place individual finishes in the 100m fly and 50m backstroke while also posting a close runner-up performance as part of the T-Birds’ 200 metre medley relay, touching the wall just six tenths of a second behind first place Calgary.

Lilienthal helped lead the Thunderbirds to the team victory at the University Cup Mountain Meet, hosted by the University of Calgary.

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.