CW BioSteel Players of the Week: Sept. 29

Sept. 29, 2026 - It's the biggest edition yet of the BioSteel Canada West Players of the Week, coming off a weekend of action that featured a little bit of everything.

We've hit the halfway point in Canada West football, marked by a pair of memorable rivalry contests. Alberta kicked things off with a crucial win over rival Calgary, thanks to Seth Poelzer rushing for an astonishing 312 yards - breaking a 23-year old Golden Bears program record. The Saskatchewan Huskies got the better of their provincial rivals, defeating Regina 38-31, while UBC spoiled Manitoba's homecoming with a dominant 31-6 win.

Saskatchewan and UBC now lead the pack at 3-1, while Regina and Manitoba sit at 2-2. Alberta and Calgary are on the outside looking in at 1-3 as the playoff push begins to intensify. The top four teams qualify for the BioSteel Hardy Cup playoffs.

The UBC Thunderbirds field hockey team made a statement in Victoria, earning a win and taking the shootout after a draw with the Vikes. Now 3-0-1, the T-Birds have put themselves in position to challenge Victoria’s seven-year reign as conference champions.

In Rugby 15s action, the lone game of the weekend saw Calgary secure its first conference win since 2022 with a memorable 17-13 home win over Alberta. It couldn't have come in a more dramatic fashion, with third-year Amber Quo scoring the game winning try in the 80th minute.

In women's soccer, UBC, Thompson Rivers and Calgary all remain undefeated after a busy weekend, while Saskatchewan also picked up two wins over rival Regina. Interdivision games took centre stage in men's play, with Calgary and MRU both picking up a pair of wins, while UBC took down Alberta 3-0 in a battle of two traditional title contenders.

Championship sports are also entering full swing, with cross country and golf events taking place across the conference.

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

Football Offensive Player of the Week - Seth Poelzer (Alberta Golden Bears)

Week 4 at CGY: 25 carries, 312 rush yards, 1 rush TD, 3 receptions, 28 yards in 42-35 win

Sophomore running back Seth Poelzer put forth one of the best single-game performances in Canada West history on Friday night, leading Golden Bears Football to a 42-35 road win over the Calgary Dinos.

Poelzer broke a 23-year-old Golden Bears program record with 312 rushing yards on just 25 attempts, averaging an astonishing 12.5 yards per carry to help Alberta re-enter the playoff race. Poelzer's 312 rushing yards are also the fifth most in Canada West history, and most by any player since 2006.

The Okotoks product also added three receptions for 28 yards in the offensive explosion.

Poelzer and the Bears will host the Manitoba Bisons on Friday night at Foote Field.

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Football Defensive Player of the Week - Nathan Casimir (Saskatchewan Huskies)

Week 4 at REG: 5 tackles, 3 solo, 1.5 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 break up in 38-31 win

Defensive back Nathan Casimir was all over the field at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday afternoon, helping lead the Huskies to a crucial 38-31 win.

In a meeting of provincial rivals, Casimir made the momentum-shifting play of the first half when he forced a fumble to set up a Porter Hanson scoop and score, keeping the Rams offence in check early. He went on to total five tackles, including a pair made behind the line of scrimmage, and also made a touchdown-saving pass break up in the fourth quarter to delay a Rams comeback attempt.

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Football Special Teams Player of the Week - Alexander Hillyard (UBC Thunderbirds)

Week 4 at MAN: 2/2 FG (32, 26 YDS), 3/3 PAT, Kickoff avg. 59.3 YDS in 31-6 win

UBC's second-year kicker was perfect on the day, drilling through both his second-half field goal attempts from 32 and 26 yards, respectively, while converting all three PATs. The Jacksonville, Florida native also aided solid defensive field position averaging 59.3 yards on three kickoffs.

A perfect 12/12 on touchdown converts on the season, Hillyard also showed off his passing abilities, executing an 11 yard first down throw on a botched snap.

The 3-1 T-Birds will go for a fourth straight win and sole possession of first place in the conference with a battle against the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday in Saskatoon.

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Women's Rugby 15s - Amber Quo (Calgary Dinos)

Sept. 26 vs ALB: Game winning try in 80th minute of 17-13 win

Third-year Amber Quo delivered a moment to remember in Calgary's rugby history, delivering a dramatic last-minute try in the Dinos' 17-13 win against the Alberta Pandas.

The Lethbridge, Alta native scored the winning try in the final seconds to secure Calgary's first rugby 15s win since 2022. The Dinos found themselves 13-12 down with time running out, before they pushed one last time with Quo delivering the final say by crossing the line to secure a walk-off victory.

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

Sept. 26 at VIC: 1 G, GWG in a 3-1 win

Sept. 27 at VIC: Shootout goal in a 1-1 draw, UBC wins shootout 3-1

Sydney Le scored the game winner Saturday morning to push the T-Birds to a massive road win against the defending champion Vikes. The third-year forward followed up by scoring the deciding shootout goal Sunday to keep UBC undefeated at the halfway point of the Canada West season.

The T-Birds now enjoy back-to-back bye weeks before hosting the Calgary Dinos for UBC's home opener on Saturday, Oct. 17.

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Women's Soccer - Mansha Sidhu (Trinity Western Spartans)

Sept. 25 at UBCO: 3 G, 3 SOG, 1 GWG in 61 mins in a 4-1 win

Sept. 26 at UBC: 4 Shots, 1 SOG in 90 mins in a 2-0 loss

Mansha Sidhu had a breakout goal-scoring game against UBC Okanagan, earning her first career hat-trick while helping lift the Spartans to a 4-1 come-from-behind win.

With the score tied 1-1, Sidhu tallied what would stand as the game-winning goal in the 27th minute before scoring twice more to seal the victory.

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Men's Soccer - Luke Norman (UBC Thunderbirds)

Sept. 27 at ALB: 2G, 1 A, 2 SOG, 73 mins in 3-0 win

Luke Norman completed his second career three-point game Sunday afternoon in Edmonton, scoring a brace and adding an assist on the game winner, leading the T-Birds to a 3-0 win over the host Golden Bears to remain undefeated on the season.

Both goals came in first half stoppage time, as Norman headed in his second of the year just under the bar and scored again 70 seconds later. The fourth-year midfielder's earlier assist moved him into a tie for third in all-time program helpers.

View CW Men's Soccer News, Stats and More

Women's Cross Country - Natalie Boston (Alberta Pandas)

2026 Dakota Classic Champion - 31:19.44

The University of Alberta Pandas won the women's team title at the 2026 Dakota Classic on Saturday, placing five runners in the top seven to score just 22 points at Dakota Dunes Resort.

Natalie Boston led the way for Alberta, winning the individual race with a time of 31:19.44. It is the first collegiate win for Boston, who bested Manitoba Bison Lena Klassen by 14 seconds for the race win.

Men's Cross Country - Ian Teichler (Regina Cougars)

2026 Dakota Classic Champion - 26:17

Ian Teichler finished in top spot in the Dakota Classic at Whitecap Dakota First Nation near Saskatoon on Saturday.

Teichler finished with an 8K time of 26:17, seven seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. His strong finish helped lift the Cougars to second place in the team standings.

Women's Golf - Kalee Seto (Alberta Pandas)

University of Alberta Invitational Individual Champion

The Pandas were able to win the 2026 UofA Invitational on Monday, led by a first-place finish from Kalee Seto. The win for Seto is the seventh of her university career, and first in 2026. Seto trailed teammate Amy Smith by two after the opening round, before shooting an 82 on Monday to win her third-straight UofA Invitational.

Seto carded four birdies in her two rounds at Stony Plain Golf Course, winning her 2026 season debut.

Men's Golf - Kai Baerg (Alberta Golden Bears)

University of Alberta Invitational Individual Champion

The Golden Bears continued their winning ways, sweeping the September schedule with their third-straight tournament win, capturing the University of Alberta Invitational on Monday in Stony Plain.

Third-year Golden Bear Kai Baerg overcame a three-shot deficit after the opening round, firing a one-under 71 on Monday to win the men's individual title by one shot, his first collegiate golf win.

Baerg opened with a two-over 74 on Sunday, carding three birdies in the opening round. The third-year Bear added another four birdies on Monday, including a crucial birdie on the 17th hole to secure the one-shot victory.

Next on the golf calendar is the 2026 Canada West Championship, Oct. 5 and 6 in Lethbridge.

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 18 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.