HKY: Second-year ALB, MRU forwards plaster scoresheets
ALB's Willan, MRU's Sawchuk earn CW Player of the Week honours
CALGARY - Alberta's Madison Willan and Mount Royal's Riley Sawchuk were named the Canada West Hockey Players of the Week by the conference Tuesday.
Willan was the driving force behind four important points for the Pandas over the weekend, notching points on five of the team's six goals against the MacEwan Griffins.
The 5-foot-2 forward started the scoring onslaught Friday when she outmuscled her opponent behind the net, getting the puck to teammate Payton Laumbach for a quick play to Natalie Kieser out front. Kieser netted the pass to get the Pandas on the board after they trailed 1-0.
Willan was then quick to jump on another Laumbach assist to bury the game-winner, as the Pandas took the match 2-1.
The second-year Panda led her to team to victory again the next day, notching the game's first goal, assisting on the next then netting the third to put the game out of the Griffins' reach. The only goal in which she did not play an essential part was the Pandas' fourth on Saturday, as they took the weekend sweep with a 4-0 win.
The Edmonton, AB product is now averaging over a point per game, with 20 in 18 match-ups.
The two wins put Alberta in fourth place as teams jockey for playoff seeding in the home stretch of the season.
Alberta (11-5-1) will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Calgary to take on the Dinos (7-11) Friday and Saturday. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Game log:
Feb. 11: 1 goal, 1 assist in 2-1 W at GMU
Feb. 12: 2 goals, 1 assist in 4-0 W at GMU
Meanwhile, another second-year forward was keen to set the tone for Mount Royal in the team's final regular season games, which happened to be against their cross-town rival.
Riley Sawchuk's quick passing gave him an open net to notch the first goal on Friday. He then restored the team's two-goal lead in the second period by firing a wrist shot from the top of the circle off the far-side post and in.
The Cougars didn't look back, taking the match by a final score of 6-1.
The Prince Albert, SK product sparked his team the next day as well. After they fell behind 4-1 Saturday, Sawchuk logged a goal and an assist to give the Cougars a chance, but they ultimately succumbed to the Calgary Dinos 6-4.
Sawchuk sits second in Canada West and U SPORTS in both points and goals with 38 and 15 respectively.
Mount Royal finished the season at 13-6-1 and will await the season's final match-ups next weekend to determine placement going into playoffs.
The Cougars currently sit in second, which would allow them a first-round bye, but if they are pushed down the ranks, they will next see action in the CW Quarter-finals on Feb. 25 to 27 in a best-of-three series.
Game log:
Feb. 11: 2 goals in 6-1 W vs CGY
Feb. 12: 1 goal, 1 assist in 6-4 L at CGY