Three Stars: Simard, Croft, Fownes earn honours

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Men’s hockey student-athlete Samuel Simard is the MacEwan Athletics’ first star of the week after scoring the overtime winner against the Manitoba Bisons last Saturday.

Simard tapped in a rebound with 0.3 seconds left as the Griffins completed a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Bisons.

Men’s volleyball outside hitter Mitchell Croft and women’s soccer centre-back Ella Fownes were named the second and third stars, respectively.

All three are making their first Three Stars appearance of the 2024-25 season.

Samuel Simard scored the overtime-winning goal against Manitoba last Saturday (Rebecca Chelmick photo).

1^st STAR: Samuel Simard, F, men’s hockey

Okotoks, AB, second-year, Arts

As MacEwan’s best forward in Saturday’s game against Manitoba – according to head coach Zack Dailey – it was fitting that Simard played hero at the end of the contest as he tapped in a rebound for the overtime game-winner with 0.3 seconds left.

It was his only goal and point of the weekend series, but what a big one it was as the Griffins salvaged a split with the Bisons and stayed ahead of them in the tight East Division standings.

Simard finished with seven shots on goal in the two games (a 4-1 loss and the OT win).

For the season, the former Drumheller Dragons captain has a goal and five points in six games, tied for second in scoring on the Griffins.

MacEwan (3-3-0) hosts UBC (3-4-1) on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (3 p.m., both Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV).

Mitchell Croft, seen blasting a kill past the Trinity Western block earlier this month, led the Griffins with 27 kills in two matches at UBC Okanagan Oct. 25-26 (Robert Antoniuk photo).

2^nd STAR: Mitchell Croft, OH, men’s volleyball

Melbourne, AUS, first-year, Open Studies

After a strong season-opening weekend against Trinity Western, the rookie Australian showed another gear against UBC Okanagan in the first road series of his Canada West career.

Croft was especially dominant in Saturday’s 3-1 loss, producing a match-high 17 kills and 18.5 points on a .378 hitting percentage, adding three digs and three blocks. That was all done while playing out of position after being switched to left side for the match.

In Friday’s 3-0 blowout loss where the Griffins only reached 20+ points in one set, Croft still managed 10 kills and 12.0 points on a .185 hitting percentage.

For the season, the 6-foot-9 Australian Junior national team product leads the Griffins with 46 kills (fourth in Canada West) and 52.5 points (tied for fifth).

The Griffins are enjoying a bye week before returning to action at home Nov. 8-9 vs. cross-town rival Alberta.

Ella Fownes scored the Griffins’ lone goal against Trinity Western last Friday and was her usual stellar defensive self at the centre-back position (James Maclennan photo).

3^rd STAR: Ella Fownes, D, women’s soccer

Edmonton, AB, second-year, Arts

A defensive rock for the Griffins, who has excelled at the centre-back position ever since coming in as a rookie in 2023, Fownes scored the lone goal for MacEwan in their 2-1 quarter-final playoff loss to Trinity Western last Friday.

In the 39^th minute, Fownes launched a mid-field free kick into the box that bounced off a Trinity Western defender’s head and into the goal to tie the game 1-1.

She spent the rest of the game locking down the Spartans’ attack in a complete 90-minute performance that earned her player of the game honours for the Griffins.

Fownes finished the 2024-25 campaign with three goals, including two scored in the regular season.