Players Bench Athletes of the Week: January 9 – 15

Female Athlete of the Week

The MRU Cougars women’s volleyball team achieved their first weekend sweep of the season with two crucial wins over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Friday’s match went the distance and needed all five sets to find a winner. The Cougars’ offence flourished, putting down 57 kills to the Huskies’ 38. MRU sealed the win and looked towards Saturday’s rematch. After Saskatchewan dominated the first set of Saturday’s game, Mount Royal regrouped to take the next three sets to win their second in a row.

The Players Bench Female Athlete of the Week is Bronwynn Davies-Neira. The 6-0 right-side hitter put on a clinic over the weekend, weaponizing her hitting power and excellent placement. In the first game, Davies-Neira had her name all over the scoresheet, registering season-highs of 20 points, 14 kills and four aces also posting four blocks en route to MRU’s 3-2 victory. The Newcastle, Ont., local followed her impressive performance with 14 kills, four blocks and three aces, helping the Cougars to consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Davies-Neira is a second-year student enrolled in Mount Royal’s Health & Physical Education program.

Male Athlete of the Week

Mount Royal Cougars men’s hockey returned to conference play for the first time in 2024. MRU hosted the last-place University of Manitoba Bisons for a couple of games and displayed dominance in both games. Friday’s tilt saw a blowout victory by the Cougars, winning 9-0. Saturday’s afternoon rematch was much closer; however, the Cougars prevailed by a healthy margin again, winning 3-0 over the Bisons. The two victories improved Mount Royal’s record to 15-5-0, slotting them into fourth place in Canada West.

The Players Bench Male Athlete of the Week is Shane Farkas. The Cougars starting goaltender shut down the Bisons, recording back-to-back shutouts. Farkas leads the league with three shutouts, while also being in the top five in both goals against average (2.21) and save percentage (.915). The former Victoria Royal stopped all 39 shots that he faced from Manitoba including a few outstanding saves that tested his mobility and reflexes. Since returning from injury in late November, Farkas has allowed only eight goals in six games and has not registered a loss since Nov. 4.

Farkas is a second-year student in MRU’s open studies program and is a 2022-23 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian.