Reeve Gingera named first CW Men’s Volleyball Player of the Week this season

Oct. 24, 2023 – It was another incredible week of action across Canada West, highlighted by UBC’s fourth straight championship in Rugby 15s and a fifth straight Field Hockey championship for Victoria. A new season of volleyball also got underway, men’s soccer settled its playoff field, and women’s soccer kicked off its playoffs with a pair of dramatic play-in games. With that, the Canada West Universities Athletic Association is proud to announce its Players of the Week.

Football Offensive Player of the Week – QB Garrett Rooker (UBC)

Rooker led the Thunderbirds to a bounce back 31-20 win over the visiting Regina Rams on Saturday afternoon, helping UBC maintain a perfect 4-0 record at home throughout the regular season.

The Rams held the T-Birds offence in check early on, but Rooker eventually found his rhythm. The third-year quarterback from League City, Texas helped the Thunderbirds overcome a 17-3 second quarter deficit, throwing for 346 yards passing and three touchdowns.

With UBC trailing 14-0 early, he got the home crowd on their feet when he aired out the ball to Jaden Phillips on a fake handoff for a 56 yard catch-and-run. That play led to a field goal, getting the T-Birds on the board and they never looked back.

Rooker and the Thunderbirds will look to carry momentum into a huge clash at Alberta next week, with top spot and home field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line.

Football Defensive Player of the Week – DL Kwadwo Boahen (Alberta)

Boahen was an absolute beast on defence for the Golden Bears, helping Alberta keep Manitoba’s offence in check during a 35-25 road win.

The fifth-year defensive lineman from Calgary, Alta. had a blocked field goal, a sack, a forced fumble and four solo tackles in the game.

Boahen’s block came at a crucial time. With the Golden Bears holding on to a 28-25 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Boahen got his hand on the Bison’s 24-yard field goal attempt, preventing Manitoba from tying the game late.

Boahen and his Golden Bears teammates will now prepare to host UBC in the final week of the regular season, with first place in the conference on the line.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week – K Jonathan Giustini (Alberta)

Giustini earns his third Special Teams Player of the Week nod of the 2023 season, going 4 for 5 on his field goal attempts in a 35-25 win over Manitoba.

It was a historic performance for the fourth-year kicker from Calgary, as he broke the Alberta program record for scoring. Giustini’s 252nd career point broke the team record, and he finished the game with 260.

Giustini also made his impact felt on the defensive side of the ball, catching a late interception while at safety to ice the game. Giustini and the Golden Bears will now prepare to host the UBC Thunderbirds next week, with first place in the conference on the line.

Women’s Soccer – F Peyton Enns (Regina)

A magical performance from Enns helped the Regina Cougars continue their remarkable postseason run.

The third-year forward from Winnipeg scored the first postseason hat trick in school history, helping the Cougars upset Alberta 4-3 in the Canada West play-in game.

Enns showed terrific touch in-close on all three tallies. It marks her second consecutive Player of the Week nod, after helping Regina clinch a postseason berth in remarkable fashion during the last weekend of the regular season.

Regina will now head west to take on top-ranked UBC in the Canada West quarterfinals this weekend.

Men’s Soccer – D Will Hughes (Lethbridge)

Hughes delivered two goals in a crucial game against MacEwan on Saturday, helping the Pronghorns to a 3-0 win that officially clinched a postseason berth.

The third-year local Lethbridge County product has been a sensational two-way player for the Horns, providing exceptional defence and deft offensive touch while leading all Canada West defenders in scoring. A dangerous threat from the penalty spot, he is tied for third overall in the conference with six goals, and tied for third in total points with 11.

Hughes and his Pronghorn teammates will take on Victoria in the Canada West quarterfinals in a game which will be played in Calgary, hosted by Prairie Division champion MRU. It’s the first time Lethbridge has qualified for the playoffs since 2016, and just the third time since 2000.

Women’s Hockey – ​ F Izzy Lajoie (Alberta)

Lajoie helped the Pandas pick up two big wins over the Calgary Dinos this weekend, improving their conference record to 7-1.

She led the way in a 4-2 win on Friday, scoring two powerplay markers while also adding an assist. The fourth-year forward from St. Albert, Alta. then added another tally in Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Dinos, breaking a scoreless deadlock halfway through the second period.

Lajoie now has four goals on the season, with all four tallies coming in the last three games.

Men’s Hockey – F Ethan Strang (MacEwan)

Strang made MacEwan hockey history on Friday, becoming the first Griffins player to record a hat-trick during Canada West play.

The second-year forward from Cochrane lit the lamp three times on Friday night, leading MacEwan to a commanding 5-0 triumph over the Manitoba Bisons, their first win of the season. He followed that up with an assist in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Bisons.

Strang is tied for third in goals in the conference with five so far this season.

Women’s Volleyball – MB Kaylee Plouffe (Trinity Western)

Plouffe was instrumental to a huge Spartans sweep of UFV during the opening weekend of the Canada West season, providing huge kills and critical defence.

The third-year Sherwood Park, Alta. product opened with 15 kills and five blocks in a 3-1 win on Friday, then followed it up with a career-high 16 kills the following night in a 3-0 win. Plouffe hit .500 in that match, while committing just two attacking errors and collecting five blocks. 

The wins marked an impressive start to the season for Plouffe and her teammates, especially considering UFV entered the season ranked first in the CW preseason coaches poll.

Men’s Volleyball – OH Reeve Gingera (UBC)

Matched up against an experienced MRU side, Gingera led a new-look Thunderbirds squad to a season opening split.

The second-year outside hitter from Calgary opened his season with a career-high 23 kills and seven digs, keeping the T-Birds within striking range of the Cougars before they ultimately fell 16-14 in a dramatic fifth set.

He led the way the following night as the T-Birds bounced right back for an impressive win, ​ recording 19 kills and eight digs in a 3-1 win over the Cougars. It was an impressive win for UBC, as the Cougars entered the season ranked second in the CW preseason coaches poll.

Rugby – Savannah Bauder (UBC)

Bauder capped off a sensational season in style on Sunday. She scored all ten of her team’s points in a 10-0 victory over Victoria, helping the Thunderbirds seize the Canada West crown for the fourth straight year.

The CW player of the year took her game to another level this weekend, opening with three tries and six successful converts in a semifinal win over Lethbridge. In a tightly contested CW Gold Medal Game, the fourth-year North Vancouver product finally broke through and put her team ahead with a penalty goal in the 54th minute. She then added a try in the 64th minute, before helping the T-Birds defence hold down the lead the rest of the way.

Bauder and her teammates will now prepare for the 2023 U SPORTS Rugby Nationals.

Field Hockey – Anais Chace (Victoria)

The first-year hometown product was a brick wall this weekend, helping the Vikes defeat UBC twice to claim the CW championship by virtue of their first place regular season finish.

Chace was instrumental to the Vikes’ 0-0 shootout win on Saturday, making two saves in a 4-3 shootout win that officially clinched the conference championship for Victoria.

She followed that up with another great performance in the Vikes 1-0 win the following day.

Chace and her teammates will now prepare to fly east to take on the OUA champion in the best-of-three U SPORTS final.

Wrestling – Ellise Daynes (Calgary) and Nick Hooper (Calgary)

Daynes and Hooper got their seasons off to a strong start over the weekend, winning their matches at the Dinos Duals on Friday before topping their categories at the Dinos Invitational the following day.

Daynes (68 kg) pinned her opponent in the Dinos Duals event against University of Saskatchewan to start the weekend, contributing to a convincing 31-16 team win for the Dinos. She then placed first in her category at the Dinos Invitational.

Meanwhile, Hooper (76 kg) won his Dinos Duals match by tech fall over Saskatchewan opponent Cole Sanderson. He then claimed first in the Open 76kg category at the Dinos Invitational.