Nov. 12, 2024 – It was a weekend filled with multiple championship stories across the conference, as this edition of the Canada West Players of the Week – Presented by BioSteelfeatures 13 standout student-athlete performances.
One of the most unpredictable Canada West football seasons in recent memory came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday as the Regina Rams completed their Cinderella playoff run, capturing the 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup with a dramatic 19-14 victory over provincial rival Saskatchewan.
It’s the first conference title for the Rams since 2000, who became just the second fourth seed to win the Hardy Trophy. They’ll now host RSEQ champion Laval in the U SPORTS Mitchell Bowl national semifinal next Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.
Canada West programs continued to dominate on the national stage, with UBC’s men’s and women’s soccer teams both claiming U SPORTS national titles. The T-Birds men used a stunning last minute goal from Joven Mann to defeat Montreal 1-0 in the final, while the UBC women defeated Laval 1-0 to defend their national title and put a bow on an unbeaten season.
Meanwhile, UBC Okanagan welcomed the best runners from across the country to Kelowna for the U SPORTS cross country championships. UBCO’s own Lauren McNeil won the women’s race while setting a course record, while Regina’s Jonathan Podbielski was the top CW men’s finisher, earning an individual bronze.
Here are your Canada West Players of the Week, presented by BioSteel.
Nov. 7 – U SPORTS Quarter-final: 1G, 87 mins in a 4-0 UBC win vs Dalhousie
Nov. 8 – U SPORTS Semifinal: 1 shot, 120 mins in a 1-0 UBC win vs Cape Breton
Nov. 10 – U SPORTS Final: 1G, GWG, 2 SOG, 90 mins in a 1-0 UBC win vs Laval
Scoring the only goal of the U SPORTS championship final, Sophia Ferreira pushed the T-Birds to their second consecutive national banner, completing the perfect season as UBC went 20-0 to capture their ninth title in program history.
Ferreira completed the tournament with two goals including a tally in the ‘Birds’ quarter-final win over the host Dalhousie Tigers. The defender played all but three minutes for UBC over the course of the tournament, which included an extra time win over Cape Breton in their semifinal.
Nov. 7 – U SPORTS Quarter-final: 2G, 88 mins in a 4-2 UBC win over UNB
Nov. 8 – U SPORTS Semifinal: 1A, 2 SOG, 84 mins in a 3-0 UBC win over McGill
Nov. 9 – U SPORTS Final: 1G, GWG, 90 mins in a 1-0 UBC win over Montreal
Stepping up on the biggest stage to help UBC claim the 2024 U SPORTS National Championship, Joven Mann scored the only goal of the gold medal match, a header in the 90th minute, to send the T-Birds to the top of the mountain for the first time since 2013.
Named the tournament MVP, Mann finished with four total points including two goals in UBC’s 4-2 quarter-final victory over the University of New Brunswick. The midfielder from Surrey, B.C. also set up the game winning goal in UBC’s semifinal victory over McGill.
The Thunderbirds have now won a total of 14 national championships while completing the U SPORTS medal trifecta the last three seasons following silver in 2022 and bronze in 2023.
Football Offensive Player of the Week – Noah Pelletier (Regina Rams)
Nov. 9 at SSK: 23-33, 228 YDS, 1 TD in 19-14 BioSteel Hardy Cup victory
Providing a calm and steady presence for the Rams offence, Noah Pelletier led his team to a 19-14 victory over rival Saskatchewan in the 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup, securing Regina’s first conference championship since 2000.
Throwing for 228 yards, Pelletier managed the game well and gave the Rams an opportunity to make a comeback while facing an early 14-1 deficit. His 12-yard touchdown connection with Emmett Steadman late in the first half was pivotal, setting the stage for a Rams comeback in the second half.
Pelletier and the Rams will now take on Laval in the Mitchell Bowl this Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Football Defensive Player of the Week – Carson Sombach (Regina Rams)
Nov. 9 at SSK: 2 assisted tackles, 1 INT return for a 45-YD touchdown
Carson Sombach made the game changing play in Saturday’s BioSteel Hardy Cup, picking off Saskatchewan quarterback Anton Amundrud and returning it for a 45-yard pick six.
The major turned out to be the game winning score, giving the Rams an 18-14 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The third year defensive back from Regina also added two assisted tackles in the victory. He’ll look for another big performance this Saturday as the Rams take on Laval in the U SPORTS Mitchell Bowl.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week – Isaac Wegner (Regina Rams)
Nov. 9 at SSK: 1/1 FG, long of 29 yards, 2/2 XP, 9 punts for an average of 41 YDS
The booming leg of fourth year kicker Isaac Wegner was a key part of Regina’s 19-14 victory in the 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup on Saturday.
The Strathmore, Alta. product got the Rams started on the right note, scoring a rouge off the opening kickoff. He also nailed a 29 yard field goal and struck for another rouge in the third quarter, scoring seven points total in the win.
In a tightly contested defensive affair, his punting performance was key to winning the field position battle. He pinned the Huskies within their own 20 on three different occasions, averaging 41 yards on his nine punts.
Women’s Cross Country – Lauren McNeil (UBC Okanagan)
Nov. 9: 1st Place at U SPORTS championship, 8km time of 26:31 (new course record)
McNeil won the first individual U SPORTS gold medal in UBCO Heat history on Saturday as she won the 2024 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships at Mission Recreation Park.
McNeil shattered the course record of 28:31 from the 2023 Canada West Championships, posting a time of 26:31 to beat Trinity Western’s Constance Nankivell by 11 seconds to claim gold.
As a result of her victory, McNeil was also named the U SPORTS Outstanding Athlete of the Year as well as a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian.
Men’s Cross Country – Jonathan Podbielski (Regina Cougars)
Nov. 9: 3rd Place at U SPORTS championship, 8km time of 23:32
Podbielski continued his strong season on Saturday, leading all Canada West men’s runners with a third place finish at the 2024 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships at Mission Recreation Park in Kelowna, B.C.
The third year Regina product finished the course in 23:32, claiming bronze. He was just thirteen seconds off the first place time of 23:19 set by Laval’s Philippe Morneau-Cartier.
Women’s Hockey – Ashley Breitkreuz (Trinity Western Spartans)
Nov. 8 vs SSK: 1 G, 1 A, 3 shots in 3-1 win
Nov. 9 vs SSK: 1 G, 2 shots in 4-1 win
Ashley Breitkreuz was key to a Spartans sweep of visiting Saskatchewan, as an up-and-coming Trinity Western team pushed their record back to .500.
The rookie forward from Regina, Sask. had a goal and a helper in Friday night’s 3-1 victory, then added another goal in a 4-1 win on Saturday.
The Human Kinetics student now has four points in ten games this season.
Nov. 8 at MRU: 2 GA, 18 saves, .900 save % in a 5-2 win
Nov. 9 at MRU: 2 GA, 30 saves, .938 save % in a 5-2 win
Backstopping the T-Birds to the weekend sweep over the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary, Cole Schwebius claimed his third and fourth wins of the season while putting up a combined .923 save percentage against one of the most potent offences in the conference.
Having won each of his last four starts, Schwebius is up to a .914 save percentage on the season along with a 2.42 GAA.
The Thunderbirds have now won four of their last five to sit tied with the Dinos for second in the West Division, just one point back of MRU. The ‘Birds now get set to host Calgary for a pair of contests in Vancouver and an opportunity to even up their season series with the Dinos.
Nov. 8 at TWU – 10 kills, 2 aces, 11 digs, 14 points in a 3-0 win
Trinity Solecki led the Thunderbirds with 10 kills and 11 digs in another clinical performance for the defending U SPORTS National Champions, taking down the Spartans in straight sets to remain a perfect 6-0 on the season.
The T-Birds head to Calgary this weekend to face the Mount Royal Cougars.
Nov 8 vs. SSK: Career-high 23 kills; .404 hitting %; 4 service aces; 9 digs in 3-2 win
Nov 9 vs. SSK: 14 kills; 9 digs in 3-1 loss
Bobcat men’s volleyball had an epic home opener and Liam Pauls had a performance to match the moment. Pauls had a career-high 23 kills as BU edged the visiting Huskies in five sets in a battle of nationally ranked teams. He added four service aces and nine digs in Friday’s gutter-war victory for the blue and gold. In Saturday’s rematch, Pauls had a team-high 14 kills and chipped in with nine digs.
Gage Grassick did it all for the Huskies this past weekend. The All-Canadian talent recorded just the 12th triple-double in the history of Canada West women’s basketball and first-ever regular season triple-double in program history with an 18-point, 10-rebound, and 12-assist performance in a blowout win against Manitoba. The next night she was back at it, recording 14 points in another lopsided Huskie victory.
Nate Petrone was electric once again. The All-Canadian guard led the Dinos to a pair of wins over the rival Golden Bears in the Battle of Alberta. Petrone couldn’t miss in Friday’s opener, going 8-10 from the floor – including a perfect 2-2 from three – to lead all players with 24 points.
He followed that up with another game-high 25 points in just 31 minutes, once against lighting things up at an incredibly efficient pace going 9-12 overall from the floor.
Through four games, Petrone leads the nation in scoring (24.5 ppg) and is in the top five both in both Canada West and U SPORTS in shooting percentage (67.3) from the guard position.
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 17 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.
