Canada West Communications
Highlights:
- Saskatchewan Huskie Jessica Vance (HKY) and Mount Royal Cougar Josh Ross (BB) are the Canada West first stars for the period ending January 28
- Vance recorded her sixth shutout of the season Friday, before helping Saskatchewan to a shootout win Saturday, as the Huskies swept the UBC Thunderbirds
- Ross combined for 74 points in a weekend split for the Cougars against the Victoria Vikes
- Alberta’s Alex Poznikoff (HKY) and Regina’s Kyanna Giles (BB) are the other women’s stars, while Alberta’s Steven Owre (HKY) and Saskatchewan’s Lawrence Moore (BB) are the other men’s stars
EDMONTON – Another big weekend from the nation’s top statistical netminder, and an eye-popping offensive outburst have landed Jessica Vance and Josh Ross Canada West first star honours.
Vance, a standout goalie for the Saskatchewan Huskies, surrendered just one goal in a series against the UBC Thunderbirds, as the Huskies extended their win streak to four games. The Prince Albert, Sask. earned a 13-save 2-0 shutout Friday night, before following that up with an even better performance Saturday when she made 21 saves in a 2-1 shootout win.
On the hardcourt, Ross did everything he could to keep the Cougars in the Canada West playoff hunt. The Burlington, Iowa forward combined for 74 points, as Mount Royal split with Victoria on the road. MRU will look to punch their playoff ticket this weekend, as they wrap up the regular season against crosstown rival Calgary.
You can watch Vance and Ross the rest of the season by tuning into every CW basketball and hockey game on Canada West TV.
Also earning stars this week were: Alberta’s Alex Poznikoff (HKY) and Regina’s Kyanna Giles (BB) on the women’s stars, while Alberta’s Steven Owre (HKY) and Saskatchewan’s Lawrence Moore (BB) are the other men’s stars.
Women’s first star – Jessica Vance
Saskatchewan Huskies hockey
Goalie
2nd-year
Prince Albert, Sask.
Kinesiology
Game log: Friday, Jan. 26 – 13-save shutout (3rd consecutive) in 2-0 W vs. UBC / Saturday, Jan. 27 – 21 saves and three shootout stops in 2-1 SOW vs. UBC.
University of Saskatchewan goaltender Jessica Vance helped the Huskies to a weekend sweep of the No. 3-ranked UBC Thunderbirds with 34 saves.
The second-year Kinesiology student from Prince Albert, Sask., made all 13 saves in Friday's 2-0 shootout win. A night later, Vance stopped 21 of the 22 shots she faced in regulation and overtime. She added three stops in the shootout for the 2-1 Huskie win.
The UBC Saturday night goal stopped a shutout streak of 273:41 for Vance that included three straight shutout games. The total puts her third on the Canada West all-time list and she has seven shutouts this season.
Vance and Huskies remain at home this weekend to host the Alberta Pandas in a battle for a top two spot in the conference.
Men’s first star – Josh Ross
Mount Royal Cougars basketball
Forward
5th-year
Burlington, Iowa
Arts
Game log: Friday, Jan. 26 – Game-high 43 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in 100-97 L @ Victoria / Saturday, Jan. 27 – Game-high 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 85-79 W @ Victoria.
The Mount Royal men’s basketball team split their weekend series with the Victoria Vikes and Josh Ross was a monster at both ends of the floor for the Cougars, keeping the team’s playoff hopes alive.
The veteran forward scored 43 points on Friday night when the Cougars narrowly lost to the Vikes, 100-97. Ross added seven rebounds and five assists to his totals that night. On Saturday in the team’s win, Ross once again was the leading scorer on the floor with 31 points and was the only athlete to record a double-double that night with 15 rebounds. He also had four assists and two steals in the 85-79 win.
Ross’ totals over the weekend series added up to 74 points, 22 rebounds and nine assists against the Vikes.
A home-and-home series with the Calgary Dinos will close out the Cougars’ regular season this week, playing at Calgary Thursday night before coming back home for Senior Night on Friday.
Women’s second star – Alex Poznikoff
Alberta Pandas hockey
Forward
3rd-year
Edmonton, Alta.
Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation
Game log: Friday, Jan. 26 – two goals in 2-0 W vs. Lethbridge / Saturday, Jan. 27 – goal in 1-0 W vs. Lethbridge.
Third-year University of Alberta Panda sniper Alex Poznikoff is the Canada West second star of the week after scoring all three goals in the Pandas weekend sweep of the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Poznikoff scored twice in the Pandas 2-0 win on Friday, following that game up with her third goal of the weekend in the Pandas 1-0 win on Saturday. The wins were the Pandas sixth and seventh straight in Canada West play.
The Edmonton, Alta. Product was sensational on Friday night, scoring the game-winner while shorthanded in the first period, before adding her second of the night in the third. Her game-winner on Saturday extended her point streak to eight games, while improving her season point total to 21, the second highest mark in the conference.
The 13-4-4-3 Pandas will continue their pursuit of a top-two seed in Canada West this weekend, as they travel to Saskatoon to take on the 15-7-1-1 Saskatchewan Huskies.
Men’s second star – Steven Owre
Alberta Golden Bears hockey
Forward
1st-year
Rocklin, California
Native Studies
Game log: Friday, Jan. 26 – two goals in 8-1 W @ Lethbridge / Saturday, Jan. 27 – two goals in 9-2 W @ Lethbridge.
Rookie University of Alberta Golden Bear Steven Owre is the Canada West second star of the week after scoring four goals in a two-game sweep of the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
The Golden Bears outscored the ‘Horns 17-3 in two games, with four of the goals coming off the stick of the first-year Bear. Following the stellar weekend, Owre has jumped into tenth in Canada West scoring with 23 points in 24 games, while leading all rookies in goals (14) and points.
The California product continued his second half tear with a pair of goals in Friday night’s 8-1 road win over Lethbridge, and followed that up with another two-goal performance on Saturday. Owre now has eight goals and ten points over his last six games.
The conference-leading Golden Bears (20-3-1) will look to clinch first-place in the conference this weekend, as they host the second-place Saskatchewan Huskies (18-5-1) at Clare Drake Arena.
Women’s third star – Kyanna Giles
Regina Cougars basketball
Guard
2nd-year
Winnipeg, Man.
Education
Game log: Friday, Jan. 26 – 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 70-59 W vs. Winnipeg / Saturday, Jan. 27 – 22 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 89-72 W vs. Winnipeg.
A couple of impressive outings from second-year guard Kyanna Giles helped Regina get a two-game sweep over Winnipeg in a series that featured two teams that both went into the weekend riding 10-game winning streaks.
Giles had 18 points in the team’s 70-59 win on Friday, but was electric in Saturday’s win. She had a double-double by halftime and finished the night with 22 points and 15 rebounds to help the Cougars to an 89-72 victory.
Giles accumulated 40 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and a block in the Cougars’ two wins over the Wesmen. She’s been stellar all season for Regina, leading the No. 2-ranked Cougars in scoring (17.1 points per game), rebounding (8.3 per game), and steals (50) while also ranking fifth in the conference with a .380 three-point percentage.
The Cougars close out the season this weekend in Saskatoon, needing one win over provincial rival Saskatchewan to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Canada West playoffs.
Men’s third star – Lawrence Moore
Saskatchewan Huskies basketball
Guard
4th-year
Chicago, Illinois
Arts & Science
Game log: Friday, Jan. 26 – 35 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 81-79 W @ Brandon / Saturday, Jan. 27 – 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 84-80 W @ Brandon.
University of Saskatchewan guard Lawrence Moore helped the Huskies to a weekend sweep the Brandon Bobcats to continue to keep pace in the playoff race.
The Arts & Science student from Chicago, Illinois scored a game-high 35 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block over 32 minutes in Friday’s 81-79 win. A day later, Moore added another game-high 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists and two steals in Saskatchewan’s 84-80 victory.
The pair of wins extended Saskatchewan’s win streak to seven games.
Moore and the Huskies return home to host provincial rival Regina this weekend to wrap up the CW regular season.