Evan Daum, Canada West Communications
CALGARY – After claiming the program's first Canada West banner a year ago, the Calgary Dinos look to repeat this weekend, as they host the 2017 CW Women's Rugby Championship Friday through Sunday in the Stampede City.
All games will be available for viewing on Canada West TV by purchasing a tournament pass, which is on sale now for $6.99.
Following their 2016 win over the reigning CW champion Victoria Vikes, Calgary navigated another excellent regular season in 2017, running the table to finish 4-0. The Dinos capped off their perfect regular season last weekend with a pair of road wins, first with a narrow 27-22 victory over the UBC T-Birds on Friday, and then with a 34-22 win over the Vikes on Sunday.
The regular season finale wasn't only a rematch of last year's CW championship game, it was also a showdown for the regular season crown, as both teams headed into the contest with 3-0 marks.
While Calgary emerged with the win, the pair are hoping to clash once more this season, as the CW frontrunners prepare for their respective semis on Friday with hopes of advancing to Sunday's conference championship game.
The Dinos, led by Canadian senior national team player DaLeaka Menin and her team leading 35 points, take on the Thunderbirds (1-3 regular season) in the first semifinal, while the Vikes will take on the Lethbridge Pronghorns in the second semi.
Lethbridge enters the weekend after a 2-2 regular season, with their wins coming against the T-Birds and most recently the Alberta Pandas, who missed the playoffs for the first time in program history.
The 'Horns have the luxury of knowing their season will continue regardless of this weekend's outcome, as they get set to host the U SPORTS national championship tournament November 2-5, marking the second consecutive season a CW team hosts the event after Victoria welcomed the nation's best a year ago.
It's been an emotional 2017 for Lethbridge after head coach Ric Suggitt suddenly passed away in June due to a brain aneurysm. The team has rallied behind former head coach Neil Langevin and former Pronghorns star Ashley Steacy, who handled head coach and associate head coach duties respectfully this season.
Leading the way for the 'Horns this season has been Sarah Gordon, who finished fourth in conference scoring with 31 points during the regular season.
Speaking of offensive firepower, both the Vikes and Dinos have several stars to lean on, as the pair – along with UBC – compete for the conference title and the only other CW berth to nationals.
Fly half and 2015 CW outstanding player Jess Neilson led CW in scoring this season, as the fourth-year Vike tallied 59 points. Not far behind Neilson in the scoring race was Calgary native Madison Aberg, who posted 50 points for Victoria in her third season with the program. That dynamic duo was bolstered by Kara Galbraith, Emily Belchos, and Jennifer Appleby, who all finished inside the top 10 in scoring, as the Vikes a tallied a conference best 245 points in 2017.
For Calgary, Menin topped the team's scoring list, as the fifth-year prop finished with 35 points for a Dinos side that averaged 34 points during their perfect regular season.
Click here for the CW Women's Rugby Championship program.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 20 - Hellard Field
1 p.m. - UBC vs. CGY
3 p.m. - LET vs. VIC
Sunday, Oct. 22 - McMahon Stadium
11 a.m. - bronze medal game
1 p.m. - CW championship game
*All games will be streamed live on Canada West TV.
No. 1 - CALGARY DINOS
2017 CW regular season record: 4-0, 1st place
2017 record vs. playoff teams: 42-15 W vs Lethbridge, 27-22 W vs UBC, 34-22 W vs Victoria
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2016 / 1
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Highest finish - 3rd in 2016
2017 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 137 points for, 2nd
Defence: 85 points against, 2nd
2017 CW regular season leaders:
Points: 35 – DaLeaka Menin, prop
Tries: 7 – DaLeaka Menin, prop
Converts: 4 – Elysa Sandron, fullback
Key performer:
DaLeaka Menin
Prop
5th-year
Vulcan, Alta.
The reigning U SPORTS player of the year, DaLeaka Menin came back to the Dinos in 2017 after representing Canada at the Women's Rugby World Cup over the summer. She led the team in scoring with seven tries, five of which came in a monster outing against Lethbridge, and will bring her veteran leadership to the Dinos as they look to capture their second straight Canada West title – this time, on home turf.
No. 2 - VICTORIA VIKES
2017 CW regular season record: 3-1, 2nd
2017 record vs. playoff teams: 82-0 W vs. UBC, 59-20 W vs. LET, 34-22 L vs. CGY
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2015 / 1
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Highest finish - 5th in 2015
2017 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 245 points for, 1st
Defence: 54 points against, 1st
2017 CW regular season leaders:
Points: 59 – Jess Neilson, Fly Half
Tries: 10 – Madison Aberg, Winger
Converts: 19 – Jess Neilson, Fly Half
Key performer:
Madison Aberg
Winger
3rd-year
Calgary, Alta.
Madison Aberg has been a dominant force for the UVic Vikes women's rugby team in the 2017 season. The third-year Social Sciences major from Calgary, AB recorded ten tries through the team's four game regular season schedule.
Scoring five tries in a single game against the Lethbridge Pronghorns saw Aberg recognized as both the Canada West and U SPORTS Athlete of the Week.
A powerful runner with the ball, Aberg is capable of using bursts of speed to fly past defenders as well as to track down opposing wingers to play a key role in both the Vikes conference-leading offence and defence.
No. 3 - LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS
2017 CW regular season record: 2-2, 3rd
2017 record vs. playoff teams: 42-15 L vs. Calgary, 59-20 L vs. Victoria, 34-22 W vs. UBC
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2011 / 6
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2009 /3
2017 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 101 points for, 3rd
Defence: 140 points against, 3rd
2017 CW regular season leaders:
Points: 31 – Sarah Gordon, Fly Half
Tries: 4 – Brittany Orr, Centre
Converts: 5 – Sarah Gordon, Fly Half
Key performer:
Brittany Orr
Centre
5th-year
Fort MacLeod, Albera
Brittany's maturity has benefitted the young Pronghorns team. Her well rounded skills allow her to shine in games. Hampered by injury early in the season she has grown stronger in each game.
No. 4 - UBC THUNDERBIRDS
2017 CW regular season record: 1-3, fourth
2017 record vs. playoff teams: 27-22 L vs. Calgary, 82-0 L vs. Victoria, 34-22 L vs. Lethbridge
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Highest finish - 2nd in 2006, 2000, 1999
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Highest finish - 5th in 2009
2017 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 73 points for, 4th
Defence: 162 points against, 4th
2017 CW regular season leaders:
Points: 16 – Brooke Bazian, Wing/Centre/Fullback
Tries: 3 – Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Outside centre/Winger
Converts: 4 – Brooke Bazian, Wing/Centre/Fullback
Key performer:
Alayna Scramstad
Scrum-half/Fly-half
1st-year
Lashburn, Sask.
Alayna Scramstad has been excellent for the UBC Thunderbirds in her first season of university rugby. The scrum-half/fly-half scored two tries – one in UBC's win over Alberta, and one in the T-Birds' five-point loss to Calgary – this season. UBC finished with 1-3 record and seven points in Canada West play.
Before starting her university career in Vancouver, Scramstad represented Canada at the under-18 level.