Three Stars: Ironside, Obasuyi, Janda earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Men's hockey student-athlete Carson Ironside is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after leading the Griffins to a huge 5-1 win over defending Canada West champion UBC on Saturday.
The second-year goaltender, who was making his Canada West debut, stopped 32 of 33 shots as the Griffins won big despite being outshot 33-15.
Women's basketball forward Unity Obasuyi and men's basketball wing Job Janda were named the second and third stars, respectively.
All three are making their first Three Stars appearance of the 2024-25 season.
Making his Canada West debut on Saturday, Carson Ironside stopped 32 of 33 shots in MacEwan's huge 5-1 win over UBC (Derek Harback photo).
1st STAR: Carson Ironside, G, men's hockey
St. Albert, AB, second-year, Science
Entering the season as the Griffins' third goaltender, the NCAA transfer earned his first start on Saturday and passed the supreme test with flying colours.
With a 32-save performance, he led MacEwan to a 5-1 win over defending Canada West champion UBC on a night the Griffins were outshot 33-15.
It's the first time the Griffins have beaten UBC at home, following a road overtime victory over them in 2022.
For the season, Ironside has the best numbers in Canada West (1.00 GAA and .970 save percentage), albeit with only one start under his belt.
Ironside and the Griffins head into a home-and-home series this weekend against cross-town rival Alberta (Friday, 7 p.m., Clare Drake and Saturday, 5 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, both Canada West TV).
Unity Obasuyi scored 33 points combined in two games against Mount Royal University last weekend (Robert Antoniuk photo).
2nd STAR: Unity Obasuyi, F, women's basketball
Edmonton, AB, second-year, Commerce
With the Griffins trailing their home opener last Friday by 24 points to Mount Royal at half-time, they were in need of someone to step up and take charge and there's no doubt that was Obasuyi.
Scoring 11 of her game-high (and career-high) 21 points in the fourth quarter, the second-year forward showed off her offensive touch in several different ways.
She drove the paint with confidence and authority, while being equally adept from long-range, hitting three three-pointers. Obasuyi added six rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench as the Griffins' rally came up short in a 70-55 loss.
Obasuyi co-led the Griffins in scoring in Saturday's 78-58 defeat with 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks, again coming off the bench.
Janda currently leads the Griffins in scoring with 13.0 points/game and is the team's co-leader in rebounding, alongside Milan Jaksic with 8.0/game.
The Griffins are enjoying a bye week before returning to action Nov. 15-16 at Calgary.
Job Janda had a solid weekend for the Griffins against MRU, producing a combined 26 points and 16 rebounds in the two-game series (James Maclennan photo).
3rd STAR: Job Janda, W, men's basketball
Calgary, AB, fourth-year, Commerce
The Griffins' team captain posted a solid opening weekend for the Griffins with 26 points and 16 rebounds combined in two games against the Mount Royal University Cougars.
In Friday's 93-90 loss, Janda was on the floor for a game-high 33 minutes, producing 14 points and seven rebounds.
In Saturday's 88-74 defeat, he narrowly missed a double double with 12 points, nine boards and an assist in 23 minutes before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
For the season, Janda is leading the Griffins in scoring (13.0 PPG) and is co-leading with Milan Jaksic in rebounds (8.0/game).
Janda and the Griffins are enjoying a bye week before returning to action Nov. 15-16 at Calgary.
