Three Stars: Jean Jr., Isley, Dowhaniuk earn honours
December 9, 2025

Three Stars: Jean Jr., Isley, Dowhaniuk earn honours

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Men's hockey student-athlete Dwayne Jean Jr. is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after scoring the overtime winner in MacEwan's first home win in Canada West play over rival Alberta last Friday.

Jean Jr., who also opened the scoring in the contest, beat Golden Bears netminder Ethan Barwick on a breakaway shot at 1:11 of OT to deliver a 4-3 victory for the Griffins.

Women's hockey forward Allee Isley and men's hockey defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk were named the second and third stars, respectively.

It's the second appearance of the 2025-26 season in the Three Stars for Jean Jr., who was also named first star on Oct. 28, while both Isley and Dowhaniuk are being honoured for the first time this season.

Dwayne Jean Jr.'s breakaway shot beat Alberta's Ethan Barwick glove side on Friday (James Maclennan photo).

1st STAR: Dwayne Jean Jr., F, men's hockey

Edmonton, AB, first-year, Open Studies

Book-ending Friday's thrilling 4-3 overtime win with the first and last goals of the contest, Jean Jr. left his stamp on one of the biggest triumphs in program history.

When he scored on a breakaway at 1:11 of overtime – a snipe glove side on Ethan Barwick – he delivered MacEwan's first-ever home win over cross-town rival Alberta in Canada West play.

Jean Jr. also opened the scoring 5:50 into the game when he took a pass from Ethan Sundar and sifted a quick shot through a D-man before jumping around him to blast the rebound past Ethan Kruger. He finished the game with a +3 rating and four shots.

For the season, the forward is now up to five goals and 11 points in 16 games, which is ninth amongst Canada West rookies and tied for third in scoring on the Griffins. 

Jean Jr. and the Griffins are now off on semester break. They'll return to action on Jan. 9-10 vs. Trinity Western. They'll also host the Chinese National Team on Jan. 14 in an exhibition game.

Allee Isley beats Pandas goalie Grace Glover in the fourth round of Saturday's shootout to deliver a victory for the Griffins (Derek Harback photo).

2nd STAR: Allee Isley, F, women's hockey

Vermilion, AB, fourth-year, Science

It's hard to pick just one hero for the Griffins women's hockey team, following their historic 2-1 shootout win over cross-town rival Alberta on Saturday, but Isley gets the nod after scoring the shootout-winning goal. 

In the fourth round, she had the game on her stick as she cruised in on goaltender Grace Glover and came up clutch, snapping it blocker side off the post and in to give the Griffins their first-ever win over the cross-town rival Pandas in Canada West play.

Assists on the victory have to go to the whole team, but most notably the play of goaltender Taya Currie (27 saves in regulation and OT, followed by stopping three more in the shootout), rookie defenceman Marley Howes, whose scintillating deke kept the Griffins alive in Round 3 of the shootout, and Sydney Jack, who scored their only goal in regulation. 

Isley, however, got the hero's welcome at the bench after ending it with a perfect shot.

That doesn't, of course, show up in the stats, leaving Isley at a goal and two points through 18 games, but the importance of the goal goes far beyond. 

The Griffins are now off on semester break, and will return to action on Jan. 9-10 when they travel to Trinity Western in Langley, B.C.

Keaton Dowhaniuk broke a program record for the best plus/minus by a Griffins rookie in a Canada West game when he finished +4 in Friday's 4-3 overtime win (James Maclennan photo).

3rd STAR: Keaton Dowhaniuk, D, men's hockey

Sherwood Park, AB, first-year, Open Studies

You wouldn't know he's a rookie in Canada West given the poise with which he commands the MacEwan blueline and that was especially true in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Alberta Golden Bears.

Dowhaniuk finished with a game-high +4 rating in the game, breaking the program rookie record of +3 that was previously shared by nine different players. It also ties Curtis Roach's program record for the best plus/minus by any Griffins player, a +4 mark he set in 2022 against Regina.

That, of course, means Dowhaniuk was on the ice for Dwayne Jean Jr.'s overtime winner, playing a key role in defending the MacEwan zone before DJJ forced a turnover that led to his breakaway. He also had two shots and two penalty minutes in the contest.

Dowhaniuk later added an assist to his weekend just 16 seconds in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss at Alberta when his point shot created a juicy a rebound that Vincent Scott tapped in to open the scoring.

For the season, Dowhaniuk is tied for second in rookie scoring on the Griffins and tied for 11th amongst rookies in Canada West with two goals and 10 points in 18 games.