Jean Jr. ties program record with four-point night as Griffins drub Spartans 5-1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Team Stats
Trinity Western
| Game Statistics | Trinity Western | MacEwan University |
|---|---|---|
| PowerPlays | 0 for 2 | 1 for 3 |
| Shorthanded Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties (min) | 4 (8) | 3 (6) |
| Shots on Goal | 22 | 42 |
| Face Offs Won | 0 | 0 |
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Dwayne Jean Jr. tied a program record with four points, while Eric Ward stopped 21 of 22 shots as the Griffins men's hockey team pummelled the visiting Trinity Western Spartans 5-1 on Friday night.
Jean Jr., a longtime Western Hockey League vet who finished his junior career with the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs, has been doing a lot of the right things in recent games, but hasn't been rewarded on the scoresheet.
That all changed Friday as he scored a goal and added three assists to tie the record Griffins captain Sam Simard set in his first season (2023-24) for the most points by a MacEwan rookie in a Canada West game.
It's also tied for the most by any Griffins player in a CW contest, originally set by veteran D-man Curtis Roach in 2021.
"To have it after our captain (is special), and he's such a great guy," he said. "He's shown me what it takes to be a Griff, and it's just been such a great year. The boys are great and they're helping me make this happen. It was a great night."
M��| RECAP
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) October 25, 2025
Dwayne Jean Jr. ties a program record with a four-point night, while goaltender Eric Ward is strong again stopping 21/22 as @GriffinsMHKY drubs @TWUSpartans 5-1.#GriffNation
�� James Maclennan
STORY➡️https://t.co/ru2axkXtnv pic.twitter.com/oxOFBH0PtU
With the win, MacEwan improves to 3-3-1 on the season, while Trinity Western is still looking for their first victory of the campaign at 0-6-1.
Despite the two points, Griffins head coach Zack Dailey wasn't overly glowing about the way they won.
"I hate to be negative with a win," he said. "We're here to win games and these guys did a great job. Again, it's my job to hold them to a high standard and I don't think we met that standard. But these are points we need and it's a very important win.
"I thought that the guys did a good job in a lot of areas. We need to make sure we clean up some stuff for tomorrow."
In particular, the Griffins had a bit of a sleepy start and Trinity Western took advantage, opening the scoring just five minutes in when Connor Farren forced a turnover at his own blueline and chipped the puck to a streaking Jonathan Krahn, who cut in off the wing and slipped it though Ward.
"Didn't like our start, didn't like our first two periods if I'm being super honest, but I think that we found a way to win, which is great," said Dailey. "I thought Ward was good again and I thought we responded after that first goal. But we're trying to create habits that are going to relate to any team that we play, and I don't think we did a good job of that tonight."
Ward was excellent again for the third-straight game in a row, finishing with a .955 save percentage on the night. As good as that is, it actually dropped his season save percentage one point to rest at a Canada West-leading .956.
"Calm, steady, there was no panic," said Dailey of his play. "I thought at times our group was kind of scrambly, but he didn't reflect that. I think he was just a calming presence back there who looked confident and made some saves when we needed it. He had a very strong game."
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 25, 2025
Off a great pass from Liam Hughes, Dwayne Jean Jr. roofs it to get the @MacEwanGriffins on the board!
It's 1-1 with @TWUSpartans late in the first at the DCA.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/x22LWneEPF
Jean Jr. really got the offence rolling when he scored MacEwan's first of the contest with 3:44 remaining in the opening frame. He finished off a great back door pass from Liam Hughes on an odd-man rush.
"It was a defence breakdown on them, Hughesy gets the puck on the right side and I put my work boots on and tried to drive the post as fast as I can," he said. "He made a slip pass and I just tried to bury it. It's been a while since I scored. I just tried to put it in the back of the net. It felt great to finally do that."
The floodgates seemed to open for not only him but the whole Griffins offence after that.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 25, 2025
Brody Tallman beats @TWUSpartans goalie Raphael Audet blocker side with a wicked wrister to put the @MacEwanGriffins up 2-1 after 20 minutes!
Dwayne Jean Jr. gets his second point in a 2:42 span.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/EaJI1bo9Su
Brody Tallman netted the game-winner before the first was out, taking Jean Jr.'s pass and wiring a wrister past TWU goalie Raphael Audet.
Simard got in on the action in the second period as he took a down low pass from Brett Bamber – who did a great job to keep a deflected pass in the zone – and deked around the goalie for a 3-1 lead.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 25, 2025
Great play by Brett Bamber to keep it in before throwing it down low to Sam Simard, who tucks it around the tendy to put the @MacEwanGriffins up 3-1 over the @TWUSpartans late in the second!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/Q2fQu4QlCa
Then Kadyn Chabot, again fed by Jean Jr., slotted a left side low shot five-hole for a 4-1 Griffins lead 4:58 into the third period.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 25, 2025
Through the wickets!
Kadyn Chabot scores his fourth of the season after a great pass from Dwayne Jean Jr., who now has three points in this one.@MacEwanGriffins lead 4-1 over @TWUSpartans midway through the third.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/xb7B8OQXC5
Ethan Sundar capped the scoring on a two-man advantage with 44 seconds left as he put home Rhett Dekowny's gorgeous cross-crease pass from a tough angle. Jean Jr. picked up the second assist.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 25, 2025
Ethan Sundar finishes off a gorgeous cross-crease pass from Rhett Dekowny to seal this one.
5-1 @MacEwanGriffins!
Dwayne Jean Jr. finishes with four points to tie a rookie program record!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/TmFXY2e465
"I was impressed with him," said Dailey of his rookie record-tying forward. "I thought he had his feet moving and he used his speed quite well. He's someone who has created a lot of scoring chances this season and hasn't really gotten rewarded for that.
"It's great to see guys get rewarded for positive play. He's been an energy driver for us and has created a lot of chances, so I'm glad to see them go in."
The teams will meet again on Saturday (3 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV).
