Season preview: Griffins voted seventh in Canada West coaches poll
Canada West Communications
CALGARY - Western Canada's best university hockey players are rearing at the gate. With the puck set to drop on another action-packed season of Canada West women's hockey, coaches from across the conference have dubbed the UBC Thunderbirds as the favourites to hoist the Catherwood Cup for the second straight year.
The MacEwan Griffins have been voted seventh ahead of their season opener at No. 9 Regina on Friday (7 p.m., Canada West TV).
The Thunderbirds have the conference's top two scorers from 2021-22 returning this year, poised to prove their program as an offensive juggernaut capable of winning it all in back-to-back years.
Standing in their way is the Mount Royal Cougars, who finished with the best regular season record last season and captured four of the six major awards from the conference. The team is chasing down its first-ever CW Championship title in women's hockey, with the talent and ambition to do so despite graduating a couple key players.
The Saskatchewan Huskies round out the top three, the team that beat out the Cougars in last year's semi-final best-of-three in two tight games. The team is coming off a national bronze medal and has kept playoff star goalie Camryn Drever for another year, who has proved she and the Huskies can rise to the big moments.
For the complete schedule, click here.
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2022-23 CW WHKY PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- UBC Thunderbirds - 63 (7)
- Mount Royal Cougars - 52 (1)
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 46
- Alberta Pandas - 43 (1)
- Calgary Dinos - 38
- Manitoba Bisons - 34
- MacEwan Griffins - 17
- Trinity Western Spartans - 16
- Regina Cougars - 15
Amanda Murray is set for her fifth and final season with the Griffins in 2022-23 (Joel Kingston photo).
MacEWAN GRIFFINS SEASON PREVIEW
2021 CW regular season record: 6-14-0, 8th
2021 post-season record: Missed playoffs
Interim Head Coach: Chris Leeming, 1st season / 0-0-0
Last CW championship / total CW championships: None
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: None
2021 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 23 goals, 9th
Defence: 56 goals against, 7th
2021 CW regular season leaders (returning):
Goals: 3 – F Jayme Doyle, D Aryn Chambers, F Hailey Maurice
Assists: 5 – F Jayme Doyle
Points: 8 – F Jayme Doyle
Shutouts: 1 – Brianna Sank
Wins: 3 – Brianna Sank
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Kori Paterson / F / 1 / Viking, AB / NAX (CSSHL)
Allee Isley / F / 1 / Vermilion, AB / NAX (CSSHL)
Lindsey Johnson / G / 1 / Edmonton, AB / Edmonton Pandas (AFHL)
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Natalie Bender / G / St. Albert, AB / 4
Kyrelle Skoye / D / St. Albert, AB / 5
Chantal Ricker / F / Calgary, AB / 5
Key performer (pictured above):
Amanda Murray
Forward
5
Edmonton, AB
2021 Stats: (3G / 2A / 5 PTS)
The fifth-year two-way forward is set to lead the Griffins into their second season in Canada West by setting the pace with her speed and intense effort.
Murray defends well against the opposition and is able to generate offensive opportunities through relentless second efforts.
In addition to her on-ice capacity, Murray's overall work ethic, commitment and maturity provides a model of trademark behaviours that are required to be an effective player at this level for the Griffins.
