Graduating Seniors Q&A: Sank, Andrash played big role in pushing program forward in Canada West
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The last player on the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team connected to the program's ACAC era, which ended in 2020, is graduating from the program.
Brianna Sank, who returned in 2024-25 for her sixth season with the Griffins – (only her fifth of eligibility due to the pandemic shutting down the 2020-21 campaign) – is one of two graduating seniors to be feted in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday.
Jennifer Andrash – who began her university career in the Griffins' first Canada West season (2021-22) – will also be celebrated prior to the team's final game of the season on Saturday vs. Regina (5 p.m.). The teams will also meet on Friday (7 p.m., both Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV).
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"Starting with Sank in net, she's someone that's given our team poise through all of her play over the years she's been with the program," said Griffins head coach Chris Leeming. "Jenny's been someone that's developed as a player overall. She's reliable all 200 feet of the ice. She's one of our top penalty killers and is putting the puck in the net and creating offence for us.
"They're quality humans and they've got great character. The dressing room's going to miss that, for sure."
Enjoy Q&As with both players below:
BRIANNA SANK
(2019-25)
Chris Leeming coach's quote:
"I just think it's a really unique situation. Not everyone, especially a goalie, has that opportunity to play that many games and reach those milestones in their career. She's had a ton of support from her teammates and she provides that back to them every day she's on the ice between the pipes for us. She's got her opportunity and she's really found a way to capitalize on it, and set the standard in terms of goaltending for future goalies for this program."
Brianna Sank, the last player on the Griffins from their ACAC era, leaves with some impressive career records, including most minutes played by a MacEwan goaltender and most career saves (Jefferson Hagen photo).
Q&A with Brianna Sank
What are you graduating with and when?
I actually graduated last year with a Bachelor of Commerce. I majored in marketing, minor in human resources. So, for my sixth year, I just took extra classes, but I did graduate last year.
Do you have a career goal in mind?
I don't have a specific job I'd like to do. I'm just going to start looking in my field what's available.
Do you have plans to keep playing hockey?
I've looked at the opportunity to go overseas and I've talked with my parents about it. But I'm still in the deciding factor, so once hockey's done I'll take a serious think about it and decide what I want to do. (I want to) talk to some people I know that went there and see how their experience was.
Like you said, you graduated last year. Coming back for a sixth year is rare. Are you glad you did it?
I'm glad I did it. I wasn't ready to be done last year. If I didn't take the opportunity, I think in the next couple years I'd kick myself if I didn't. I wanted to continue to see the team push in U SPORTS and just help them out as long as I could.
It's been a special year for records. You've got the all-time minutes played record and you have the all-time saves record. Some pretty impressive career numbers. What does that all mean to you?
It's pretty special. It's just nice to see that what I've done with the program has paid off. The support my teammates have given me (is awesome). The moment I beat the record for most minutes in Regina was just really special with everyone backing me.
What are your favourite memories from your time with the Griffins?
Probably one of my favourite memories would be our first U SPORTS win. I believe it was against Regina (a 2-1 win over the Cougars on Oct. 16, 2021). Just taking that milestone and finally getting our first win was kind of historical, which was nice to get.
Were you in net for that one?
Yes, I was. (She stopped 37 of 38 shots)
What was that moment like?
I think it was a bit of relief. We'd been in the league and played a few games. To finally get that win, we were like we made it here and finally got that victory. So, it was nice to be a part of.
How have you seen the program grow from the moment you entered Canada West until now?
I think just the way we play, the mentality of moving up to the next level and seeing what Can West is all about, and just trying to change our game in ways where we can compete with the other teams.
What would you like to be remembered for? What's your legacy here?
I would probably say hard work and my compete. Always giving everything to help the team win and not being satisfied being OK. Just pushing to be the best that we can be and helping the program continue to grow.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
It was a great journey. It feels so special that I got to be on this journey. The friendships that I've made, and all the memories will last a lifetime.
JENNIFER ANDRASH
(2020-25)
Chris Leeming coach's quote:
"She's got a really sneaky release. She has a couple of spots that she scores on consistently in practice. With consistency comes confidence. She's really elevated her game, especially in the second half of the season here – dictating the pace and driving the play. Then also doing the job in the defensive zone for us, shutting down other teams' offensive threats and neutralizing their powerplay."
Jennifer Andrash recently tied the program record for the most goals by a Griffin in a Canada West game (2) and is within striking distance of Jesse Jack's single season points record of 13. She enters the final weekend of 2024-25 with 11 (Jefferson Hagen photo).
Q&A with Jennifer Andrash:
What are you graduating with and when?
Bachelor of Science degree this spring, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology
Do you have a career goal in mind?
I'd like to get into massage therapy.
Do you have plans to keep playing hockey?
I would like to. Not sure exactly where, but it would be nice to continue doing that.
What are some of your favourite memories with the Griffins?
I'd have to say the first time we took U of A to overtime (a 1-0 OT loss on Nov. 9, 2024). That was pretty special because we took our first point from them.
Is there a personal highlight that stands out – a goal or a game?
I think it would probably be my first Canada West goal (Nov. 19, 2022). It was in front of my parents. They came out to watch me, so it was nice to score with them in the stands. I took it from the boards and put it top corner against Manitoba.
How have you seen the program grow from the moment you entered Canada West until now?
We've grown a lot just knowing where we work well and being a physical and hard-working team. I think we've known that's how we win games, so it's nice to see us getting a bit more consistency in that.
What would you like to be remembered for with the Griffins? What's your legacy with the program?
I think definitely my energy and how loud I am on the ice. I'd really want people to remember me as someone who worked really hard no matter what was going on – just to inspire others to work hard as well.
I noticed in the team's Instagram post, they noted that you made 'an extremely loud impact (literally)'. Is there a story around that?
I like to yell a lot throughout the entire game. I think I come across as a pretty quiet person, but as soon as the helmet comes on, I'm pretty loud.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
I think it was pretty special to become part of the first team to be moved to Can West. So, I'm really grateful for the years I got here. I'll definitely remember it for a while.
