2025 Canada West Coaches Poll: Griffins voted to finish fifth
Canada West Communications
EDMONTON – As the dawn of a new season approaches, the MacEwan Griffins have been voted to finish fifth in the 2025 Canada West Coaches Poll.
That's a drop from third the last three seasons in a row and marks the lowest they've been rated since before the pandemic. In 2021, the year MacEwan won the national championship, they were voted fourth in Canada West.
MacEwan earned 154 points from 2025 voting, which slots them behind UBC (196), Calgary (174), Trinity Western (162) and Victoria (158).
The Griffins are coming off a 10-1-3 season where they finished with 33 points – the most they've had since joining Canada West in 2014.
A new season kicks off on Friday on three fronts, while the Griffins get set for their season opener Aug. 29 vs. Manitoba (12 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV).
The Canada West regular season runs through Oct. 19 with playoffs slated to begin Oct. 24. This year's Final Four will be hosted by the top Pacific Division seed, beginning Oct. 31.
U SPORTS nationals are set to be held Nov. 7-10 in Hamilton, Ont., hosted by McMaster University.
Fans can catch all the action on CanadaWest.TV - Presented by BioSteel - now featuring mobile apps on Apple and Android, as well as Connected TV apps including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku.
2025 CW WSOC PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- UBC Thunderbirds - 196 (14)
- Calgary Dinos - 174 (1)
- Trinity Western Spartans - 162
- Victoria Vikes - 158
- MacEwan Griffins - 154
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 123
- UBCO Heat - 111
- Alberta Pandas - 99
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 93
- Mount Royal Cougars - 91
- Fraser Valley Cascades - 59
- Regina Cougars - 57
- Manitoba Bisons - 46
- UNBC Timberwolves - 31
- Lethbridge Pronghorns - 21
MacEwan Griffins Overview
2025 Coaches Poll Rank: #5
Team Overview: Since winning the 2021 U SPORTS national championship, the Griffins have remained one of the elite teams in Canada West, last season putting up 33 points - the most the program has had since joining the conference in 2014. Unfortunately, they've been upset in the opening round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Getting back to the Final Four - where they've been five times - and returning to the national stage are chief among their expectations for 2025.
From the coach: "The MacEwan Griffins are locked in and ready to make a statement. Led by a powerhouse list of fifth-years - Grace Mwasalla, Anneke Odinga, Alyx Henderson, and the returning Raeghan McCarthy. Add in a wave of explosive new recruits bringing speed and intensity, plus a returning core ready to step into bigger roles. With depth, swagger, and a mix of veteran presence and rising talent, the Griffs are coming in hot."
- Dean Cordeiro
Key Performer: Anneke Odinga
Defender | 5th Year | St. Albert, Alta.
Among the fastest players in Canada West, Odinga's ability to run the sideline and get into an attacking position led the Griffins' dynamic offence to notch 41 goals in 14 regular season games last year.
Defensively, she can stay step for step with any wide-area player in the conference, part of an elite two-way game that has seen her selected for the Canada West first all-star team three years in a row - the most by any Griffins student-athlete.
Odinga returns for her second year as Team Captain in 2025.
