TORONTO – Jake Lee (UBC) has been named U SPORTS men's hockey player of the week, while runners Jessy Lacourse (Laval) and Riley Stuermer (Alberta) earn cross-country athletes of the week honours. Christina Gentile (StFX) and Christopher Campoli (Ontario Tech) have been named players of the week in U SPORTS soccer, while Savanna Collison (Lethbridge) and Natalie Doehla (McGill) have been awarded women's rugby and field hockey players of the week.
Jake Lee, UBC
- Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alta.
- Position: Defenceman
- Year: 1st
- Program: Arts
UBC rookie defenceman Jake Lee has been named hockey's first player of the week for the 2022-23 season following fierce offensive performances in UBC's weekend defeats over the Manitoba Bisons.
From Sherwood Park, Alta., the arts student went off like a shot, notching back-to-back goals early in the first period of game one of the two-game series. The scores gave the Thunderbirds the edge as they found themselves in a battle with the Bisons before pulling off the win.
Then with Saturday's match tied at six, Lee stepped into a slap shot off the draw, powering it past the Bisons' goaltender.
Lee and the Thunderbirds will be back in action on Saturday when they host Saskatchewan.
Jessy Lacourse, Laval
- Hometown: Quebec, Que.
- Position: Distance
- Year: 5th
- Program: Master's degree in Psychopedagogy - Orthopedagogy
Laval cross-country standout Jessy Lacourse has been named U SPORTS women's cross-country athlete of the week following a dominant performance on the Plains of Abraham at the Rouge et Or Invitational on Oct. 8.
Competing for the first time in the 2022-23 season, the reigning U SPORTS champion led from start to finish completing the eight-kilometre race in a time of 28:27.5. The fifth-year veteran shared the podium with teammates Catherine Beauchemin (28:43.2) and Florence Caron (29:33.9).
Riley Stuermer, Alberta
- Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.
- Position: Distance
- Year: 5th
- Program: Graduate Studies
2021 Canada West first-team All-Star Riley Stuermer has been named U SPORTS men's cross-country athlete of the week following a gritty first-place performance at the Trinity Western Open at Clearbrook Park in Abbotsford, B.C.
The fifth-year Alberta graduate student won the eight-kilometre race in a time of 24:34.8, finishing 12 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. From St. Albert, Alta., Stuermer is the first Bear to win a race since Royden Radowits won the 2019 Sled Dog Open in Saskatoon.
Stuermer led the Alberta Golden Bears to a second-place team finish alongside teammates Will Cebuliak (6th), Cassian Murray-White (10th), and Brendan Simone (12th).
Christina Gentile, StFX
- Hometown: Laval, Que.
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Year: 4th
- Program: Arts
StFX goalkeeper Christina Gentile has been named U SPORTS women's soccer player of the week after earning player of the game honours following a 3-1 victory over Cape Breton. The fourth-year arts student has also been named StFX Female Athlete of the Week.
The Laval, Que., native delivered the Capers their first loss of the season. Gentile posted seven saves for the win and improved to a 4-2 record with a .758 save percentage and 1.33 goals against average.
Christopher Campoli, Ontario Tech
- Hometown: Woodbridge, Ont.
- Position: Midfielder
- Year: 3
- Program: Finance
For the second time this season, Ontario Tech midfielder Christopher Campoli has been named U SPORTS men's soccer player of the week. The third-year superstar scored both goals in the Ridgebacks' shutout over the then-ranked No. 4 Carleton Ravens.
The 6-foot finance student found the net in the 63rd minute after a goalless first half. The Ravens attempted a comeback, but the Woodbridge, Ont. native put the game to bed in the 89th minute and secured three points for the Ridgebacks after chipping a pass from freshman forward Adam Klimek over the Carleton keeper.
These nationally ranked squads will face a rematch on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Vaso's Field in Oshawa.
Savanna Collison, Lethbridge
- Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
- Position: Prop
- Year: 5th
Lethbridge prop Savanna Collison has been named U SPORTS women's rugby player of the week. The Calgary, Alta., native capped off her career in style, leading the Pronghorns to a come-from-behind victory over the Calgary Dinos on Friday.
Collison scored two tries in the 15-10 win and finished the season leading the Pronghorns in tries with seven in six games. The fifth-year student is also tied for second in the conference in try scoring and was named the Canada West Rugby 15s Player of the Week.
Natalie Doehla, McGill
- Hometown: Stowe, Vt.
- Position: Attack
- Year: 1st
- Program: Computer Science
Natalie Doehla of Stowe, Vt., tallied twice as the visiting McGill women's field hockey team forced a 3-3 stalemate with Queen's on Saturday, Oct. 8. The first-year computer science student has been named U SPORTS women's field hockey player of the week.
The weekend's result salvaged a doubleheader - after losing 2-0 in the opener - and was the first point for McGill in the OUA standings this season, halting a seven-game losing streak.
The Martlets, who have netted only four goals in eight games, opened the scoring for the first time this season when Sandrine Brien struck in the 14th minute of play.
Doehla then put McGill ahead 2-1 in the 26th minute. The rookie attacker scored again to give the Martlets a 3-2 lead in the 50th minute.
McGill took the lead on three occasions, but each time the Gaels rallied to tie the game. The Martlets will conclude the regular season next weekend with a long road trip to McMaster on Oct. 14 and Western on Oct. 15.