EDMONTON, Alberta – Third-year goaltender
Olivia Davidson (Edmonton) stopped all 17 shots she faced as the Trinity Western Spartans defeated the MacEwan Griffins 2-0 Friday night at Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton. The Spartans scored twice in 17 seconds in the third period to earn their second consecutive win and improve to 3-2 in Canada West play, while the Griffins fall to 1-4.
Second-year forward
Shae LaPrade (Calgary) scored the game-winner on the power play at 12:36 of the third period, before first-year forward
Avaya McCann (Okotoks, Alta.) added an insurance goal at 12:53. Both players scored their first goals of the season.
Fifth-year defender
Presleigh Giesbrecht (Gretna, Man.) assisted on both goals. Fourth-year forward
Kyra Anderson (Regina) picked up an assist on LaPrade's goal, while first-year forward
Audrina Freeman (Dawson Creek, B.C.) assisted on McCann's goal.
Davidson earned her second shutout of the season, while MacEwan goaltender Lindsey Johnson made 34 saves in the loss. TWU finished with a 36-17 advantage in shots on goal.
UP NEXT
The Spartans and Griffins will complete their weekend series on Saturday, October 24, at Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. (MDT) / 2 p.m. (PT), and the game can be seen live on Canada West TV.
QUOTABLE
Peter Hay, TWU Head Coach
"A messy road game with lots of ups and downs in how we managed the puck, but we found a way to win, which is a good sign when the game isn't going smoothly. We need to keep the game more simple and support the puck better. We had moments that were played the right way, but we need to find more consistency. Great to see Avaya get her first goal in her first game and Shae her first Canada West goal after returning from tough injuries. Davy was outstanding in net when she needed to be. The second game is always the toughest, so we expect to clean up some things and be better tomorrow. For now, we will enjoy the win and two points."
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans controlled the shot count in the opening period but were unable to beat Johnson, who stopped all 14 TWU attempts. MacEwan killed off two penalties, while Davidson turned aside four shots to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes.
TWU killed off a roughing penalty to fifth-year forward
Kara Yackel (West St. Paul, Man.) early in the second period. Davidson made eight saves in the frame, while Johnson stopped nine shots at the other end. The teams remained tied 0-0 after two periods, with the Spartans holding a 23-12 edge in shots.
LaPrade broke the deadlock at 12:36 of the third period with a power-play goal, assisted by Anderson and Giesbrecht. Just 17 seconds later, McCann scored at even strength, with Freeman and Giesbrecht drawing the assists, to give TWU a 2-0 lead. Davidson stopped all five MacEwan shots in the final period, and the Spartans killed off a tripping penalty to fifth-year defender
Ella Boon (Vanderhoof, B.C.) in the final 14 seconds to preserve the shutout. TWU outshot the Griffins 13-5 in the third period.
NOTABLE
- The Spartans outshot the Griffins in all three periods: 14-4 in the first, 9-8 in the second, and 13-5 in the third.
- TWU finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while MacEwan went 0-for-2.
- Anderson led all players with six shots on goal. McCann had five shots, while LaPrade finished with four.
- McCann's goal was the first of her Canada West career.
- Davidson also recorded a shutout in TWU's season opener, stopping 19 shots in a 4-0 win over Regina on October 9.
- TWU has won two straight games after defeating UBC 4-1 at home on October 17.
- The teams split their two meetings last season in Langley. TWU won 5-0 on October 24, 2025, before MacEwan won 2-1 the following day.
- The Spartans are now 11-6 lifetime against the Griffins and have won nine of their last 10 contests, including five straight wins.
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 15 U SPORTS team championships and 35 Canada West team championships.
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in U SPORTS. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
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