Cougars back on the prowl

by Blaine Meller
Sports Editor

The Cougars are back on the prowl. After a break for exams and the holidays, the university’s athletic teams are back in action, some looking to remain unbeaten, some hoping to challenge for first place and some wanting to show fans something new.
 

Hockey
 

To say the Cougars women’s hockey team is off to a strong start would be an understatement. Sitting with an unblemished record of 13 wins and one tie, Mount Royal sits with a 12-point lead over second-place NAIT. The Cougars lead the ACAC in goals for (50), goals against (16) and at press time, boasted 10 of the top 20 scorers in the league and five of the top seven rookie point-getters.
 

The Cougars have two home games remaining this month, a Jan. 22 against NAIT and Jan. 28 against MacEwan. Game times are 7:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. respectively, at Flames Community Arenas. Mount Royal is looking to repeat as ACAC champions, having captured the crown during the 2009-10 season.
 

The Cougars men’s hockey team is also showing well this season. After 16 games, Mount Royal sits with an 11-3-2 record, good enough for second in the ACAC and only two points behind first-place SAIT. The Cougars are third in goals for (59) and first in goals against, having yielded on 30 in 16 games.
 

Leading the way for the Cougars is Barry Horman, sixth in league scoring with 24 points, and Joe Vetere whose 21 points have him eighth in league scoring overall, and first among defencemen. Mount Royal has two home games this month, Jan. 15 and Jan. 21, when they host Concordia and MacEwan respectively. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m. at Flames Community Arenas. The Cougars are hoping to improve on their bronze medal performance of 2009-10.
 

Volleyball
 

Like their hockey counterparts, the Cougars women’s volleyball team is off to a perfect start.

Mount Royal sits atop the ACAC standings with a 10-0 record, winning 30 of 33 games in that time, and is third in the CCAA rankings.
 

Leading the way for the Cougars are Andrea Price (third in the league in kills per set), Mackenzie Allen (first in assists per set) and Julia Pasieka (third in blocks per set). The Cougars are searching for their first ACAC title since the team won back-to-back crowns in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Mount Royal has two home dates this month, Jan. 22 against MacEwan and Jan. 29 versus cross-town rival SAIT. Both matches start at 6 p.m. at Kenyon Court.
 

The Cougars men’s volleyball team has faced some tough competition so far this season. With a 4-6 record, the Cougars sit ninth in the ACAC, well behind first place King’s University College and Red Deer, each sitting at 9-1. The Cougars have received strong performances from Dan Durham (third in kills per set), Travis Banks (first in assists per set), Jordan Bright (third in assists per set) and Marco Vargas (fifth in blocks per set). The Cougars will need to improve if they hope to win their 18th ACAC title and first since 2007-08, the season that also saw Mount Royal capture the national championship. The Cougars host MacEwan Jan. 22 and SAIT Jan. 29, 8 p.m., at Kenyon Court.
 

Basketball
 

The Cougars women have played solid basketball so far this season, as confirmed by their 8-2 record. Mount Royal sits second in the ACAC’s south division, four points shy of undefeated SAIT. As a team, the Cougars are third in points for (682) and second in points against (611) and have received solid contributions from a number of players.
 

Leading the way is fifth year forward Jamie Morck, who sits tied fourth in points per game, first in field goal percentage, fifth in steals per game, first in rebounds per game and third in blocks per game. Celeste Clarke is tied fourth in points per game, Carrie Pickering is third in field goal percentage and Emily Larson sits first in assists per game. Mount Royal plays two home games this month, Jan. 15 against Lakeland and Jan. 28 versus SAIT. Game times are 6 p.m. at Kenyon Court.
 

With a 7-3 record, the Cougars men currently sit second in the ACAC’s south division, four points behind front-running Lethbridge. As a team, Mount Royal is third in points for (841) and second in points against (754). Individually, the Cougars are being lead by guard Cam Dodd, who is fifth in steals per game and fourth in assists per game, and Steve Trinidad, fifth in points per game.
 

The Cougars last captured the ACAC title in 2008-09 and are looking to repeat that after finishing out of the medals last season. Overall, the team is searching for its 12th provincial title and should they be successful, the chance to compete for a third national crown as well. The Cougars will play two home games this month, Jan. 15 against Lakeland and Jan. 28 versus SAIT both at 8 p.m. at Kenyon Court.