Men’s Hockey News

Rylan Toth of the UBC Thunderbirds men’s hockey team and Kelsey Wog from Manitoba Bisons women’s swimming squad the are the U SPORTS Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending February 23, 2020.

Male Athlete of the Week: Rylan Toth, UBC

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Toth, a third-year goaltender, was instrumental in the Thunderbirds’ historic semifinal win over the Alberta Golden Bears.

Toth made a Canada West career-high 51 saves in UBC’s 3-2 overtime win Friday night at Clare Drake Arena, the T-Birds’ first playoff victory over Alberta since 1978.

After the Bears answered back in Game 2 to force the series the distance, Toth once again put together an all-star performance making 40 saves, 21 in the third period alone, as the T-Birds downed the No. 1 seed Golden Bears – who were also ranked fourth nationally. With the win UBC advanced to their first Canada West Final in 42 years, and an appearance at the Cavendish Farms University for the first time since 1977 – ending the longest streak in U Sports history for most seasons between University Cup appearances.

All told, Toth had a series save percentage of .943 and leads all Canada West netminders with a .923 postseason save percentage and four wins. 

The Saskatoon native will head to his hometown along with the rest of the T-Birds for the Canada West Final starting Friday night against the Saskatchewan Huskies at Merlis Belsher Place.

Nominees

  • CW: Rylan Toth, hockey, UBC (Winner)
  • OUA: Ali Sow, basketball, Laurier
  • RSEQ: Clément Secchi, swimming, McGill
  • AUS: Michah Hesman, track and field, UNB

Female Athlete of the Week: Kelsey Wog, Manitoba

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Continuing to break new ground for a Manitoba Bisons female swimmer, fourth-year Kelsey Wog capped her university season with a flourish at the 2020 U SPORTS Swimming Championships, hosted by Victoria. 

Wog captured four gold medals, sweeping the individual events she competed, three of which she set new U SPORTS records. This included her third straight victory in the 50-metre and 200-metre breaststroke, her fourth straight win in the 100-metre breaststroke, and a massive victory in the 200-metre individual medley — where she broke a U SPORTS long course record and swam the fastest time in the world this year. 

For her performance, Wog was named Female Swimmer of the Meet.

 

The haul brings Wog’s all-time gold medals in U SPORTS competition to 12. The Winnipeg native has also earned two bronze and two silver dating back to 2017. 

Wog, a student in the Agricultural & Food Sciences faculty, swam for Canada at the 2019 FINA World Championships in the summer of 2019 and competes with the Cali Condors in the International Swimming League.

Nominees

  • CW: Kelsey Wog, swimming, Manitoba (Winner)
  • OUA: Aleksa Gold, swimming, Toronto
  • RSEQ: Daphne Danyluk, swimming, McGill
  • AUS: Lorena Heubach, track and field, Dalhousie

 - Player bios courtesy U SPORTS member conferences