General 9/19/2022 12:00:00 PM Lauren Zandee

MRU Cougars recap 10 years in Canada West and U SPORTS

Joining Canada West and U SPORTS in 2012-13, the Mount Royal University Cougars are excited to celebrate their 10-year anniversary in the western-based and Canadian-wide post-secondary athletic organizations in Canada.

“When MRU transitioned from a college to a university, the natural evolution for the Cougars was to seek membership in Canada West and U SPORTS, to compete at the highest level of amateur sports available in Canada,” Karla Karch, Director, Cougars Athletics and Recreation said.

After being voted in as a probationary member in 2011 and beginning competition in 2012-13, MRU was awarded a full membership in 2014 competing in both men’s and women’s soccer, hockey, volleyball and basketball.

“The application and acceptance was and continues to be a very thorough and extensive process, as it should be in order to maintain the high standards that CW and U SPORTS have for all members. It required a team to pull together all the requirements, to ensure we were meeting, and exceeding, what was needed to be in place by our institution from our facilities, game day, varsity program readiness to the financial commitment required to compete at the next level.

“As I look back over the past 10 years and while there are so many memories and experiences that I cherish, I will always think of the people who were part of this transition - from those who have worked with the department to the student-athletes. It was not easy nor fun transitioning especially for those who were competing. I look back and am forever grateful to those who laid the foundation for where we are today. This includes the many years spent in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), our history is what makes us who we are today,” Karch said.

As MRU celebrates a decade in Canada West, revisit the most exciting moments in Cougars athletics history!

In the most decorated year of Cougars’ history, there were many firsts for the varsity athletics teams. The Cougars also set a new record of U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian awards with 96 student-athletes or over 81 per cent earning a new program high!
MSOC: Won first place in Canada West regular season competition securing the rights to host the men’s soccer final four championship for the first time in program history. Moe El Gandour was named Canada West Men’s Soccer Player of the Year and the team finished with their second bronze medal in Canada West history.
WHKY: Won Canada West regular season competition and swept Canada West conference awards with Tianna Ko awarded Women's Hockey Player of the Year, Zoe De Beauville awarded Goaltender of the Year, Anna Purschke honoured with the Student Athlete Community Service award and Scott Rivett awarded Coach of the Year.
MHKY: After regular season play, forwards Nolan Yaremko and Riley Sawchuk made history as the first men’s hockey players from MRU to win Canada West’s Men's Hockey Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. Head coach Bert Gilling was also awarded CW Coach of the Year for the third time in his career with MRU. Yaremko went on to become the U SPORTS Outstanding Player of the Year.
WVB: Took home bronze in Canada West championships, earning a birth at U SPORTS national where they successfully captured a silver medal, becoming the first team to do so in MRU history.
WBB: In a new basketball playoff tournament format, women's basketball hosted their first ever Canada West playoff game at Mount Royal University and succeeded to the second bracket of the tournament, also a program history first in the postseason.
MBB: Also competing in the playoff tournament format, secured a spot in the second round of the bracket for the first time in program history.
The Canada West and U SPORTS season was unfortunately cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Cougars hosted their largest ever home basketball game on Kenyon Court with more than 1,400 kids in attendance
MSOC: Claimed MRU’s first-ever Canada West medal with a bronze with a 3-1 victory over the University of Saskatchewan. Ryan Gyaki was awarded Coach of the Year, while Dane Domic was named Canada West Rookie of the Year and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year.
WHKY: Won Canada West semi-finals and clinched a sport at U SPORTS nationals for the first time in their program history after winning a silver medal in Canada West playoffs. Despite an incredible overtime win in Nationals to advance to the semi-finals, the experience was cut short due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
WVB: Earn a bronze medal in Canada West playoffs and secured a birth in U SPORTS nationals, but didn’t get the chance to compete due to the pandemic.
MVB: Hosted Canada West playoffs at home, made an appearance in Canada West semi-finals and became the first MRU program to qualify for a U SPORTS nationals birth in program history. The team finished in fifth place at nationals. Tyler Schmidt also became the Canada West all-time points and kills leader.
MBB: Secured their first-ever Canada West playoff spot.
WHKY: Breanne Trotter was awarded Canada West Rookie of the Year and Anna Purschke was honoured with the Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service award.
MHKY: Connor Rankin was the recipient of the Canada West Sportsmanship and Ability award.
Mount Royal University underwent a change, launching a new Cougars brand with a heavy emphasis on uniting Cougars athletics and the MRU community.
Men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s hockey, women’s hockey and women’s volleyball qualified for post-season competition in Canada West.
WHKY: Made their first-ever post-season appearance in program history against the Manitoba Bisons and fell 2-0 in the quarter-final series. Sarah Weninger was awarded the Student-Athlete Community Service award from Canada West and went on to also be awarded the U SPORTS Marion Hillard award for her community service work.
WVB: Robyn Potolicki also claimed the Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service award in women’s volleyball.
The Crowchild Classic continued to break its own records, this year amassing a record of 12,859 fans in attendance also earning a new U SPORTS attendance record.
MSOC: Cracked the Canada West playoffs for the first time in program history and fell to the Victoria Vikes in the quarterfinals.
WSOC: Earned a post-season position for the first time, but lost to the Calgary Dinos in the final six tournament.
MVB: Clinched their first-ever playoff position and fell 3-0 to the Manitoba Bisons in the first round of playoffs.
WVB: After a strong regular season performance and a playoff appearance, women’s volleyball player Carolina Alongi was named Canada West Rookie of the Year.
MHKY: Bert Gilling awarded second consecutive Head Coach of the Year award from Canada West.
The Crowchild Classic at the Scotiabank Saddledome continued to break Canada West attendance with a new record of 8,882 fans recorded.
MVB: Tyler Scmidt named Canada West Rookie of the Year and Jordan Parkin was awarded the Dale Iwanoczko awards for excellence as a student-athletes in sport, academics and community involvement.
MHKY: Clinched a playoff spot for the second season in a row and hosted their first ever Canada West playoff series and climbed the furthest in it’s program history, earning a ticket to the semi-finals but falling 2-1 in a three game series against the Dinos. Bert Gilling was also awarded Canada West Coach of the Year.
At the beginning of the season, Mount Royal was granted full-time status as a member in Canada West. However, they struggled to find ground among the challenging competitors at the Canada West level.
MVB: Despite a rough regular season in conference play, MRU men’s volleyball player Jordan Or was named the Canada West Libero of the Year.
MHKY: Earned their first post-season spot in Canada West playoffs and fell to the Manitoba Bisons 2-1 in a quarterfinal playoffs series.
A year of firsts as the Cougars entered into Canada West and U SPORTS (formerly known as CIS) for their first season of competition.
The first installment of the Crowchild Classic in 2012-13 also broke the record for Canada West and CIS attendance on Thursday, February 7, 2013 with 4,275 fans at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
WHKY: Earned their first Canada West win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 4-3 on Friday, October 5, 2012 and also became the first MRU team to win a game after entering into Canada West.
MHKY: Defeated the University of Alberta Golden Bears 2-1 on Saturday, October 13, 2012 to capture their first program win in Canada West.
MSOC: Found success against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns after winning 3-2 on Saturday, October 13, 2012.
WSOC: Earned their first win in Canada West history in their final game of the season against the Winnipeg Wesmen 3-0 on Sunday, October 21, 2012.
MVB: Captured their first win 3-1 (25-22, 27-25, 17-25, 23-25, 15-12) on the road against the University of Calgary Dinos on Friday, October 26, 2012.
WVB: In a 3-1 (25-22, 16-25, 25-23, 25-15) win against the Dinos on the road, the women’s volleyball team earned their first win of Canada West history on Friday, October 26, 2012. The women’s volleyball team finished the regular season with a 14-8 record, earning a playoff spot and competing in Canada West Final Four championships for the first time in program history. Carolyn O’Dwyer was also named Canada West Rookie of the Year, marking MRU’s first CW accolade.
WBB: On the road against the UBCO Heat, the Cougars women’s basketball team found their first Canada West win 54-53 on Friday, November 9, 2012.
MBB: Also against the UBCO Heat, the Cougars men’s basketball team found their first win 74-63 on Friday, November 9, 2012.

Reflecting on these incredible milestones, Cougars Athletics is extremely proud of where it began to where it will grow in the future.

“Thank you to the many alumni who helped build our foundation and thank you to those who will be part of our continued success and where we are going,” Karch said.