Sheppard, Sluys named Investors Group OUA Athletes of the Week
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week, presented by Investors Group, for the period ending October 24, 2016.
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week, presented by Investors Group, for the period ending October 24, 2016.
MALE: Derek Sheppard (Ajax, Ont.) – 3rd yr – York Lions – Hockey
York defenceman Derek Sheppard (Ajax, Ont.) has been named Investors Group OUA Male Athlete of the Week after he helped the Lions knock off a pair of U Sports Top 10 ranked teams this past week.
Against the No. 10 ranked Guelph Gryphons on Thursday night, the third-year liberal arts & professional studies student-athlete opened the scoring at 14:46 of the first period to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead. York would score twice more and eventually defeat the Gryphons 3-1.
On Saturday night against the undefeated No. 6 ranked Ryerson Rams, the 6’1”, 215 lbs defender scored on a breakaway with less than one minute left in double overtime to give the Lions a 2-1 victory.
In six games this season, Sheppard, who previously played for the Gatineau Olympiques in QMJHL, is currently tied for third in points with nine.
After dropping their first two games of the season, Sheppard and the Lions have rattled off four straight wins and will look to make it five on Friday when they host the Brock Badgers.
FEMALE: Stephanie Sluys (Clinton, Ont.) – 3rd yr. – Waterloo Warriors – Hockey
After a pair of shutouts, Waterloo Warriors goaltender Stephanie Sluys (Clinton, Ont.) has been named Investors Group OUA Female Athlete of the Week.
On Friday night against the visiting UOIT Ridgebacks, the third-year kinesiology major turned aside all 23 shots she faced in a 2-0 Warriors victory. The netminder also picked up an assist on Amy Barnard’s empty net goal which sealed the win for the Warriors.
The Clinton, Ont. native was back at it again on Saturday evening, saving all 15 shots she faced for her second straight shutout and 11th of her career.
In three games this season, 5’11” goalie has allowed just two goals in three games. In 28 starts in net for the Warriors, Sluys has 16 career OUA wins, including 11 shutouts.
Sluys and the Warriors will now head out on the road for a two game trip to Windsor and Western next weekend.
