Graphic on predominantly blue background featuring action photos of Conor Frenette, Katherine Heard along with the OUA Athletes of the Week logo in the lower third.
C/O Trevor MacMillan, Waterloo Warriors
March 24, 2026

Frenette, Heard named OUA athletes of the week

Burlington, Ont. – Conor Frenette and Katherine Heard have been named OUA athletes of the week for the period ending March 22, 2026.

Conor Frenette, UQTR Patriotes, Hockey

The UQTR Patriotes captain led his team to their sixth University Cup championship, with a 3-2 victory over the Saint Mary’s Huskies in overtime. Over the three-day championship the veteran centre scored four goals while adding four assists across the Patriotes three games.

Frenette capped off the scoring for UQTR in their 4-0 quarterfinal win over Moncton. Backing up that performance, he put up an impressive three goals in their 7-4 over the UNB Reds on route to the gold medal game.

His sensational performance earned him the most valuable player honours of the national championship. He also received two U SPORTS honours earlier in the week: the prestigious RW Pugh Sportsmanship Award and was named a second-team All-Canadian.

Katherine Heard, Guelph Gryphons, Hockey

Heard, the fifth-year forward capped off her memorable season with the Guelph Gryphons with an outstanding showing at the 2026 U SPORTS Championships from Elmira, Ont.

The Gryphons opened their accord in the quarterfinals against the Waterloo Warriors as Heard kicked off the scoring for her side, circling the net as she fired one into the top corner of the net which turned out to be the game-winning goal in her team’s 2-0 win over their OUA West rivals. The sociology major continued her goal scoring touch in Sunday’s bronze medal game against the UNB Reds when she broke free on the breakaway and scored a shorthanded goal to tie up game, but her team would finish in 4th place at nationals following their 2-1 loss to the Reds.

For the OUA West MVP and first team All-Star, it was her second goal at nationals and her fifth goal of the postseason (9 games played). Heard during the regular season, led the team with 24 points (6th in OUA) and scored eight goals while playing in all 26 games. The Arva, Ont. native scored the game-winning goal in the third period on March 14 in the OUA Championship game to clinch the McCaw Cup for the eighth time in program history for the Ontario champions Guelph Gryphons.