Thunder Athletics Weekly Recap - Week 16

Week 16 marked a busy stretch for Thunder Athletics, with multiple programs in action both on campus and on the road. CUE hosted badminton and ACAC indoor track, welcomed fans for two home basketball games, held one men’s hockey home game, while the second hockey matchup was played away. Meanwhile, both volleyball teams were on the road for their respective competitions. It was a full weekend of activity that highlighted the energy of Thunder Athletics across all programs.

Badminton

This past weekend, Concordia University of Edmonton hosted a competitive badminton tournament that brought together strong programs from across the conference. While Thunder athletes faced some challenges in singles play, the event highlighted the continued growth and success of the doubles squads. The standout performance of the weekend came from the men’s doubles team of Raphael Motel and Jonathan Su, who delivered a composed and dominant showing to capture first place overall.

On the women’s side, Emma Tran and Prabhleen Kaur put together a strong run, finishing fourth, narrowly missing the podium in a tightly contested field. The depth of the Thunder doubles program was further demonstrated with additional doubles teams finishing sixth and seventh, underscoring how close the group was to climbing even higher in the standings.In mixed doubles, the Thunder pairings approached the tournament as a valuable development opportunity. With athletes still learning to play alongside one another, the focus remained on building chemistry, refining communication, and establishing a competitive dynamic that will continue to strengthen as the season progresses.

Overall, the weekend at CUE reflected both immediate success and promising growth for Thunder badminton, particularly in doubles play, as the team continues to build momentum moving forward. The groups next tournament will be ACAC Championships, as The King’s University hosts the entire ACAC February 21st and 22nd with individual medals and team banners on the line.

Basketball

Thunder basketball teams took on the Keyano Huskies in intense back-to-back home games this past weekend, with both squads battling through closely contested and hard fought games on Friday and Saturday.

The Thunder women delivered strong performances all weekend, securing victories in both games. On Friday, they controlled the tempo to earn a 78-67 win, then followed it up with a gritty effort on Saturday, edging out the Huskies in a tight 67-64 finish. Chloe Sutherland led the weekend putting up 52 points, while Hayley Cleland led with 12 assists, consistently creating scoring opportunities for her teammates. Sutherland also broke the Thunder women's basketball record for steals in a season on Saturday, now with 78 on the season and six games left to add to her total.

On the men’s side, the Thunder showed resilience and competitiveness throughout the weekend but ultimately came up just short in both contests. Friday’s matchup saw the Huskies pull away late for a 78-67 win, while Saturday’s game featured strong offensive stretches before Keyano closed out a 98-80 victory. Thunder's Keellaa Gatwech led the weekend with 21 rebounds across both games, while Roka Phalen-Baker led the team in three pointers going 6 for 13 from beyond the arc.

Overall, the weekend showcased the Thunder’s determination and depth, with both teams competing at a high level against the opposing team and still fighting for their playoff spot. The teams see TKU Eagles this upcoming weekend. Women’s basketball is now an impressive 13-1, tied with the Eagles for first place in the division, and men’s basketball sits at 5-8, holding down the final playoff spot in the north division with the Eagles right behind them.

Hockey

This past weekend, the Thunder men’s hockey team took on SAIT in a challenging back-to-back series, falling short in both contests despite a strong response on Saturday.

Friday’s matchup proved difficult for the Thunder, as they were unable to get the puck past their goaltender and dropped a 5-0 decision. The team returned to the ice on Saturday with renewed energy, putting together a much more competitive effort. Dylan Handel opened the scoring for Concordia and later added an assist in the third period. Liam Fitzgerald found the back of the net on the power play, assisted by Zach Cunningham, and also picked up an assist on Dallon Wilton’s goal as the Thunder continued to apply pressure. Late in the game, Ryley Morgan and Nikolai Morrison added goals for Concordia, bringing the total to five. Despite the improved offensive output, the Thunder ultimately fell 8-5. 

This upcoming weekend, the men’s hockey team will face Red Deer Polytechnic, who currently sit at the top of the conference standings. The Thunder still hold the final playoff spot in the league, now in sixth place with a 6-12 record.

Indoor Track

Grand Prix #1 of the 2026 ACAC Indoor Track season took place last Saturday at the Kinsmen Sport Centre in Edmonton and was proudly hosted by Concordia University of Edmonton. The meet marked the opening of the indoor season, with student-athletes from across the conference competing in sprint, middle distance, distance, and relay events.

Concordia’s Ashlee Walker led the way with an impressive showing, capturing first place in both the women’s 300m and 600m. On the men’s side, Owen Stewart earned the top spot in the 1000m, continuing to establish himself as a top middle-distance competitor. The Thunder placed inside the top three in approximately half of the events, showcasing their depth across the roster.

At the conclusion of the meet, Concordia finished with a combined team score of 85, securing third place overall in the standings and setting a strong foundation as the indoor season gets underway. 

CUE Indoor Track’s next event will be held on February 14th, when the team travels to Red Deer for Grand Prix #2.

Volleyball

The Thunder volleyball teams took on the Keyano Huskies this past weekend in a competitive two match series that featured momentum swings and strong individual performances.

The women’s team opened the weekend with a resilient performance on Friday, completing an impressive 3-2 comeback victory with a clean three set sweep after trailing by two. On Saturday, the Thunder battled through several tightly contested sets but ultimately fell short in the fourth set, losing 3-1 in set scores. Stephanie Kendziora was a standout across the weekend, leading the team with 17 kills and 17 digs, providing a strong two way presence on the court.

On the men’s side, the Thunder fell 3-0 in both matches against the Huskies. Kaiden Gray demonstrated consistency and resilience, leading Concordia with four kills in the first match and six in the second, while also contributing defensively with 10 digs over the weekend to Liam Frost. Zach Fernandez played a key role in running the offense, recording 15 assists across the two matches, helping keep the CUE competitive against a strong Keyano squad.

Both teams will face the TKU Eagles on the weekend of February 6th and 7th, this could be a huge opportunity to push them ahead in the standings if they come out on top. Women’s volleyball is one game under .500 at 7-8, occupying fourth place and the final playoff spot in the women’s north division. Men’s volleyball is now 2-13 sitting in seventh in the north division standings.