GUELPH, Ont. – Throughout the 2021-22 season, the University of Guelph Department of Athletics will be highlighting various members from our Gryphon varsity programs as part of our "BioSteel Gryphon Athletes of the Week" series. This week's edition features
Owen McKee (Men's Soccer) and
Natalie Armatage (Women's Rugby) for their impressive performances in their team's respective appearances at the OUA and U SPORTS championships.
Owen McKee (Men's Soccer)
Owen McKeen earns BioSteel Gryphon Athlete of the Week honours after playing a key role in helping the Gryphons men's soccer team claim the third OUA title in program history on Saturday (Nov. 13). For the first time since 1990, the University of Guelph hosted an OUA men's soccer championship final, with the No. 3-nationally ranked Gryphons facing off against the No. 2-nationally ranked York Lions. It was the host Gryphons who came out of the gate strong, with
Owen McKee opening the scoring in the 22nd minute when his cross deflected into the York net to give the Gryphons a 1-0 lead. McKee, a third-year forward from Ottawa who majors in biological science, would be directly involved in Guelph's second goal of the match as well, when he was able to draw a penalty in the early stages of the 2nd half after chasing down a long ball into the box and being taken down by a York defender, leading to a converted penalty from Gryphon teammate,
Lucas Doros. In addition to his exceptional contributions in the OUA final, McKee was also responsible for the lone goal in the Gryphons 1-0 win over the Carleton Ravens in the OUA semifinals. The biological science major has scored four goals for the team this season, and will now return to his hometown of Ottawa for the 2021 U SPORTS Men's Soccer Championships, where the Gryphons will look to capture the first national title in program history. McKee and the Gryphons open up play at the U SPORTS Championships with a national quarterfinal matchup against the St. Mary's Huskies on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 11am.
Natalie Armatage (Women's Rugby)
Natalie Armatage has earned herself the title of this week's BioSteel Gryphon Athlete of the Week for her impressive performances in the Gryphons women's rugby team's appearance over the weekend in Kingston at the 2021 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship.
After helping her team capture gold in the OUA championship finals against their rivals the Queen's Gaels last week (Nov. 6), the Waterloo, ON native went on to put in outstanding performances for the Gryphs in the matches against the Victoria Vikes, StFX X-Women and UBC Thunderbirds. The third-year scrum half earned 5-points and her first "Nike Top Performer" title this season in the U SPORTS consolation semifinal match against StFX, scoring a try in the second half of the game which the Gryphs won 32-12. Her quick movement of the ball throughout the match helped the Gryphons defeat the perennial powers from the AUS for a second straight meeting, after Guelph also defeated StFX at nationals back in 2019. With the win over the X-Women, Armatage and the Gryphons advanced to the U SPORTS consolation final where they matched up against Canada West champions, the UBC Thunderbirds. While the Gryphons came up short as a team in a 57-19 loss to UBC, Armatage was once again recognized for her hard work by being named Guelph's "Nike Top Performer" in the match. The marketing management major was a dynamic presence for the Gryphs all season long, both offensively and defensively, and becomes the third member of the Gryphons women's rugby team this season to garner Athlete of the Week honours, joining teammates
Kennedy Feasby and
Hannah Beaumont.
"Gryphon Athletes of the Week" for 2021-22
| Name |
Sport |
Date |
| Owen McKee |
Men's Soccer |
Nov. 15, 2021 |
| Natalie Armatage |
Women's Rugby |
Nov. 15, 2021 |
| Kiana Gibson |
Women's Cross Country |
Nov. 8, 2021 |
| Alex Williamson |
Men's Rugby |
Nov. 8, 2021 |
| Mark Wilson |
Men's Lacrosse |
Nov. 1, 2021 |
| Kennedy Feasby |
Women's Rugby |
Nov. 1, 2021 |
| Kiana Gibson |
Women's Cross Country |
Oct. 25, 2021 |
| Ian Vidovich |
Men's Soccer |
Oct. 25, 2021 |
| Jacqueline Giles |
Women's Golf |
Oct. 18, 2021 |
| Connor McKinney |
Men's Rugby |
Oct. 18, 2021 |
| Venessa Mazur |
Women's Soccer |
Oct. 11, 2021 |
| Justin Allen |
Men's Golf |
Oct. 11, 2021 |
| Lucas Doros |
Men's Soccer |
Oct. 4, 2021 |
| Hannah Beaumont |
Women's Rugby |
Oct. 4, 2021 |
| Olivia Rizakos |
Women's Soccer |
Sept. 27, 2021 |
| Mitchell Ubene |
Men's Cross Country |
Sept. 27, 2021 |
| Emily Power |
Women's Lacrosse |
Sept. 20, 2021 |
| Cam MacLeod |
Men's Lacrosse |
Sept. 20, 2021 |
