BURLINGTON, Ont. - For the sixth time during the 2023-24 season, a University of Guelph student-athlete has garnered 'OUA Athlete of the Week' honours.
Martina Fedel of the Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team takes home the conference-wide honour alongside Julia Cuccia (York Lions women's hockey) and Christian Purboo (Queen's Gaels men's hockey). Fedel earns the provincial recognition after a pair of impressive shutout performances this past weekend against two U SPORTS Top 10 opponents.
OUA Athletes of the Week (Nov. 6-12, 2023)
| Martina Fedel |
Women's Hockey, Guelph Gryphons |
| Julia Cuccia |
Women's Hockey, York Lions |
| Christian Purboo |
Men's Hockey, Queen's Gaels |
Martina Fedel, a standout third-year goaltender on the Gryphons women's hockey team, takes home OUA Athlete of the Week honours after turning aside all 50 shots sent her way over the course of two games this past weekend for the Gryphons. Fedel, a 20-year-old native of Trento, Italy pursuing an undergraduate degree in animal biology, helped lead the Gryphons to back-to-back wins, the first of which coming against the U SPORTS No. 5-ranked U of T Varsity Blues on Friday (Nov. 10) in Toronto.
Fedel made 16 saves against the Varsity Blues, with several coming in clutch situations, to help lead the Gryphons to an all-important regulation win and three points in the OUA standings. It was the Gryphons and Varsity Blues second meeting of the season, with the first resulting in a 2-1 shootout win for Toronto. Fedel and the Gryphons now officially take the season series thanks to a 1-0-1 record.
The next day the Gryphons were in Waterloo for another U SPORTS Top 10 matchup, this time against the No. 10-ranked Waterloo Warriors who had previously bested the Gryphons back on Oct. 29. Fedel was much busier on Saturday night, making 34 saves between 60 minutes of regulation and 7 minutes of overtime. The two teams would head to a shootout locked at 0-0 where Fedel would turn aside all three shooters she faced to solidify
Jaime Magoffin's game-winner. The win marked the fourth consecutive win for the Gryphons and third straight shutout for Fedel, who helped defeat the York Lions 4-0 last week. The win also proved to be the 13th shutout victory of Fedel's career which has seen her establish herself as one of the best goaltenders in the conference.
The Gryphons now sit atop the OUA West Division with a single-point lead over the Laurier Golden Hawks and a six-point advantage over the Waterloo Warriors in third. The Gryphons have seen sensational play from their starting goaltender this season who currently leads the OUA in goals against average (0.72), save percentage (0.968), and shutouts (3) while trailing only Nipissing's Chantelle Sandquist in total wins (6). The team will look for Fedel to continue her stellar play as they take on the Warriors once again this Wednesday (Nov. 15) in the final regular season meeting between the two teams.
Guelph Gryphons Named OUA Athletes of the Week in 2023-24
| Martina Fedel |
Women's Hockey |
Nov. 13, 2023 |
| Julia Agostinelli |
Women's Cross Country |
Oct. 30, 2023 |
| Nicholas Bannon |
Men's Cross Country |
Oct. 30, 2023 |
| Luke Kutkevicius |
Men's Hockey |
Oct. 23, 2023 |
| Christina Gomes |
Women's Soccer |
Oct. 2, 2023 |
| Ambrose Tinmouth |
Men's Soccer |
Sept. 18, 2023 |
