BURLINGTON, Ont. – For the 12th time during the 2025-26 season, a University of Guelph student-athlete has been named 'OUA Athlete of the Week.'
Katherine Heard of the Gryphons women's hockey team has earned 'OUA Athlete of the Week' honours for the second time this season. Heard alongside Kassim Gaudet (UQTR men's hockey), Andrew Herman (Toronto men's swimming) and Madison Tuck (Brock women's volleyball) has earned conference-wide honours for the period covering March 9 to 15, 2026. Heard, a sociology major at the U of G scored the McCaw Cup-winning goal for the Gryphons in the third period to help her side win their 8th conference championship in program history.
OUA Athletes of the Week (Mar. 9-15, 2026)
| Katherine Heard |
Women's Hockey, Guelph Gryphons |
| Kassim Gaudet |
Men's Hockey, UQTR Patriotes |
| Madison Tuck |
Women's Volleyball, Brock Badgers |
| Andrew Herman |
Men's Swimming, Toronto Varsity Blues |
For the second time this season,
Katherine Heard has been named 'OUA Athlete of the Week' after having the defining moment in the 2026 McCaw Cup. Heard, a fifth-year forward and team captain of the Gryphons women's hockey team, scored the decisive go-ahead goal in the third period of the OUA championship game to give her team the 2-1 win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday afternoon (March 14). Midway through the third period, the OUA West MVP would step up like she has done all season, with her shot from the high slot sneaking past Ottawa goalie Clara Genier as it crossed the goal line in what proved to be the McCaw Cup-winning goal for the Gryphons. The game winning goal for the sociology major at the U of G earned her McCaw Cup Player of the Game honours after helping lead her side to their 8th OUA title in program history. Heard finishes her postseason with 6 points while finding the back of the net on three occasions. The Arva, Ontario native was named OUA West MVP and an OUA First Team All-Star following the 2025-26 regular season where she recorded 24 points (6th in OUA) and tied for 3rd in the conference with 16 assists. Next up for Heard and the Gryphons women's hockey team, the 2026 Miller Waste Systems U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship from the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira, Ontario where they'll open up play in the U SPORTS Quarterfinals as the No. 3-seed in a matchup with a familiar OUA West division foe in the No. 6-seed Waterloo Warriors and tournament hosts on Thursday night (Mar. 19).
Guelph Gryphons named OUA Athletes of the Week in 2025-26
| Katherine Heard |
Women's Hockey |
Mar. 9-15, 2026 |
| Gabby Cole |
Women's Track and Field |
Mar. 2-8, 2026 |
| Rebecca Parker |
Women's Track and Field |
Feb. 16-22, 2026 |
| Briar Crerar |
Women's Volleyball |
Feb. 9-15, 2026 |
| Katrina Frlan |
Women's Curling |
Feb. 2-8, 2026 |
| Killian Donovan |
Men's Volleyball |
Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2026 |
| Katherine Heard |
Women's Hockey |
Jan. 19-25, 2026 |
| Hannah Bourdon |
Women's Basketball |
Jan. 5-11, 2026 |
| Hannah Bourdon |
Women's Basketball |
Nov. 17-23, 2025 |
| Alexandra McDougall |
Women's Cross Country |
Nov. 3-9, 2025 |
| Owen Williams |
Men's Rugby |
Nov. 3-9, 2025 |
| Alexandra McDougall |
Women's Cross Country |
Oct. 20-26, 2025 |
| Gianni Green |
Football |
Sept. 22-28, 2025 |
| Olivia Rizakos |
Women's Soccer |
Sept. 22-28, 2025 |
