Mark Soares of mens hockey and Emma Brightwell of womens wrestling are this weeks Lakehead Thunderwolves RBC Athletes of the Week. Soares had a record setting weekend as he helped lead his No. 6 Thunderwolves to 9-0 and 8-1 wins over the Windsor Lancers while Brightwell took gold at the prestigious Guelph Open Meet.
Male: Mark Soares: Mens Hockey
The weather was very cold in Thunder Bay this past weekend but sophomore forward Mark Soares (Burnaby, British Columbia) was on fire as he set the new Lakehead standard for goal scoring as he tallied five consecutive goals to lead his CIS No. 6 Thunderwolves to an 8-1 win over Windsor Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay. The five goals are a Thunderwolves single game record; and the fact that they were scored consecutively makes it a record that will be doubly tough to beat in the future.
In Fridays 9-0 win over Windsor; the speedy 5 6 170 pound Business student recorded a goal and three assists for a weekend total of six goals and three assists. Last years OUA Rookie of the Year now sits tied for fourth in OUA scoring (14 goals, 18 assists) and tied for sixth in the CIS. Soares heroics over the weekend helped put the Thunderwolves into first place in the brutally competitive OUA Far West Division; two points ahead of Laurier, and three up on both Waterloo and Western.
Female: Emma Brightwell: Womens Wrestling
Freshman Emma Brightwell, Lakeheads only female competitor, took the gold medal Sunday at the prestigious Guelph Open Wrestling Meet in Guelph, Ontario. Brightwell, an Outdoor Recreation student and a Guelph native, thrilled family and friends in her hometown by taking gold in the 72 kg weight class.
The highly recruited freshman continues to show why she was so high on Lakehead Head Coach Owen Dawkins recruiting wish list. In her four meets so far this season, she has a fourth and three gold medals; she began with a fourth at the Calgary Dinos Open, took gold at the McMaster Open, took gold at the Ontario Senior Wrestling Champinships (though a junior in age), and then took gold in Guelph.
Honourable Mention: Male: Brock McPherson: Mens Hockey
In a break from tradition at Lakehead Athletics; mens hockeys Brock McPherson gets a very high honourable mention for Athlete of the Week as he recorded 1 goal and 9 assists in Lakeheads two home wins over Windsor. In Saturdays 8-1 win; McPherson set a new Lakehead record with six assists (all consecutive) and tied the Thunderwolves single game points mark which he now shares with former Lakehead captain Joel Scherban who had 1 goal and 5 assists.
Brock The Rock also had two goals go in and out so quickly that they werent seen by the goal judge or referee. McPherson is now tied for third in OUA scoring with 14 goals and 20 assists. (tied 5th CIS).