Cougars Athletics Season Update

Season UpdateCOUGARS

Volleyball

A new season brought big changes for the women’s volleyball team, including a new coach. Kevin Neufeld is a Brandon local and Volleyball Manitoba Hall of Famer. He’s contributed extensively to the sport, produced some highly successful teams and individuals, and hopes to bring some of that success to the Cougars. The team has already exceeded last year’s record, having taken at least one set off of each team in the league so far, and marking a win over CMU so far this season.

The men’s volleyball team has its sights set on cracking the MCAC finals with the bulk of last year's roster returning, and the addition of some critical and talented recruits. The team will look to last season's MCAC Co-MVP, Carter Beattie, for leadership on the court. After three weekends of regular season play, the men sit in third place heading into the winter break.

The women’s hockey team entered this season with a target on their backs as the reigning American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II champions. They’ve started strong, going 10-0 in regular season so far.

Border restrictions had the team on the road and without home games last season. This year we are excited to welcome fans back to the Sportsplex to cheer on the Cougars. With 10 returning players and seven rookies, head coach Tony Bertone has his eyes set on Boston, where the 2023 ACHA National Championship will be hosted. Want to learn more about Cougars Athletics or find out where the teams play next?

Visit assiniboine.net/athletics or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @CougarsACC

Soccer

The Cougars soccer teams wrapped up the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) season at the end of October. Despite a winless record the men’s team (0-9-3) showed a lot of promise. The team competed hard but ultimately couldn’t get the “W’s” and fell short of playoffs. Coach McLachlan recruited a full roster of twenty-two athletes, seventeen of which were in their first season on the team. With a young group of highly talented individuals they weren’t able to put it all together on the field. Two of the men’s players were recognized by the conference for their athletic talent. Theo Manias (striker) and Gerardo Alas Donado (keeper) were named to the MCAC All-Conference team. Manias was also selected as a True Sport champion. This award is given to individuals across Canada that exemplify leadership, fair play and sportsmanship, among other principles.

Similarly, Kendra Mansoff, a veteran player on the women's team, received an MCAC All-Conference award. A mother of two, Mansoff is a leader on and off the field and served as a backbone of the team this season. Maddison Kilburn (keeper) was selected as a True Sport champion for the Cougars. The women’s team were winless, falling short of a playoff run as well.

After a few weeks of rest, the teams will transition into futsal season, starting in the New Year.