SMU's Hansen, STFX's Smith named AUS Athletes of the Week

ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Week ending Feb. 18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Ridleigh Hansen
University: Saint Mary’s
Sport: Women’s Hockey
Position: Goalie
Hometown: Red Deer, Alta.
Year of eligibility: Second
Academic program: Arts

Ridleigh Hansen of the SMU Huskies women’s hockey team is the Atlantic University Sport Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending Feb. 18, 2024.

The second-year netminder from Red Deer, Alta., posted a pair of shutouts to help her Huskies win their best-of-three quarterfinal sweep of the Dalhousie Tigers.

In Wednesday’s 2-0 victory, the Arts student turned aside all 27 shots she faced to give her team a 1-0 lead in the series.

Two days later, the Huskies clinched the series as Hansen again was perfect, stopping 31 shots in their 4-0 victory.

SMU now advances to the AUS women’s hockey semifinals where they will meet the UNB Reds in a best-of-five series.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Declan Smith
University: STFX
Sport: Men’s Hockey
Position: Forward
Hometown: Antigonish, N.S.
Year of eligibility: Fifth
Academic program: Business

Declan Smith of the STFX X-Men men’s hockey team is the Atlantic University Sport Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending Feb. 18, 2024.

Smith came up big in his team’s best-of-three quarterfinal sweep of the Acadia Axemen this past week, scoring four goals in the two victories.

The fifth-year Business student from Antigonish, N.S., started the series with a pair of goals in their 4-3 triple overtime win.

A few nights later, he scored two more – one to tie the game with just 1:12 remaining in the third period, and the second to end things in the fourth overtime period – as the X-Men completed the sweep of Acadia with a 3-2 win.

STFX advances to the AUS men’s hockey semifinals where they will now face the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus in a best-of-five series.

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For further information, please visit our website at www.atlanticuniversitysport.com or contact:

Brody Mark
Marketing and Communications Manager
Atlantic University Sport
bmark@atlanticuniversitysport.com
902-425-4235