Melissa John
Women’s Hockey
The playoff stretch is a high-intensity time for goalies. Now imagine the intensity when you are put into the net for the home stretch as a first-year player, with only six OUA starts under your belt.
Melissa John, this week’s female Athlete of the Week, did exactly that. Playing in just her seventh and eighth games, John gave up just two goals in two games this weekend. A first-year Commerce student, John made 21 saves in the Gaels’ 3-1 victory over York and made 29 saves, many of them game-saving ones, against the University of Toronto in a 1-1 tie.
John, who has been sharing time with returning goalie Claire Hunt, was playing in the first big game of her OUA career this weekend against U of T.
“It was good playing against Toronto,” she said. “I have not played in a lot of big games.” John also acknowledged the importance of the game.
“We are in the playoff run now,” she said. “I have been practicing hard and I guess the coaches thought I deserved the start.”
John, who gave up a goal with two minutes remaining on a scramble in front, made a game-saving stop in overtime.
“I had one save where I thought U of T had one,” she said. “It was good to come out with one point.”
John said her success over the weekend was part of a real team effort.
“[Hunt] and I really each other,” John said of the other goalkeeper. “She knows how it is against big competition. I wouldn’t have performed as well if [Hunt] hadn’t ed me.” John’s play this weekend may have turned some heads, but she said the Gaels are still underappreciated in the OUA and the country.
“Throughout the league we are not given a lot of respect,” she said. “But we are fine with that. We are stepping up for every game and competing for second place.”
Devon Miller
Men’s Volleyball
For any hockey player, 108 assists in a season is a career year. For Devon Miller, 108 assists on the court means an outstanding weekend. Miller, a two-time Athlete of the Week, was instrumental in the Gaels’ two games this weekend. The third-year environmental science and psychology major was the player of the game in the Gaels’ tough five-set loss to Ryerson, where he had 60 assists.
Against U of T the next day, Miller made 48 assists in a 3-set-to-1 win, moving the Gaels to 13-3 on the season.
The loss against Ryerson on Friday was an unbelievably close game, Miller said.
“The Ryerson game was one of the best games I have ever seen,” he said. “It was fun to be a part of one of the longest games in the OUA.”
The fourth set lasted an incredible 80 points and more than 40 minutes.
Miller added that many of his teammates also had career games in the tough five-set loss.
“Everyone stepped up,” he said. “[There] could have been any of five guys who won Athlete of the Week.” However, Miller walks away with the honour not only because of his play on the court, but because of his leadership skills.
“I am looked up to to lead,” Miller said. “That is my job as setter and playmaker.”
Miller has been playing with the same group of players since first year and said they have all grown as players during their time together.
“We have a really good rapport with one another,” he said.
He added that this chemistry and familiarity is one of the main reasons for his success.
“Some teams have players that squabble,” he said. “We are really close friends.” As the team looks towards the playoffs, they will need to rely on Miller and that strong team chemistry.
“This season is all for naught if we lose in the first round of the playoffs,” he said.
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