Golden Bear named CW BioSteel Player of the Week

It has been a rough stretch for the University of Alberta Golden Bears, but Tyson Laventure just gave them a bright spot to carry into the break.

The second-year forward was named Canada West BioSteel men’s hockey player of the week after a huge rivalry series against the MacEwan University Griffins. Across two games, he scored three goals, added an assist, and buried the shootout winner on Saturday night.

On December 5 at MacEwan University, Laventure did everything he could to drag Alberta back into the game. Trailing late in the first period, the Bears drew a two-man advantage. Laventure scored twice in 20 seconds on the power play, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead almost by himself.

Alberta would eventually lose 4-3 in overtime, but those two goals set the tone for his weekend.

Twenty-four hours later at Clare Drake Arena, he was back at it. MacEwan jumped out to a 4-1 lead and looked ready to spoil teddy bear toss night. Alberta chipped away. Laventure scored again on the man advantage, added an assist and then finished the night with the only goal of the shootout in a 5-4 comeback win in front of a packed crowd.

Three goals, one assist, two nights, and a rivalry split the Bears badly needed. That is how you earn player of the week.

From the dub’ to the U

Laventure did not come out of nowhere.

Before joining the Bears, he bounced around the WHL and learned how to score in a hurry. He started with the Prince Albert Raiders, then moved to the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and later the Swift Current Broncos and Victoria Royals. In his final junior season, he was a point-per-game player, putting up 31 points in 25 games with Victoria.

That touch has carried over to U Sports.

Last year, his first season with Alberta, Laventure finished with four goals and nine points in 21 games. Solid depth numbers on a veteran team that already had lots of firepower.

This year, with more responsibility and more ice time, he has taken a step. At the semester break he sits at eight goals and 14 points in 18 games, with four of those goals coming on the power play. He is now one of Alberta’s most dangerous options while on the man-advantage.

What it means for the Golden Bears

The timing of this breakout matters.

Alberta was knocked out in the Canada West quarterfinals last year by the Mount Royal University Cougars. Since then, they have lost some key pieces and have been trying to find a new core. The current group has been streaky and came into the MacEwan weekend on a losing streak, with the Griffins closing the gap in the West Division standings.

That is why a player like Laventure is so important: you need someone who can score when things are going sideways. On December 5, he nearly stole the game on the road. On December 6, he helped turn what looked like another ugly night into one of the loudest wins of the season.

There is still plenty of work ahead. The Bears have not looked like the powerhouse of last season. With the juggernaut University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on a 15 game win streak, they will need more consistent defending, and more balanced scoring next semester.

If Alberta is going to climb back into the top tier of Canada West and make a deeper playoff push than last year, they will need players who can grow into leading roles.

Right now, Tyson Laventure looks like one of them.