Varsity Blues Chao, Paladins van Schubert earn OUA Athlete of the Week honours

Burlington, Ont. – Cristine Chao and Brad van Schubert have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week for the period ending December 1, 2019.

Female Athlete of the Week – Cristine Chao, Toronto Varsity Blues, Hockey

Fifth-year defenceman Cristine Chao scored both goals as the No. 4 nationally-ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team defeated the No. 9 Waterloo Warriors 2-1 on Saturday night at Varsity Arena.

A commerce major, Chao opened the scoring seven minutes into the contest as she rushed up the ice and displayed some nice poise before sending a shot through traffic and into the net. After the Warriors evened the score, the Toronto native scored the game-winner as she deflected a Lauren MacDonnell shot into the top corner of the net.

With the win, the Blues head into the December exam break with a 9-3-0 record in second place in the OUA, one point behind the York Lions with two games in hand.

Male Athlete of the Week – Brad van Schubert, RMC Paladins, Hockey

Brad van Schubert picked up two vital wins in the Paladins goal over the weekend, including RMC's first victory against perennial powerhouse McGill in over a decade.

The second-year Officer Cadet got the job done at home with 26 saves against Laurentian on Friday night in a game that will certainly have playoff implications. van Schubert was back in goal the very next night for the Paladins Saturday tilt in Montreal. RMC hadn't beaten McGill since a 2-1 win in the 2007-08 season, but the 6’4” goaltender snapped the Paladins 30-game losing streak to McGill with an outstanding 39-save performance.

Heading into the winter break, van Schubert sits third in the OUA with 457 saves so far this season.