Cuccia, Fedel, Purboo named OUA Athletes of the week

Burlington, Ont. – Julia Cuccia, Martina Fedel, and Christian Purboo have been named OUA athletes of the week for the period ending November 12, 2023.

Julia Cuccia, Hockey, York Lions

It was a weekend to set records for junior forward Julia Cuccia as she and the York Lions faced a pair of tough opponents both home and away.

Under the Friday night lights, Cuccia found immediate success in a matchup against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. Scoring half of her teams goals on the night, Cuccia helped her Lions secure the 4-0 victory, their second of the season. While her first of night proved to be the game winner, it was her second tally that helped put her atop the teams in both goals and points on the year.

The third-year criminology major from Sharon, Ont. did not stop there; however, as she scored the lone goal for the Lions in a tough game on the road against Brock the following night. While the tally was not enough to earn her team the win, Cuccia’s fourth goal on the season equaled her career-best mark, achieving the feat in just eight games.

Martina Fedel, Hockey, Guelph Gryphons

Picking up a pair of victories, the Guelph Gryphons have secured themselves a four game win streak, and Martina Fedel’s spotless play in net has been no small feat during that stretch.

The Italian goalie helped her team pick up not one, but two wins over ranked opponents in shut out fashion. Starting on Friday night, Fedel entered turned away 16 shots on the night, and each of them proved pivotal in what proved to be a slim 1-0 victory over the No. 5 Toronto Varsity Blues. Continuing her potent performance thereafter, the junior was tasked with turning away more than twice as many shots the following night, but was once again up to the task time and time again. For her efforts, and this time via shootout victory, Fedel backstopped her Gryphons to the 1-0 win over the No. 10 Waterloo Warriors.  

Fedel’s performances, which now see her at three straight shut outs, have earned the third-year animal biology major the top sport in the OUA in goals-against average (0.72) and save percentage (0.968).

Christian Purboo, Hockey, Queen’s Gaels

It was a productive weekend on the ice for the Gaels as they picked up a pair of wins against the nation’s capital contingent, in large part thanks to goalie Christian Purboo.

The junior started the weekend strong on Friday night against the Ottawa Gee-Gees, and while the Garnet and Grey made numerous attempts to score, Purboo managed to collect all 31 saves on the night for the 2-0 shutout win. Despite the busy night, the Oakville, Ont. netminder was right back between the pipes the following night and was once again on top of his game. With another intense test in front of him, this time one that needed an extra frame to be decided, the third-year commerce major stopped 29 of 31 shots for the 3-2 Queen’s win over Carleton.

His dynamic performances against two divisional rivals have helped him reach No. 2 in the OUA for goals-against, averaging 1.98, and third in the OUA for save percentage with 0.933.