EDMONTON, AB - The Golden Bears will finish with the #3 seed in the West Division of Canada West after a 6-2 home loss to MacEwan. 

The Bears will travel next weekend for the Canada West quarter-final, and will visit either Saskatchewan or Mount Royal. 

Sam Simard powered MacEwan's offence with two goals and two assists, factoring in four of the Griffins' six tallies. Ethan Sundar added a goal and an assist, while Vincent Scott contributed a goal and an assist, including the late empty-netter. Logan Dowhaniuk and Caden Cabana also scored, with Brett Bamber registering two assists.

For Alberta, Rhett Melnyk recorded a goal and an assist, opening the scoring and later setting up Jayden Joly's first-period marker. Ryan Duguay, Blake Gustafson, and Bruce MacGregor each added assists. In goal, Drew Sim made 24 saves in the loss.

Alberta struck first at 6:29 of the opening period. Rhett Melnyk finished a clean passing sequence from Blake Gustafson and Bruce MacGregor at even strength to give the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead.

MacEwan responded midway through the frame. At 10:12, Simard tied the game, converting a feed from Ethan Sundar. Just over a minute later, Sundar capitalized himself at 11:26, finishing a setup from Kadyn Chabot and Brody Tallman to put the Griffins ahead 2-1.

Alberta drew even at 17:04, when Jayden Joly buried a pass from Melnyk and Ryan Duguay to make it 2-2 after one.

Special teams shifted the momentum early in the second period. With back-to-back Alberta penalties carrying over, Logan Dowhaniuk struck on the power play at 0:23, assisted by Simard and Brett Bamber. Following a five-minute major to Alberta, Simard added another power-play goal at 2:54, extending the Griffins lead to 4-2.

MacEwan sealed control in the third. At 7:35, Caden Cabana scored at even strength off passes from Keaton Dowhaniuk and Vincent Scott. Alberta pressed late but was unable to convert on two third-period power plays. With the net empty, Vincent Scott finished a feed from Simard at 18:13, completing the 6-2 result.