WATERLOO, Ont. – Women's Hockey's Nikki Mcdonald (Stoney Creek, Ont./Saltfleet District Highschool) and Tatum James (Stratford, Ont./Northwestern Secondary School) have been named the W Store Warriors Athletes of the Week, presented by Imprint. 

The Waterloo Women's Hockey team were the hosted the 2026 Miller Waste U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship this past week and faced top competition, with the top eight teams in Canada meeting in Elmira, Ont. to compete for the national championship. 

After facing a tough loss to Guelph in their opening game, Mcdonald and James had their eyes set on Manitoba, and with both players graduating at the end of this season, they were going to make every moment they had left on the ice count.  

It was within 17 seconds of the game versus Manitoba that centre Gracey Smith (Waterloo, Ont./Preston High School) won her draw. Tatum James (Stratford, Ont./Northwestern Secondary School) reacted quickly and sent a pass to Nikki Mcdonald (Stoney Creek, Ont./Saltfleet District Highschool) who bolted through two oncoming Bisons defenders and sniped the puck into the top right corner. Later in the third period, McDonald doubled the Warriors' lead and ultimately sealed the win with a nearly identical goal to the first, this time finishing on a backhand deke.  

"Tatum was doing her job tying up and batted the puck to me both times. Honestly, I was just in a good spot, and able to make the most of it" said Nikki Mcdonald (Stoney Creek, Ont./Saltfleet District Highschool) after her Player of the Game performance. 

Mcdonald also chipped in with another goal versus UBC, taking her tournament tally to three goals. 

James not only set up Mcdonald with two assists, but also won her own Player of the Game award in Sunday's consolation final against UBC.  

This is Mcdonald's first Warriors Athlete of the Week Award, and James' third. McDonald and James are the final winners for the 2025-2026 season.