WATERLOO, Ont. - Golden Hawks Kayla Renaud and Hayley Szymanowski are the Laurier Athletes of the Week, presented by The Hawk Shop for the week ending March 1, 2026. 

Renaud, a fourth-year kinesiology/physical education major from Amherstburg, Ont., made her postseason debut last week in the OUA quarterfinals against Brock. 

The veteran goaltender started both games and was integral to the Golden Hawks series sweep. She posted her first career playoff shutout in game one with 15 saves.  

She was called upon heavily in game two, making 21 saves on 23 shots. Renaud was able to keep the door closed late in the third period with the extra attacker on for Brock, sealing the deal to send the Golden Hawks to the semifinals.  

Renaud was stellar during the regular season, sitting in the top three in four categories, and carried it over to the playoffs, being first in goals against average (1.00) and second in save percentage (0.947). 

Szymanowski, a fifth-year criminology major from Cambridge, Ont., helped lift the Golden Hawks to the OUA semifinals.  

The captain secured her first career playoff and series win against Brock, averaging 21:15 time on ice. In game one, she scored her first playoff goal on the empty net in the final minute of the third period.  

She carried that over to game two where she scored the game's opening goal on the power play where she went forehand-backhand into the empty cage.  

Szymanowski played in all 26 regular season games, scoring six goals with seven assists, and now has two goals through the first playoff series.  

This is the fourth career Laurier Athlete of the Week award for Renaud and third for Szymanowski.