York University Lions hockey player Scott Feser and fencer Adrien Sparling were named the Muscle MLK Lions of the Week for the period ending Feb. 19.
 
Feser, an administrative studies student from Red Deer, Alta., recorded three points in two games, including the series-clinching goal, to lead the Lions to a opening-round playoff win over the Lakehead Thunderwolves last week.
 
In Game 2 on Saturday, just 52 seconds into the second period, the rookie forward scored on a power play to give the Lions a 2-0 lead they converted into a 3-1 win. On Wednesday in Game 1, he scored the tying goal to help the Lions erase a 2-0 deficit and then added an assist Daniel Nikandrov's game winner with 5.3 seconds remaining.
 
Feser was the team's top rookie scorer in the regular season with 11 points in 28 games, and he is the early team leader in the playoffs. The series win was the first for the Lions since 2004.
 
The Lions will now face the Guelph Gryphons in the next round of the OUA playoffs, with Game 1 set for Wednesday at 7pm at Canlan Ice Sports. Game 2 will be played on Thursday at 7:30pm in Guelph, Ont., with Game 3 (if necessary) slated for Saturday night back at Canlan.
 
Sparling, a graduate engineering from Winnipeg, won two gold medals at the OUA championships this past weekend to lead the Lions to a fifth-place finish in the team standings.
 
The first-year student-athlete captured the Schwende-Tully Trophy as the men's sabre individual champion, and then joined his teammates to win the men's sabre relay by a single point over the Toronto Varsity Blues, giving York its first team medal since 1986.
 
Sparling was also named an OUA all-star at the conclusion of the meet, becoming York's first recipient of the honour since 1997, and the Lions' fifth-place finish was a six-place improvement over last year.
 
York's athletes of the week awards are presented by Muscle MLK and all recipients will receive a Muscle MLK prize pack.