Preview: Oct 3-6, 2024: MANITOBA at MOOSE, ST. THOMAS, & MINNESOTA-DULUTH
MANITOBA BISONS (2023-24: 5-22-1, OHT35 #31, 3-3-0)
MANITOBA MOOSE (2023-24: 34-35-3 (AHL), 5th Central, 0-0-0)
ST. THOMAS TOMMIES (2023-24: 15-20-2 (NCAA), CCHA #1, 0-0-0)
MINNESOTA-DULUTH BULLDOGS (2023-24: 12-20-5 (NCAA), USCHO #18, 0-0-0)
Thursday, October 3rd at 6:00 CDT v Moose at Hockey-for-All Centre
Saturday, October 5th at 1:07 CDT v St. Thomas at St. Paul, MN
Sunday, October 6th at 2:07 CDT v Minnesota-Duluth at Duluth, MN
Links:
➤ GoBisons: Schedule & Results
➤ Moose: 2024 Training Camp Roster
➤ Moose: 2024 Training Camp Schedule
➤ Moose: Listen Live
➤ Fandom/Wiki: Bisons v Moose Links
➤ St. Thomas: Schedule & Results
➤ USCHO: St. Thomas Schedule & Results
➤ USCHO: St. Thomas sits atop 2024-25 CCHA coaches poll, while Tommies share top spot with Bemidji State in CCHA media poll
➤ UMD: Schedule & Results
➤ USCHO: Minnesota-Duluth Schedule & Results
➤ KDAL: Live Radio
While the rest of the CW starts the regular season on Friday, October 4th, the Bisons have a stretch of four exhibition games in six days, starting Thursday.
At one time, an exhibition matchup between the Moose and Bisons was almost annual. After a break, the rivalry resumed last year. The Moose dominated last year’s games, but the earlier games were quite good. In fact, the Bisons won two-out-of six. The scores were:
October 8, 2002: Moose 6 Bisons 3
September 29, 2005: Bisons 3 Moose 1
October 4, 2005: Moose 6 Bisons 4
September 26, 2007: Moose 7 Bisons 1
September 30, 2008: Bisons 6, Moose 2
September 29, 2010: Moose 2, Bisons 1
October 5, 2023: Moose 5, Bisons 1
October 9, 2023: Moose 5, Bisons 1
I’m not fussy about that 6:00 p.m. start time, but I’ll try to get there as close to face-off as possible. The Moose roster and training camp schedule pages are linked. The teams also play on Tuesday, October 8th, and the Moose start their season on October 12th in Iowa.
Of note, the Bison starting goaltender from last Friday night, Braden Holt, is on the Moose try-out roster.
On the weekend, the Herd is off to the Excited States to face two new opponents - the St. Thomas Tommies and the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. This version of the Tommies is based in St. Paul, Minnesota, not to be confused with their namesakes from New Brunswick who once toiled in the AUS. These are the first two of five games the Bisons will play against NCAA teams.
Both sides were sub-.500 last year but are highly touted by the pollsters. St. Thomas is first in a CCHA coaches’ poll, and UMD is ranked 18th nationally in the USCHO poll. The Bulldogs play in the very high-calibre NCHC.
The Tommies have a “live stats” link on their schedule page, but no on-line audio or video. The Bulldogs, however, have the above radio link.
ELSEWHERE IN THE CW
Live Links:
➤ Video: CanadaWest TV
➤ Friday: LeagueStat Live Stats ∞ Hockey Tech Game Centre
➤ Saturday: LeagueStat Live Stats ∞ Hockey Tech Game Centre
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (2023-24: 18-8-2, OHT35 #8, 2024: 3-5-1)
MACEWAN GRIFFINS (2023-24: 9-17-2, OHT 35 #23, 2024: 3-3-0)
Links:
➤ UofA: Golden Bears Hockey adds 11 in loaded recruiting class
➤ MacU: Three Stars: Harper, Popravka, Epp earn honours
This is the Battle of Edmontown. They played twice in pre-season, with the Evil Monkeys winning 8-1 and 6-3. Other than those two wins, the Apes were 0-4-1 against the CW. Meanwhile, the Family Guys were 1-3-0 against CW competition. One would think that the Monkeys were saving a few bananas for the regular season.
REGINA COUGARS (2023-24: 6-20-2, OHT35 #27, 2024: 1-4-1)
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (2023-24: 20-6-2, OHT35 #7, 2024: 7-1-0)
Links:
➤ UofR: Team Website
➤ UofS: Huskie Happenings (Oct. 3-6, 2024)
The Battle of Banjoland is the battle of Canine v. Feline. In the pre-season, the Banjo-Mutts whipped the Banjo-Cats 9-1. To be fair, the Kittens had their usual record for the remainder of the pre-season. The Mutts treated their opponents like a series of fire-hydrants. Their only loss was against the Dinos (by 3-1), the night after beating them 6-1.
CALGARY DINOSAURS (2023-24: 21-5-2, OHT35 #6, 2024: 6-1-0)
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS (2023-24: 22-4-2, OHT35 #3, 2024: 4-0-0)
Links:
➤ UofC: Howell to lead Canadian men's hockey at 2025 FISU Winter World University Games
➤ UBC: Defending champion T-Birds host Calgary to open new season Friday night in CW Final rematch
A rematch of last year’s championship series is quite a way to start the season. The Bedrock Dinos had a good pre-season, winning six straight after an opening 6-1 loss to Sask.
MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (2023-24: 21-6-1, OHT35 #2, 2024: 2-1-1)
TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (2023-24: 4-23-1, OHT35 #33, 2024: 2-4-0)
Links:
➤ MRU: Supplement World sponsorship announcement
➤ TWU: Team Website
This is the second of two match-ups where a team from Cowtown visits British California. The Bluegars only had four pre-season games, due to a pair of cancellations. Their only mild surprise was a shoot-out loss to MacEwan. Holy Trinity’s only wins were against BCIHL squads. I honestly fear for them right now.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Thu Oct 3 Manitoba at Manitoba Moose (AHL) TBA EX
Fri Oct 4 Regina at Saskatchewan 7:00 CST/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Alberta at MacEwan 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Calgary at U.B.C. 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Mount Royal at Trinity Western 7:15 PDT/9:15 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Manitoba at St. Thomas (NCAA) 1:07 CDT EX
Sat Oct 5 Mount Royal at Trinity Western 2:00 PDT/4:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Calgary at U.B.C. 3:00 PDT/5:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Saskatchewan at Regina 7:00 CST/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 MacEwan at Alberta 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Sun Oct 6 Manitoba at Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) 2:07 CDT EX
OUT EAST
Thu Oct 3 Western Ontario at Laurier 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Thu Oct 3 Windsor at Guelph 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Toronto at Lakehead 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Brock at Waterloo 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Toronto Metropolitan at Carleton 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Ontario Tech at Ottawa 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 York at R.M.C. 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 McGill at Nipissing 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Concordia at Queen's 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Concordia at R.M.C. 2:00 EDT/1:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Toronto Metropolitan at Ottawa 3:00 EDT/2:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Western Ontario at Waterloo 4:00 EDT/3:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 U.Q.T.R. at Nipissing 4:00 EDT/3:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Toronto at Lakehead 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Brock at Laurier 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Ontario Tech at Carleton 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Guelph at Windsor 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT
Sat Oct 5 York at Queen's 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT
Sun Oct 6 McGill at Vermont (NCAA) 4:00 EDT/3:00 CDT EX
Wed Oct 2 Saint Mary's 5 U.P.E.I. 1
Fri Oct 4 St. F.X. at Moncton 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Acadia at U.P.E.I. 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Dalhousie at New Brunswick 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 St. F.X. at New Brunswick 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Dalhousie at Moncton 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Acadia at Saint Mary's 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Links:
➤ USports: Men’s Hockey Page
➤ OUA: LeagueStat Daily
➤ OUA: Hockey Tech Schedule & Results
➤ AUS: Schedule & Results
OUT WEST
Fri Oct 4 Portage College at Concordia-Edmonton 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT EX
Fri Oct 4 S.A.I.T. at UA-Augustana 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT EX
Sat Oct 5 Concordia-Edmonton at Portage College 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT EX
Sat Oct 5 Briercrest at Colorado College (NCAA) 6:00 MDT/ 7:00 CDT EX
Sat Oct 5 S.A.I.T. at UA-Augustana 2:00 MDT/3:00 CDT EX
Fri Oct 4 Okanagan at Simon Fraser 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT
Fri Oct 4 Logan Lake at Victoria 7:30 PDT/9:30 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Simon Fraser at Okanagan 6:15 PDT/8:15 CDT
Sat Oct 5 Logan Lake at Vancouver Island 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT
Non-Conference
Sat Oct 5 Simon Fraser at Long Island 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT EX
Sun Oct 6 Simon Fraser at Sacred Heart 4:00 EDT/3:00 CDT EX
Links:
➤ ACAC: Schedule & Results
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results
➤ BCIHL: YouTube Channel