2024-25 Manitoba Bisons/CW

[Hollywood3]

If Manitoba gave up seven to Regina they're in for trouble next weekend

The Bisons will likely use their top two goalies next weekend. Hawryluk is definitely #3.

 

[hockeyguy0022]

I'm surprised the Huskies took a game vs a div 2 team. Weird how AB/SK won't ever take a North Dakota/Denver game, but take a risk looking bad against a nothing div 2 team. UNB has taken good games vs BC/BU/Ivy League, so that's legit game.

 

[Hollywood3]

I'm surprised the Huskies took a game vs a div 2 team. Weird how AB/SK won't ever take a North Dakota/Denver game, but take a risk looking bad against a nothing div 2 team. UNB has taken good games vs BC/BU/Ivy League, so that's legit game.

I don't recall the last time Saskatchewan went south. Alberta used to get offers before COVID.

 

[jetsmooseice]

I'm surprised the Huskies took a game vs a div 2 team. Weird how AB/SK won't ever take a North Dakota/Denver game, but take a risk looking bad against a nothing div 2 team. UNB has taken good games vs BC/BU/Ivy League, so that's legit game.

That's why Alberta or Sask won't take games against DI opponents? To save face?

I've always wondered about the Bisons/UND annual matchup. What's in it for the Bisons? Is this one of those NCAA Football-type situations where UND pays a lesser opponent to play the role of the Washington Generals? If so, just how lucrative is it for the Bisons? I can't imagine there are a lot of revenue streams for the Bisons hockey team, so if there is any money coming in it must be fairly important.

 

[Rob]

That's why Alberta or Sask won't take games against DI opponents? To save face?

I'm positive Alberta has played NCAA D1 opponents in the past. It has just been a few years now

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

I'm positive Alberta has played NCAA D1 opponents in the past. It has just been a few years now

I feel like they have played Denver a number of times over the years.

 

[Hollywood3]

I feel like they have played Denver a number of times over the years.

IIRC Alberta played Arizona State when they were new to the NCAA (won twice) and before that I believe they beat Minnesota.

 

[MiamiHockeyII]

That's why Alberta or Sask won't take games against DI opponents? To save face?

I've always wondered about the Bisons/UND annual matchup. What's in it for the Bisons? Is this one of those NCAA Football-type situations where UND pays a lesser opponent to play the role of the Washington Generals? If so, just how lucrative is it for the Bisons? I can't imagine there are a lot of revenue streams for the Bisons hockey team, so if there is any money coming in it must be fairly important.

That's a bad take (saving face). It's $$$$

From Edmonton/Saskatoon, the nearest Div I competitor is in Colorado ... which is not driveable.

It's a 2 hour drive from Winnipeg to Grand Forks. It's a 6 hour drive from NB to Boston. It's a 20 hour drive from Edmonton to Denver. These trips are not in the same stratosphere.

So, you're looking at flying 30 people to Denver plus busses and hotels in $US. Conservatively, that's a $30,000 trip. The NCAA program will subsidize some of the bill, but not that much.

Back in the day, Alberta would routinely go to Colorado and hit Denver / Air Force / CC OR go to Minnesota and hit Minn / Mankato.

The $$ for that trip has to come from somewhere, but COVID has crushed university budgets, and a $30k+ bill for 2-3 games is the easiest thing to cut.

 

[Hollywood3]

That's a bad take (saving face). It's $$$$

From Edmonton/Saskatoon, the nearest Div I competitor is in Colorado ... which is not driveable.

It's a 2 hour drive from Winnipeg to Grand Forks. It's a 6 hour drive from NB to Boston. It's a 20 hour drive from Edmonton to Denver. These trips are not in the same stratosphere.

So, you're looking at flying 30 people to Denver plus busses and hotels in $US. Conservatively, that's a $30,000 trip. The NCAA program will subsidize some of the bill, but not that much.

Back in the day, Alberta would routinely go to Colorado and hit Denver / Air Force / CC OR go to Minnesota and hit Minn / Mankato.

The $$ for that trip has to come from somewhere, but COVID has crushed university budgets, and a $30k+ bill for 2-3 games is the easiest thing to cut.

That Colorado trip used to be a Calgary tradition. I don't remember Sask going south. The NCAA teams give some money to the away team, which makes trips for Manitoba to Grand Forks, Bemidji, and Omaha regular or semi-regular.

 

[Hollywood3]

Preview: Sept 27-28, 2024: LAKEHEAD at MANITOBA

LAKEHEAD THUNDERWOLVES (2023-24: 14-12-2, OHT35 #17, 2024: 2-0-0)
MANITOBA BISONS (2023-24: 5-22-1, OHT35 #31, 2024: 2-2-0)

Friday, Sept 27th at 7:00 CT at Jonathan Toews Arena, Winnipeg
Saturday, Sept 28th at 2:00 CT at Jonathan Toews Arena, Winnipeg

Links:
➤ UofM: Roster Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons Team Page
➤ LU: Lakehead to play 4 Exhibition games on the road
➤ LU: Lakehead opens preseason with win over York
➤ LU: Lakehead completes weekend road sweep
➤ USports: Schedule/Links
➤ CW Hockey Tech: -Daily Schedule
➤ CW LeagueStat: Media Stats ∞ Daily Schedule

We are on the eve of the final pre-season week of exhibition/non-conference games. (And my last weekend with old and alternate logos!) After this there are still in-season exhibition/non-conference games, especially for the Bisons with seven such games.

The Bisons have lost four straight games to the former-Nor’westers, now Thunderwolves, over the last two seasons. In 2022 and 2023 the two teams had a 3-way round-robin with Regina in a GPAC-reunion weekend. In both seasons, the Herd had just one home weekend in the pre-season. (In addition to games against the Manitoba Moose.)

I would like to see some of the Bisons who were scratched twice last weekend hit the ice this weekend, and to see if defencemen Colby Jaquet and Ryan Gottfried are even on the roster. Both are listed at Elite Prospects, but not at GoBisons.ca.

Of those who played last weekend, the premium newcomer line of Zaplitny-Stotts-Bruce was extremely impressive, and the sophomore line of Zimmerman-Trimble-Boucher was beyond all hopes. Last year they combined for five goals and two assists. Boucher himself had a hat-trick last Saturday, and defenceman Parker Malchuk scored with that line on Friday. The assists on those four goals gave those players more points on one weekend than they had last year!

ELSEWHERE IN THE CW

ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (2023-24: 18-8-2, OHT35 #8, 2024: 3-3-1)
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (2023-24: 20-6-2, OHT35 #7, 2024: 5-1-0)

Links:
➤ UofS: Huskie Happenings (Sept. 26-29, 2024)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Team Page
➤ UofA: Team Website

This series is on neutral ice, at the military establishment in Cold Lake, Alberta. There are no live links set up as I post. The pre-season records may be a bit deceiving. Against U-Sports teams, the Evil Monkeys are 3-2-1 and the Banjo-Mutts are 3-1-0. Nevertheless, the Monkeys have not been burying teams as many expected with their blue-ribbon recruiting class. Sask does not have a roster page up yet, but Elite Prospects has a 30-man roster listed for this year. I’ll have to break that down soon.

MACEWAN GRIFFINS (2023-24: 9-17-2, OHT 35 #23, 2024: 2-2-0)
MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (2023-24: 21-6-1, OHT35 #2, 2024: 1-1-0)

Links:
➤ MacU: Road Preview: Six Griffins teams fanning out to four different provinces this weekend
➤ MRU: Team Website

While both sides are .500 so far, the Family Guys’ only wins were over Concordia-Edmonton of the ACAC. The Bluegars have already had two games cancelled, and last weekend’s series against Red Deer Poly was scrubbed altogether. This is a home-and-home.

REGINA COUGARS (2023-24: 6-20-2, OHT35 #27, 2024: 1-2-1)
CALGARY DINOSAURS (2023-24: 21-5-2, OHT35 #6, 2024: 4-1-0)

Links:
➤ UofR: Team Website
➤ UofC: Team Website

In the Town of Bedrock, they have no roster page uploaded yet, and have just one player listed at Elite Prospects. However, the Monkeys uploaded the stats of their home game last weekend, so we know about 20 players on their roster. Hopefully we’ll get some updates before the weekend is out. Both sides opened their pre-season getting crushed by Sask, Calgary by 6-1 and Regina by 9-1. The Dinos have rallied with wins over Sask and MRU, and two wins over Alberta. Meanwhile, Regina went 1-1-1 against Manitoba.

TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (2023-24: 4-23-1, OHT35 #33, 2024: 2-3-0)
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS (2023-24: 22-4-2, OHT35 #3, 2024: 2-0-0)
SIMON FRASER RED LEAFS (2023-24: NCAA2 5-11-2, 2024: 2-1-0)

Links:
➤ TWU: this Week in Sparta
➤ CW: Game Centre
➤ UBC: WHL Goaltender of the Year Brett Mirwald joins the blue and gold
➤ UBC: Team Roster Page
➤ Elite Prospects: UBC Team Page
➤ YouTube: SFU Hockey Channel

The T-irds host Holy Trinity on Friday and StFU on Saturday. The schedules announced early on underwent some revision.

A Game Centre live link for Friday is uploaded. Thus far, The Clown have no live video link on their YouTube channel. The T-irds have one win over each of these teams already, and StFU beat Holy Trinity twice last weekend. This relatively low level of opposition makes it hard to gauge the T-irds. However, they have just uplodaded their roster to their website, although Elite Prospects still has just three names.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Fri Sep 27 Lakehead (OUA) at Manitoba 7:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 Alberta v Saskatchewan (at Cold Lake) 6:00 MDT/7:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 MacEwan at Mount Royal 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 Regina at Calgary 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 Trinity Western at U.B.C. 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Lakehead (OUA) at Manitoba 2:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Regina at Calgary 3:00 MDT/4:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Mount Royal at MacEwan 5:00 MDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Saskatchewan v Alberta (at Cold Lake) 6:00 MDT/7:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Simon Fraser (NCAA2) at U.B.C. 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT


OUT EAST

Thu Sep 26 Laurier 1 Ontario Tech 2
Fri Sep 27 Toronto at Windsor 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT
Fri Sep 27 Queen’s at Toronto Metropolitan 6:00 EDT/5:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 R.M.C. at Western Ontario 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 McGill at Ottawa 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Brock at Ontario Tech 3:00 EDT/2:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Waterloo at Nipissing 4:00 EDT/3:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Guelph at Windsor 4:00 or 5:00 EDT/3:00 or 4:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Queen’s at Ottawa 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 R.M.C. at Western Ontario (at St. Thomas, Ont.) 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT

Thu Sep 26 Acadia 3 Moncton 2 (at Richibucto, N.B.)
Fri Sep 27 Saint Mary's at St. F.X. 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 Acadia at U.P.E.I. (at Eliyahu Wellness Centre, Rustico) 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 New Brunswick v Moncton (at Tracadie, NB) 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

only interlocking

Sat Sep 28 Logan Lake at Simon Fraser 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT EX
Sun Sep 29 Simon Fraser at Logan Lake 12:30 PDT/2:30 CDT RS

According to the schedule, Saturday is an exhibition game, and Sunday is a regular season game.

ACAC-BCIHL INTERLOCKING GAMES
Thu Sep 26 Vancouver Island at UA-Augustana 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 Victoria at Concordia-Edmonton 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Fri Sep 27 Vancouver Island at N.A.I.T. 7:15 MDT/8:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Victoria at N.A.I.T. 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Vancouver Island at Concordia-Edmonton 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Sun Sep 29 Victoria at UA-Augustana 2:00 MDT/3:00 CDT

Links:
➤ ACAC: Schedule & Results
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results
➤ BCIHL: YouTube Channel

 

[MiamiHockeyII]

That Colorado trip used to be a Calgary tradition. I don't remember Sask going south. The NCAA teams give some money to the away team, which makes trips for Manitoba to Grand Forks, Bemidji, and Omaha regular or semi-regular.

Exactly ... if the host team covers the hotel cost, it's a no-brainer ... busses and meals are not cost-prohibitive. Flying is.

 

[hockeyguy0022]

by the way, minot state is basically a Lethbridge or Macewan..... I looked at the roster it's about 85% SJHL/MJHL players.

So I don't see that are representative of Div 2/3 hockey. It says there usually top the league, so there closer to a lower usport team then a div 2/3 team IMO an Briercrest still blew them out.

 

[hockeyguy0022]

That's a bad take (saving face). It's $$$$

From Edmonton/Saskatoon, the nearest Div I competitor is in Colorado ... which is not driveable.

It's a 2 hour drive from Winnipeg to Grand Forks. It's a 6 hour drive from NB to Boston. It's a 20 hour drive from Edmonton to Denver. These trips are not in the same stratosphere.

So, you're looking at flying 30 people to Denver plus busses and hotels in $US. Conservatively, that's a $30,000 trip. The NCAA program will subsidize some of the bill, but not that much.

Back in the day, Alberta would routinely go to Colorado and hit Denver / Air Force / CC OR go to Minnesota and hit Minn / Mankato.

The $$ for that trip has to come from somewhere, but COVID has crushed university budgets, and a $30k+ bill for 2-3 games is the easiest thing to cut.

Wait what... Saskatoon is 9 hours to grand forks, 15 to Denver, but I get your point.

$$$ I can definitely understand

 

[Hollywood3]

September 27, 2024: LAKEHEAD TAKES THE OPENER

LAKEHEAD THUNDERWOLVES 4
MANITOBA BISONS 2

Links:
➤ UofM: Schedule & Results
➤ LU: Team Website

Not a bad exhibition game. The Bisons shuffled the deck a bit, and the changes didn’t really work. Here’s how they lined up:

MANITOBA
Goal:
31 Holt (30 Thornton)

Defence:
8 Toth - 25 Calder
24 Wareham - 4 Malchuk
5 Casey - 6 Fry

Forwards:
20 Zaplitny - 22 Stotts - 17 Bruce
9 Alarie - 18 Hooker - 11 Ostir
14 Zimmerman - 19 Arpin - 26 Boucher
12 Trimble - 29 King - 13 Sutter

Scratches:
G: 34 Hawryluk
D: 2 Whittle - 15 Bonni
F: 10 Paulhus - 16 Joss - 21 Pasternak - 23 Lane - 28 Behun

LAKEHEAD
Goal:
1 Cicigoi (30 Vanska)

Defence:
2 Borbely - 5 Turpin
8 Murphy - 22 Izyk
6 Porter - 15 Fasciano
26 Cook

Forwards:
25 Massie - 9 Paul - 10 - Badalamenti
11 DeGrazia - 17 Gerrie - 14 Van Unen
4 Hasselgren - 12 R Whittaker - 21 Pouliot
20 Campbell - 28 Sharun - 13 Crane

Scratches:
G: 31 Cherepak
D: 23 Massie - 3 L Whittaker
F: 16 Blackwell - 27 Mack

Goals by period:
UM 0 2 0 - 2
LU 1 2 1 - 4

Shots by period:
UM 8 11 7 - 26
LU 10 15 10 - 35

The Thundermutts scored the only goal of the 1st when Alex Izyk scored unassisted with no defencemen laying the body on him. Lakehead goaltender Christian Cicigoi stopped a 2-on-1 break, otherwise not much for good chances.

The sides exchanged goals in the 2nd. Riley Stotts scored a powerplay goal to tie the game, Ben Badalamenti restored Lakehead’s lead (on a shot Braden Holt would like to have back), Hayden Ostir again tied it on a powerplay, the Justin Paul put the Wolves ahead to stay (converting a 2-on-1 on a Bison turnover).

The 3rd period was fairly uneventful, with Malte Hasselgren scoring an unassisted powerplay goal. Like the opening goal, no Bison played the body.

One oddity was the three delay-of-game calls, two on Lakehead. The glass at the Dak is not very high.

The Bisons fall to 2-3-0 and Lakehead is 3-0-0.


OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS 1
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES 3

Links:
➤ UofA: Schedule/Results
➤ Instagram: Golden Bears’ Page

All we have is the score from this Cold Lake encounter. The Evil Monkeys’ Instagram page had updates. The Banjo-Mutts are now 6-1-0 and looking good, and the Monkeys are 3-4-1.

MACEWAN GRIFFINS -
MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS -

Links:
➤ MacU: Team Website
➤ MRU: Team Website


No report on this game.

REGINA COUGARS 0
CALGARY DINOSAURS 7

Links:
➤ UofR: Team Website
➤ UofC: Schedule & Results
➤ UofC: Roster Page

All we have here is the score. However, Bedrock U has uploaded their 2024-25 roster page. I’ll have to review that. The Dinos are now 5-1-0 and Regina are 1-3-1.

TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS 1
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS 7

Links:
➤ Summaries: LeagueStat : Game Centre
➤ TWU: Spartans Drop Road Preseason Game at UBC
➤ UBC: Boxscore

Quick Summary

TWU: L. Fuller (14:17 2nd)
UBC: J. Williams (06:18 1st) , J. Wismer (06:53 1st) , S. Huo (11:49 1st) , J. Wright (19:20 1st) , C. McNabb (15:36 2nd) , K. Sadhra-Kang (08:00 3rd) , S. Huo (11:07 3rd)
Goal: TWU: Sommer (50 shots, 43 saves); UBC: Schwebius (12 shots, 11 saves)

I hate to say it, but I fear that Holy Trinity may be on the decline this year. They have lost a lot of talent and the recruiting class is well below average. They finish the pre-season at 2-4-0, with both wins against BCIHL teams. The T-irds are 3-0-0, but their opponents have been just Holy Trinity and Simon Fraser.


NEXT UP

Sat Sep 28 Lakehead at Manitoba 2:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Regina at Calgary 3:00 MDT/4:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Mount Royal at MacEwan 5:00 MDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Saskatchewan v Alberta (at Cold Lake) 6:00 MDT/7:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Simon Fraser at U.B.C. 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT


OUT EAST

Fri Sep 27 Toronto 4 Windsor 2
Fri Sep 27 Queen’s 2 Toronto Metropolitan 3 (so)
Fri Sep 27 R.M.C. at Western Ontario - no result
Fri Sep 27 McGill 0 Ottawa 2
Sat Sep 28 Brock at Ontario Tech 3:00 EDT/2:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Waterloo at Nipissing 4:00 EDT/3:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Guelph at Windsor 4:00 or 5:00 EDT/3:00 or 4:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Queen’s at Ottawa 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 R.M.C. at Western Ontario (at St. Thomas, Ont.) 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT

Fri Sep 27 Saint Mary's 4 St. F.X. 2
Fri Sep 27 Acadia 1 U.P.E.I. 7 (at Eliyahu Wellness Centre, Rustico)
Sat Sep 28 New Brunswick v Moncton (at Tracadie, NB) 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT

Links:
➤ USports: Presto Schedule & Results
➤ OUA: LeagueStat Daily
➤ OUA: Schedule & Results
➤ AUS: Schedule & Results


OUT WEST

no games

Sat Sep 28 Logan Lake at Simon Fraser 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT EX
Sun Sep 29 Simon Fraser at Logan Lake 12:30 PDT/2:30 CDT RS

ACAC-BCIHL INTERLOCKING GAMES
Thu Sep 26 Vancouver Island 2 UA-Augustana 6 (late)
Fri Sep 27 Victoria 4 Concordia-Edmonton 0
Fri Sep 27 Vancouver Island 5 N.A.I.T. 4 (ot)
Sat Sep 28 Victoria at N.A.I.T. 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Sat Sep 28 Vancouver Island at Concordia-Edmonton 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Sun Sep 29 Victoria at UA-Augustana 2:00 MDT/3:00 CDT

Links:
➤ ACAC: Schedule & Results
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results : YouTube

 

[NorthStar]

got a question.. I did see a U of M Bisons game last season with a client for work shift.. the parking is free near the arena on the weekend?? I might take in a couple Bisons hockey games whenever my schedule allows it.. just want to be sure completely and also would love to grab a U of M jersey too but dunno if it gonna happen..

 

[Hollywood3]

Yes, it's free parking on weekends and evenings.

 

[Hollywood3]

September 28, 2024: BISONS WIN A CHIPPY ENCOUNTER

LAKEHEAD THUNDERWOLVES 2
MANITOBA BISONS 3

Links:
➤ UofM: Schedule & Results
➤ LU: Team Website
➤ Moose: 2024 Training Camp Schedule

There were only three Friday night scratches who entered the Saturday line-up, one goaltender, a defenceman, and a forward. However, lines and pairings did change. Here’s how they lined up:

MANITOBA
Goal:
30 Thornton - 34 Hawryluk

Defence:
15 Bonni - 2 Whittle
8 Toth - 6 Fry
25 Calder - 4 Malchuk

Forwards:
20 Zaplitny - 22 Stotts - 17 Bruce
9 Alarie - 28 Behun - 11 Ostir
14 Zimmerman - 19 Arpin - 13 Sutter
12 Trimble - 29 King - 26 Boucher

Scratches:
G: 31 Holt
D: 5 Casey - 24 Wareham
F: 10 Paulhus - 16 Joss - 18 Hooker - 21 Pasternak - 23 Lane

LAKEHEAD
Goal:
31 Cherepak (30 Vanska)

Defence:
26 Cook - 15 Fasciano
2 Borbely - 5 Turpin
8 Murphy - 3 L Whittaker

Forwards:
10 Badalamenti - 9 Paul - 25 Massie
11 DeGrazia - 17 Gerrie - 14 Van Unen
4 Hasselgren - 12 R Whittaker - 21 Pouliot
20 Campbell - 28 Sharun - 13 Crane

Scratches:
G: 1 Cicigoi
D: 6 Porter - 22 Izyk - 23 Massie
F: 16 Blackwell - 27 Mack

Goals by period:
UM 0 2 1 - 3
LU 0 1 1 - 2

Shots by period:
UM 15 9 1 - 25
LU 9 9 10 - 28

The Bisons dominated the 1st period, however Thundermutt goaltender Carson Cherepak was on his game and kept it scoreless. However, as the period closed Ben Badalamenti took a double minor for high-sticking Kian Calder in the face, giving the Bisons a powerplay to start the 2nd.

Once the 2nd period started, Bison Riley Stotts opened the scoring in 32 seconds. The Mutts tied it up when Malte Hasselgren chipped one in on a goalmouth scramble mid-period.

Cade Zaplitny scored similar goals in the 2nd period (to make it 2-1) and then early in the 3rd (to make it 3-1). The 2nd period goal saw him exchange passes with Skylar Bruce and the 3rd period saw those two and Stotts throw it around.

The balance of the 3rd period saw precious few good (or any) scoring chances. At 12:25 Lakehead used the pile-up in the crease tactic. There were a couple of coincidental minors called but Bison goaltender Kolby Thornton was tossed. So Ross Hawryluk finished the game in net. Then Bison d-man Parker Malchuk was cross-checked from behind and retaliated with a two-handed cross-check to the face/neck of a Mutt forward and got a 5-minute major. With barely a minute left, Lakehead did come within a goal using the pile into the crease method. The goal counted, but they never did announce which player was awarded the goal.

The result means that the Bisons end their USports pre-season with a 3-3-0 record, and Lakehead finishes at 3-1-0.

The Manitoba Moose have uploaded their training camp schedule (linked) and their games against the Bisons are, as scheduled, on October 3rd and 8th. We now have confirmation that those games are at the “Hockey for All Centre” and will start at 6:00 p.m.


OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES 5
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS 2

Links:
➤ UofA: Instagram
➤ UofS: Schedule & Results

The Cold Lake series is a sweep for the Banjo-Mutts, who end their pre-season at an impressive 7-1-0, which includes that 2-1 win over the Bisons. Meanwhile, the Evil Monkeys drop to 3-5-1.

MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS 3
MACEWAN GRIFFINS 4
(in a shootout)

Friday (late report):
MACEWAN GRIFFINS 3
MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS 9

Links:
➤ MacU: Schedule & Results
➤ MRU: Team Website

The Bluegars haven’t posted anything about the series. The Family Guys had links for live stats and boxscores, but those were never activated. MacEwan is now 3-3-0 (this was their first win against a USports team) and MRU is 2-1-1.

REGINA COUGARS 3
CALGARY DINOSAURS 4

Links:
➤ UofR: Team Website
➤ UofC: Schedule & Results

Bedrock U won their 6th straight exhibition game, to finish at 6-1-0. They started with a 6-1 loss to Sask! The Banjo-Cats finish at 1-4-1.

SIMON FRASER RED LEAFS 2
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS 8

Links:
➤ UBC: Schedule & Results
➤ SFU: YouTube Channel

Although not the home team, the SFU TV crew went cross-town to the FDB Arena to stream this debacle. You can watch at the link. UBC did not provide live stats for this one.

This was a very one-sided game, as the score would indicate, and elevates the T-irds to 4-0-0 on the pre-season. That is two wins each against Holy Trinity and SFU. While this is not great preparation, it probably does not take much to get a playoff berth for them. Three out of four teams in a division which includes Holy Trinity will qualify for the playoffs this year. SFU’s travelling squad will now play most of the rest of the season on the road, playing nothing but exhibition games.


NEXT UP

Thu Oct 3 Manitoba at Manitoba Moose (AHL) 6:00 CDT EX
Sat Oct 5 Manitoba at St. Thomas (NCAA) 1:07 CDT EX
Sun Oct 6 Manitoba at Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) 2:07 CDT EX

Regular Season Games:
Fri Oct 4 Regina at Saskatchewan 7:00 CST/8:00 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


OUT EAST

Fri Sep 27 R.M.C. 0 Western Ontario 8 (late)
Sat Sep 28 Brock 4 Ontario Tech 1
Sat Sep 28 Waterloo 4 Nipissing 1
Sat Sep 28 Guelph 2 Windsor 0
Sat Sep 28 Queen’s 1 Ottawa 3
Sat Sep 28 R.M.C. 4 Western Ontario 2 (at St. Thomas, Ont.)

Regular Season Games:
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 Sep 28 New Brunswick 3 Moncton 2 (so) (at Tracadie, NB)

Regular Season Games:
Wed Oct 2 Saint Mary's at U.P.E.I. 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
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

Links:
➤ USports: Presto Schedule & Results
➤ OUA: LeagueStat Daily
➤ OUA: Schedule & Results
➤ AUS: Schedule & Results


OUT WEST

ACAC-BCIHL INTERLOCKING GAMES
Sat Sep 28 Victoria 5 N.A.I.T. 6
Sat Sep 28 Vancouver Island 2 Concordia-Edmonton 3 (ot)
Sun Sep 29 Victoria at UA-Augustana 2:00 MDT/3:00 CDT EX

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 Sep 28 Logan Lake 4 Simon Fraser 8 (exhibition)

Regular Season Games:
Sun Sep 29 Simon Fraser at Logan Lake 12:30 PDT/2:30 CDT
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

Links:
➤ ACAC: Schedule & Results
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results : YouTube

 

[Hollywood3]

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