2024-25 Manitoba Bisons/CW

[RED ARMY EAST]

This is the way of the future. Alberta's always taken advantage of having the best roster in Canada West ... the top WHL OAers they've lived off of will now go NCAA.
Moving forward, I expect UBC and Sask to lead Canada West on a consistent basis, with Alberta, Calgary, and Mount Royal duking it out in the 3-5 spots.

IMO, Alberta will still challenge for the top spot. I thought they had the best roster in CW, but maybe home ice was the biggest factor in the loss to the Blue Cougars.
We haven't heard from Stauffer this year, as it would be nice to get his opinion on the golden Bears.

 

[Hollywood3]

IMO, Alberta will still challenge for the top spot. I thought they had the best roster in CW, but maybe home ice was the biggest factor in the loss to the Blue Cougars.
We haven't heard from Stauffer this year, as it would be nice to get his opinion on the golden Bears.

Alberta has strong athletics programs across the board. The "big schools" in the West will have strong hockey and other programs more often than not. The "small schools" will continue to excel at same sports, in some eras. All teams will go in cycles.

 

[Hollywood3]

Preview: March 7-9, 2025: MOUNT ROYAL at SASKATCHEWAN

MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (22-6-0, 26-8-1, OHT35 #3)
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (23-5-0, 34-6-1, OHT35 #2)

Friday, March 7th at 7:00 CST at Merlis Belsher Place, Saskatoon
Saturday, March 8th at 7:00 CST at Merlis Belsher Place, Saskatoon
Sunday, March 9th at 6:00 CST at Merlis Belsher Place, Saskatoon

Live Links:
➤ Video: CanadaWest TV
➤ Friday: Hockey Tech
➤ Saturday: Hockey Tech
➤ Sunday: Hockey Tech

Other Links:
➤ CW: Championship Central
➤ MRU: Team Website
➤ MRU: MHKY: Clay Hanus named Canada West Player of the Year, Top Defenceman, and Top Scorer : rp @CW
➤ MRU: Players Bench Athletes of the Week: Feb. 24 - Mar. 3
➤ MRU: MHKY: Cougars battle for their first Canada West Championship
➤ UofS: Team Website
➤ UofS: Ross, Cote Claim 2025 Canada West Major Awards
➤ UofS: PREVIEW: Huskies and Cougars Clash in Best-of-Three Canada West Final : rp @CW
➤ Huskie Fan: A look at what goes into “Game Night” at Merlis Belsher Place
➤ USports: Men’s Hockey Page
➤ USports: Schedule/Links ∞ Standings
➤ CW: Home Page ∞ Season Schedule
➤ CW Hockey Tech: Daily Schedule
➤ CW: Stats ∞ Schedule/Results/Links
➤ LeagueStat: Media Stats

This marks the Bluegars’ first trip to a CW conference final. Of course, they previously won junior and college titles before they entered the CW in 2012-13. Here’s the list:
Calgary Junior B: 1954, 1957
Alberta Junior B: 1954
AJHL: 1972 (regular season, not playoff eligible)
ACAC: 1966, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2011
Alberta 4-West qualifier: 1972 Article
4-West: 1972, 1973, 1974
CCAA: 1988, 1998, 1999, 2001

Meanwhile, the Banjo-Mutts initiated university hockey in the west and won a lot of titles (albeit several of those involkved just 2 to 4 teams). Here’s their list:
Saskatoon Intermediate: 1919
WCIAU: 1921, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1952, 1953, 1959
CWUAA: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2020
University Cup: 1983

So the Bluegars have the edge in accumulated silverware, albeit in lesser competitions.

Since both sides will be at the U-Cup, this series won’t quite have the edge to it that last weekend’s classics had. But I still expect some outstanding hockey. These teams played once, on October 25th and 26th, in Saskatown. MRU won 4-0, Saskatchewan won 4-3.


OUT EAST

TORONTO METROPOLITAN BOLD 2
TORONTO VARSITY BLUES 3
(Toronto leads series 1-0)

Fri Mar 7 Toronto Metropolitan at Toronto 7:00 EST/6:00 CST
Sun Mar 9 Toronto at Toronto Metropolitan 6:15 EDT/5:15 CDT (if required)

QUEEN’S GOLDEN GAELS 1
CONCORDIA STINGERS 2
(Concordia leads series 1-0)

Fri Mar 7 Concordia at Queen’s 7:30 EST/6:30 CST
Sun Mar 9 Queen’s at Concordia 2:00 EDT/1:00 CDT (if required)

NEW BRUNSWICK REDS 4
ACADIA AXEMEN 1
(March 3rd: UNB wins series 3-0)

MONCTON AIGLES BLEUS 3
SAINT MARY’S HUSKIES 7
(March 3rd: SMU leads series 2-1)

MONCTON AIGLES BLEUS 5
SAINT MARY’S HUSKIES 1
(March 4th: series tied 2-2)

SAINT MARY’S HUSKIES 3
MONCTON AIGLES BLEUS 5
(March 6th: Moncton wins series 3-2)

AUS final series schedule TBA.

Links:
➤ OUA: Playoff Schedule & Results
➤ AUS: Playoff Schedule & Results

 

[Hollywood3]

OUT WEST

Fri Mar 7 Concordia-Edmonton at Briercrest College 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Sat Mar 8 Concordia-Edmonton at Briercrest College 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Sun Mar 9 Concordia-Edmonton at Briercrest College 2:00 MDT/3:00 CDT (if required)

Fri Mar 7 Red Deer Poly at S.A.I.T. 7:00 MST/8:00 CST
Sat Mar 8 S.A.I.T. at Red Deer Poly 7:00 MST/8:00 CST
Sun Mar 9 Red Deer Poly at S.A.I.T. 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT (if required)

SIMON FRASER RED LEAFS 5
OKANAGAN LAKERS 6
(game 1 of page playoff, SFU eliminated)

Fri Mar 7 Victoria v Vancouver Island 10:30 am PST/12:30 CST (game 2)
Fri Mar 7 Okanagan v Logan Lake 12:30 PST/2:30 CST (game 3)
Sat Mar 8 Loser Game 2 v Winner Game 3 12:30 PST/2:30 CST (game 4)
Sun Mar 9 Winner Game 4 v Winner Game 2 12:30 PDT/2:30 CDT (game 5)

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

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

A record 2980 tickets sold for the Saskatchewan/MRU game tonight. I didn't realize the capacity at MBP was that high (thought it was 1800-2000 range)....that seems like a perfect sized venue to host the University Cup.

 

[Hollywood3]

March 7, 2025: MUTTS FESTIVE AFTER BIG RALLY

MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS 3
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES 6
(Saskatchewan leads series 1-0)

Links:
➤ Summary: Game Centre
➤ MRU: MHKY: Cougars fall to Huskies in game one of Canada West Championship (with boxscore)
➤ MRU: Team Website
➤ UofS: Huskies Surge to 6-3 Comeback Win Over Cougars in Game 1 of Canada West Final (with boxscore and video)
➤ UofS: Team Website
➤ Huskie Fan: Cougars and Huskies set to meet in front of sold out crowds at Merlis Belsher Place
➤ Huskie Fan: No need to panic

Quick Summary
MRU: K. Walker (00:11 1st) , J. Tarzwell (02:26 1st) , J. Lies (10:36 1st)
Sask: L. Kosior (14:43 2nd) , E. Regnier (15:19 2nd) , C. Stebbings (07:56 3rd) , C. Bertholet (10:59 3rd) , V. Loschiavo (14:54 3rd) , C. Stebbings (19:12 3rd)
Goal: MRU: Farkas (27 shots, 22 saves), Sask: Ross (41 shots, 38 saves)

This game had a dramatic turn-about.

The Bluegars looked to be running the Banjo-Mutts out of the rink. They first scored after 11 seconds, and built a 3-0 lead at the intermission. In fact, the deluge continued for most of the 2nd period as well. The Mutts scored a pair of goals 36 seconds apart to make it a deceptive 3-2 scoreline at the 2nd intermission. The shots were 31-18, and that was a fair reflection.

Then the 3rd period happened.

The Mutts scored four more unanswered goals. They never took the lead until 11 minutes in, and the shots were 10-10, but the sense of turn-about was palpable. Nevertheless, the Bluegars did show they could handle the Mutts for long stretches and cannot be counted out.

NEXT UP

Sat Mar 8 Mount Royal at Saskatchewan 7:00 CST
Sun Mar 9 Mount Royal at Saskatchewan 6:00 CST/5:00 CDT (if required)


OUT EAST

TORONTO METROPOLITAN BOLD 5
TORONTO VARSITY BLUES 4
(Series tied 1-1)

CONCORDIA STINGERS 1
QUEEN’S GOLDEN GAELS 0
(Concordia wins series 2-0)

Next up:
Sun Mar 9 Toronto at Toronto Metropolitan 6:15 EDT/5:15 CDT
TBD Toronto/TMU loser at Queen’s (3rd place playoff, U-Cup wild-card berth)
TBD Concordia at Toronto/TMU winner (conference championship)

All games in this round of the OUA playoffs have been decided by one goal. Concordia now joins Ottawa, New Brunswick, Moncton, Saskatchewan, and Mount Royal as teams with guaranteed U-Cup berths.

Next up:
Sun Mar 9 Moncton at New Brunswick 5:00 ADT/3:00 CDT
Tue Mar 11 New Brunswick at Moncton 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Thu Mar 13 Moncton at New Brunswick 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT (if required)

Links:
➤ USports: Presto Schedule & Results
➤ OUA: Playoff Schedule & Results
➤ AUS: Playoff Schedule & Results

OUT WEST

CONCORDIA-EDMONTON THUNDER 4
BRIERCREST COLLEGE CLIPPERS 8
(Briercrest leads series 1-0)

RED DEER POLY KINGS 5
S.A.I.T. TROJANS 4
(in overtime)
(Red Deer leads series 1-0)

Next up:
Sat Mar 8 Concordia-Edmonton at Briercrest College 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Sat Mar 8 S.A.I.T. at Red Deer Poly 7:00 MST/8:00 CST
Sun Mar 9 Concordia-Edmonton at Briercrest College 2:00 MDT/3:00 CDT (if required)
Sun Mar 9 Red Deer Poly at S.A.I.T. 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT (if required)

VICTORIA VIKINGS 1
VANCOUVER ISLAND MARINERS 2
(game 2 of page playoff, VIU to final, UVic to semi-final)

OKANAGAN LAKERS 4
LOGAN LAKE MINERS 5
(in overtime)
(game 3 of page playoff, OKL eliminated, LLM to semi-final)

Next up:
Sat Mar 8 Victoria v Logan Lake 12:30 PST/2:30 CST (game 4)
Sun Mar 9 Winner Game 4 v Vancouver Island 12:30 PDT/2:30 CDT (game 5)

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

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

MRU's Bouchard and Hanus have been awfully quiet so far this postseason.