Written by: Nicole Betker, Sports Information Director, University of Saskatchewan and files from Steve Knowles

For the first time in nine years, the University of Alberta Golden Bears will have a new opponent in the Canada West Final.

A 5-1 Game 3 victory gave the University of Manitoba Bisons the 2-1 win in a best-of-three semifinal series on Sunday, March 7. The win earned Manitoba a trip to the Canada West Final against the Golden Bears, who knocked out the University of Calgary Dinos in two-straight games in the other conference semifinal, and to the University Cup in Thunderbay, Ont. March 25-28. It is the first playoff series the Huskies have lost in 17 playoff series at home since 1981-82.

Manitoba advances to the CIS National Championship for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

Bisons Blair Macaulay gave his team the boost with a hat trick in the game. Mike Hellyer also made his presence known with two goals.

Manitoba was able to get on the board first when Macaulay snapped a back handed shot in the net when Huskie goalie netminder David Reekie’s momentum was going the other direction.

In the second period, the Bisons scored four answered goals after the Huskies were able to notch the game at one. Huskie rookie Brennan Bosch’s pass across the crease deflected into the net behind Manitoba goalie Steve Christie. From there, the Bisons went on a scoring roll. Macaulay scored at 8:07 and 15:06. Hellyer added his two for the Bisons in the period – the first at 7:41 and the second at 14:26.

Despite a valiant effort by the Huskies throughout the third period, they couldn’t find the net again.

Christie made 33 saves in the win, while Reekie made 25 stops for the Huskies.

The Canada West Final between Alberta and Manitioba begins Friday in Alberta’s Clare Drake Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Game 2 in the best-of-three series is set for the same time Saturday and Game 3, if necessary, will be played Sunday.

Men's Hockey Notes:

1. Manitoba was last in the Canada West Hockey Final in 2000-01 when they lost 2-0 at Alberta. The Golden Bears defeated the Bisons 5-1 and 3-1 on March 9-10, 2001.

Manitoba was in the Canada West Hockey Final on one other occassion. In 1970-71, the Bisons lost the conference final 2-0 against UBC, losing 5-3 (OT) and 7-6 (OT) in Winnipeg. (Note: Overtime at that time was not sudden death. The first overtime period was a full 10 minutes. Sudden death was used only if the game went past the first OT period. Subsequent OT periods were 20 minutes.)

2. With Manitoba series win over the Huskies, it marks the first time that Saskatchewan lost a Canada West hockey playoff series on home ice. Entering the 2009-10 post-season, Saskatchewan was a perfect 17-0 in Canada West Hockey playoff series played at Rutherford Arena in Saskatoon since the Huskies hosted their first post-season series in 1981-82. The Huskies were 33-4 (.895) in 38 playoff games played on home ice entering this weekend's series versus Manitoba.

3. The last time the Canada West Hockey Final did not feature an Alberta vs Saskatchewan match-up was in 2000-01 when the Golden Bears swept Manitoba 2-0. The last eight seasons (2001-02 to 2008-09) have seen the Golden Bears and Huskies face-off against each other in the conference final.

4. This weekend's Canada West Hockey semi-final between Manitoba and Saskatchewan marks the ninth time that the Bisons and Huskies have met in the playoffs. Saskatchewan is now 7-2 versus Manitoba, including 6-1 at Saskatoon.

MANITOBA BISONS versus SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (Saskatchewan leads 7-2.)
SEASON       SERIES         VENUE          RESULT/SERIES RECORD

1986-87         CSF                Winnipeg       Saskatchewan wins best-of-three series 2-1, outscoring Manitoba 10-7.           0-1

1996-97         DF                   Saskatoon    Saskatchewan wins best-of-three series 2-0, outscoring Manitoba 8-2.             0-2

1997-98         DF                   Saskatoon    Saskatchewan wins best-of-three series 2-1, outscoring Manitoba 15-12.         0-3

1998-99         DF                   Saskatoon    Saskatchewan wins best-of-three series 2-0, outscoring Manitoba 14-6.           0-4

2000-01         DF                   Winnipeg       Manitoba wins best-of-three series 2-1, outscoring Saskatchewan 9-8.             1-4

2002-03         DF                   Saskatoon    Saskatchewan wins best-of-three series 2-0, outscoring Manitoba 10-3.           1-5

2004-05         DF                   Saskatoon    Saskatchewan wins best-of-three series 2-0, outscoring Manitoba 10-6.           1-6

2005-06         DF                   Saskatoon    Saskatchewan wins best-of-three series 2-0, outscoring Manitoba 11-9.           1-7

2009-10         CSF            Saskatoon    Manitoba wins best-of-three series 2-1, outscoring Saskatchewan 11-8.           2-7

CSF - Conference Semi-Final

DF - Division Final

Canada West Men's Hockey Semifinal Game 3
Manitoba @ Saskatchewan
Sunday, March 7

1 2 3 F
Manitoba 1 4 0 5
Saskatchewan 0 1 0 1

Manitoba goals: Blair Macaulay (3), Mike Hellyer (2)
Saskatchewan goal: Brennan Bosch

Full stats: www.leaguestat.com/canadawest/mens/en/stats/schedule.php?season_id=7