FEATURED POLL
See Results Bison men’s hockey team play for Canada West championship at Alberta at the 2010 Canada West Final in Edmonton
This is the first time Manitoba has advanced to the conference final since 2000-01 season
March 9th, 2010 4:00pm
The Manitoba Bison men’s hockey team will play in their first Canada West Final for the first time since the 2000-01 season. The Bisons travels to the #1 CIS ranked Alberta Golden Bears to meet in the 2010 Canada West Final best-of-three series starting on Friday, March 12. All games will be played at Clare Drake Arena on the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton, AB.
For this season, there were two CIS Championship berths for Canada West Conference and Manitoba has already earned their ticket to the six team 2010 CIS University Cup Men’s Hockey Championship held at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON from March 25-28. The Bisons advanced to the Canada West Final with a 2-1 series win over the #9 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon. For Manitoba, this is first time making the CIS Nationals since the 2004-05 season. The Bisons are seeking a third Canada West title in the program’s history. Manitoba won the inaugural Canada West Hockey title in the conference's inaugural season in 1919-20 and last won the conference title in 1964-65 on its way to Manitoba’s only CIS University Cup National Championship. The Bisons also won four Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) titles with championships in 1975-76 (under head coach Andy Bakogeorge), 1976-77 (Morris Mott) and 1983-84 and 1984-85 (Wayne Fleming). Manitoba is only making their third appearance in the Canada West Hockey Final and first since 2000-01. Alberta defeated the Herd 2-0 in games (winning 5-1 and 3-1) at Alberta in the 2000-01 season and in 1970-71, the Bisons lost the conference final series 2-0 against UBC in Winnipeg. The two teams met twice earlier in weekend series during the 2009-10 season, with two wins apiece. The Bisons split on the road against Alberta with a 3-2 win on Oct. 30/09 and 5-3 loss on Oct. 31/09. Back in Manitoba, the Herd again split with the Bears with a 4-3 loss (Jan. 29/10) and a 4-3 victory (Jan. 30/10). Manitoba completed the 2009-10 Canada West regular season in third place with a 16-10-2 record for 34 points with a good mix of veterans and newcomers in the lineup. Alberta was the conference regular season leaders with a 23-4-1 mark, good for 47 points. Alberta is in the Canada West Hockey Final for a conference record 33rd time and for the 14th consecutive season dating back to 1996-97. This weekend's conference final will also be the 10th consecutive season in which the Golden Bears have hosted the Canada West Hockey Final at Clare Drake Arena.
Manitoba Bisons Men’s Hockey - 2010 Canada West Final Schedule
Friday, March 12 Game 1: Bisons at Alberta Starts at 8:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 13 Game 2: Bisons at Alberta Starts at 8:30 p.m. CT
*Sunday, March 14 Game 2: Bisons at Alberta Starts at 8 p.m. CT
* if necessary
Bison hockey notes: Prior to the Canada West Final, the Bison men’s hockey team will practice this week at the Max Bell Arena. They are on the ice on Tuesday, March 9 and Wednesday, March 10 starting at 4 p.m. both days. On Thursday, March 11, there is an optional skate at 10:30 a.m. and then the team will fly out to Edmonton in the mid-afternoon.
For this season, there were two CIS Championship berths for Canada West Conference and Manitoba has already earned their ticket to the six team 2010 CIS University Cup Men’s Hockey Championship held at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON from March 25-28. The Bisons advanced to the Canada West Final with a 2-1 series win over the #9 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon. For Manitoba, this is first time making the CIS Nationals since the 2004-05 season. The Bisons are seeking a third Canada West title in the program’s history. Manitoba won the inaugural Canada West Hockey title in the conference's inaugural season in 1919-20 and last won the conference title in 1964-65 on its way to Manitoba’s only CIS University Cup National Championship. The Bisons also won four Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) titles with championships in 1975-76 (under head coach Andy Bakogeorge), 1976-77 (Morris Mott) and 1983-84 and 1984-85 (Wayne Fleming). Manitoba is only making their third appearance in the Canada West Hockey Final and first since 2000-01. Alberta defeated the Herd 2-0 in games (winning 5-1 and 3-1) at Alberta in the 2000-01 season and in 1970-71, the Bisons lost the conference final series 2-0 against UBC in Winnipeg. The two teams met twice earlier in weekend series during the 2009-10 season, with two wins apiece. The Bisons split on the road against Alberta with a 3-2 win on Oct. 30/09 and 5-3 loss on Oct. 31/09. Back in Manitoba, the Herd again split with the Bears with a 4-3 loss (Jan. 29/10) and a 4-3 victory (Jan. 30/10). Manitoba completed the 2009-10 Canada West regular season in third place with a 16-10-2 record for 34 points with a good mix of veterans and newcomers in the lineup. Alberta was the conference regular season leaders with a 23-4-1 mark, good for 47 points. Alberta is in the Canada West Hockey Final for a conference record 33rd time and for the 14th consecutive season dating back to 1996-97. This weekend's conference final will also be the 10th consecutive season in which the Golden Bears have hosted the Canada West Hockey Final at Clare Drake Arena.
Manitoba Bisons Men’s Hockey - 2010 Canada West Final Schedule
Friday, March 12 Game 1: Bisons at Alberta Starts at 8:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 13 Game 2: Bisons at Alberta Starts at 8:30 p.m. CT
*Sunday, March 14 Game 2: Bisons at Alberta Starts at 8 p.m. CT
* if necessary
Bison hockey notes: Prior to the Canada West Final, the Bison men’s hockey team will practice this week at the Max Bell Arena. They are on the ice on Tuesday, March 9 and Wednesday, March 10 starting at 4 p.m. both days. On Thursday, March 11, there is an optional skate at 10:30 a.m. and then the team will fly out to Edmonton in the mid-afternoon.
