The #9 Manitoba Bisons football team continue their pursuit of a championship after a thrilling 37-36 home playoff win over the #10 Saskatchewan Huskies in the 2013 Canada West Semi-Final on Friday, November 1.
Manitoba (5-3, 1-0) now travels on the road against the #3 Calgary Dinos (8-0, 1-0) in the Canada West Final (77th Hardy Cup) playoff game on Saturday, November 9 with kickoff at 3 p.m. CT. This is the first time Manitoba has reached the conference final since their 2007 Vanier Cup Championship season.
This is the second meeting of this season between the teams as Manitoba lost 48-24 at Calgary on September 20. The Dinos hold a ten game winning streak over the Bisons and the last time Manitoba defeated Calgary was in the 2007 Vanier Cup season when they won in the conference semi-final plus the last time the Bisons won on the road at Calgary was in 2005 (Sept. 10/05: Manitoba 28-27).
In addition, since records kept in 1968, Manitoba has never won a road playoff football game (0-5 overall) – not including Vanier Cup appearances. The Bisons hold an overall playoff record versus the Dinos of 2-2 with the last playoff meeting in 2012 when Calgary won 57-18 at Calgary in the conference semi-final (Nov. 3).
At stake in the playoff game is advancing to the CIS Semi-Final (Mitchell Bowl) next weekend. The winner of the Hardy Cup game will host the Mitchell Bowl versus the OUA champion (either #4 Queen's or #1 Western) on Saturday, November 16 at 3 p.m. CT.
Bison Football Notes: The Hardy Cup game is available on live webcast at: canadawest.tv plus SHAW TV. Manitoba has won ten Hardy Cup – Canada West Championship (previous winners in: 1923, 1924, 1927, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 2001, 2007).
