At the end of the 2014-15 Canada West conference women's hockey regular season, the #9 Manitoba Bisons finished third in the Canada West standings with a 14-5-7-2 record and now will host the sixth place Regina Cougars (6-9-11-2) in the Canada West Quarter Final best-of-three playoff series on the February 20-22 weekend.
The best-of-three playoff series commences on Friday, February 20 with a start time of 7 p.m. CT for game one then game two on Saturday, February 21 at 7 p.m. CT and, if necessary, game three will be play on Sunday, February 22 at 7 p.m. CT. All playoff contests will be played at the Wayne Fleming Arena at the Max Bell Centre.
During this season, Manitoba went 3-0-0-1 against Regina as they swept the Cougars at home (W 6-1 on Jan. 17/15; W 2-1 [1st OT] on Jan. 16/15) and split on the road (W 1-0 [2nd OT] on Oct. 3/14; L 3-2 [1st OT] on Oct. 4/14). Since the beginning of the second half of the 2014-15 season, the Bisons have gone 6-3-2-1 and won five of those last six games at home.
In 2013-14, the Bisons hosted Regina in a playoff series and in the 18 seasons of CIS women's hockey, Manitoba has played Regina four times in best-of-three series. The Herd won all three series on the road by a 2-1 game margin (2004-05; 2005-06; 2006-07). Last season, Manitoba hosted the Cougars in the playoffs for the first time and lost the series in two games.
Manitoba has not won a playoff series since 2010-11 season, when they captured the conference championship. The Bisons are on a four game playoff losing streak.
In conference scoring, Bison rookie forward Alanna Sharman finished in first in Canada West with 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) and is on a nine game point streak. Second year Bison forward Alana Serhan was tied for fifth with 26 points (17g, 9a) while fifth year Michelle Pawluk was scoring in defenceman scoring with 17 points (4g, 13a) and Lauryn Keen was third in rookie scoring with 18 points (5g, 13a).
In the nets, second year Bison goaltender Rachel Dyck was second in conference in Goals Against Average at 1.70 and third in Save Percentage at .927 in 21 conference games while Dyck was also second in Canada West with 16 wins and fourth with three conference shutouts.
Bison women's hockey - 2015 Canada West Quarter Final series home schedule
Date Game Time Place
Fri, February 20 Game 1: Manitoba vs. Regina 7 p.m. CT Wayne Fleming
Sat, February 21 Game 2: Manitoba vs. Regina 7 p.m. CT Wayne Fleming
*Sun, February 22 Game 3: Manitoba vs. Regina 7 p.m. CT Wayne Fleming
* if necessary
Bison women's hockey - Quarter Final Playoff Ticket Prices: $12 adults; $7 student and seniors while children under six are free. Playoff tickets will be available at the door.
