Box Score WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons won 4-3 at home in men's hockey against the University of Calgary Dinos in a heated affair, Friday, January 27 at Wayne Fleming Arena.
With the win, Manitoba improves to 12-10-1 conference record and fourth straight win while Calgary drops to 13-9-1 record and fourth loss in five contests. The surging Bisons (winners of six of last seven conference games) are now only two points back of Calgary in the Canada West standings.
"It's a big game for both teams tomorrow ," said Bison head coach
Mike Sirant, "it will be a good game, it will be very intense."
Bisons' opened the scoring with a sneaky below the goal line pass from Liam Bilton to Brett Brooks who ripped the puck over Steven Standford's blocker. Brett Stovin drew the first penalty of the game putting the visitors on the power play. Boarding was the call with 11:48 to go in the first.
Calgary's Adam Kambeitz put the puck in the net as it bounced around Bryon Spriggs' crease. The power-play goal came 11:11 into the first with assists going to Cain Franson and Parker Bowles. After one, the teams were deadlocked at one.
Shaq Merasty fired a snap shot glove side to restore the Herd lead after an end zone scrambled face-off and a pass from Garrett Johnston, 4:48 into the second frame.
The home team stretched the lead to two 14:02 into the second with a rocket from
Adam Henry. The shot from Standford's left finding the top shelf past his catcher on the opposite side of the goal.
Shawn Bowles and
Quintin Lisoway picked up the helpers.
The already heated affair become more degenerate multiple players jawing after Bison's
Lee Christensen was called for tripping at 17:20 of the second.
Early on the power-play, Walchuk staggered across the blue line and unloaded a wrist shot over Spriggs' right shoulder. Elgin Pearce and Parker Bowles earned assists on the 3-2 tally and that was score after two periods.
Only 25 seconds into the third, Manitoba claimed another two goal lead.
Channing Bresciani took a quick shot over the Dino goaltender's shoulder.
At 5:53 into the third,
Justin Augert hit Dino defenseman Jared Hauf from behind into the boards. Augert was assessed a minor and ten minute misconduct. The minor was served by Lisoway and the advantage did not result in a goal. With 8:50 remaining in the final frame, Manitoba's
Shawn Bowles and Calgary's Dan Gibb earned coincidental roughing minors. After a huge hit by
Jonah Wasylak that put Calgary's Brayden Sherbinin almost over the boards into the Bison bench. Wasylak put in an extra effort to send Sherbinin all the way over before a linesman intervened. For his part, Wasylak was assessed a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct with 8:16 to go in the third. The Herd killed the penalty.
The game became even more heated at the end as Walchuk for the Dinos had his night finished with 4:14 remaining in the game. He was assessed a minor for slashing and a major for cross-checking. The initial cross-check was late after the whistle and drew a crowd in the Dinos' end. Bisons' Henry earned a roughing after the whistle call for his part of the scrum. While seated in the box, Augert received a game misconduct for a second ten minute misconduct in the game.
Dino's Dow took a shot to the face, but then was assessed a delay of game penalty for intentionally covering the puck. As a result there was a late 5-on-3 power play for the home side with 2:12 remaining.
Incredibly, Calgary's Franson netted a smooth breakaway goal with 1:32 remaining in the contest while playing two players shorthanded. Assist on the stretch pass was Dylan Busenius.
Final shots for the game were 33 on the Dinos' Stanford and 27 on Bison's Spriggs.
Cain Franson was named third start of the game for his offensive effort (one goal and one assist) for Calgary.
Shaq Merasty (1g, 1a) and
Brett Stovin (2a) earned first and second star honours respectively.
The rematch takes place Saturday, January 28 at 1 p.m. CT at Wayne Fleming Arena.
