The Bison men's hockey team begins the 2017-18 Canada West conference season by hosting the UBC Thunderbirds on October 7-8 weekend at the Wayne Fleming Arena (U of M Fort Garry campus). Puck drop versus the Thunderbirds will be 7 p.m. CT on Saturday and 1 p.m. CT on Sunday.
The Bisons head into the regular season after a 4-4 record in the 2017 pre-season.
In addition, Manitoba looks to win a season opener game for the first time since the 2011-12 season (W 2-0 at Calgary on Sept. 30/11). The last time the Herd won a season opener at home was 2009-10 (W 2-1 vs. Saskatchewan on Oct. 2/09). Overall, the Bisons are 25-26-0 (Home 13-13-0; Away 12-13-0) in season opener games in the program's history.
Manitoba enters the conference season ranked number five in the annual conference coaches' poll. The Herd finished 2016-17 conference regular season record with a 14-12-2 record and fifth place In conference and then lost 2-1 to Mount Royal on the road in Canada West Quarter-Finals best-of-three playoff series.
Returning veterans to the Herd include third year forward
Brett Stovin, 2015-16 Canada West All-Rookie Team, who is now team captain and look to be a strong two-way player in his junior year. Plus, Bison third year defenceman
Adam Henry, fourth year
Channing Bresciani are two-way defenceman and also alternate captains while
Michael St. Croix, drafted by New York Rangers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in fourth round (106th overall), and
Nick Zajac are both alternate captains and with be offensive forces in 2016-17. Fourth year
Byron Spriggs is back in the nets after a solid third year and also dressed in AHL games at the end of 2016-17 season.
In the off-season, the Bisons had another strong recruiting class and all expect to make an immediate impact. Forwards
Zach Franko and St. Croix along with defenceman
Lucas Skrumeda and
Calvin Spencer begin their rookie season with the squad.
Bison Notes: Last season, the Bisons went 2-2 against UBC (Oct. 28/16: W 3-2 at home; Oct. 29/16: L 3-2 at home; Jan. 13/17: L 4-3 on road; Jan. 14/17: W 4-2 on road). The last time Manitoba played UBC in season opener was in 2005-06 season at home and the Herd won 7-2 (Oct. 7/05).
