Four sports are in action this weekend, with plenty to look forward to at home and on the road.
Here on campus, men's hockey look for more early season success after a pair of splits, as they take on Regina. On the pitch, women's soccer closes their regular season schedule against Saskatchewan and Regina — and will celebrate their graduating players on Saturday night.
This, and what else to look forward to, in our weekend preview.
Men's Hockey vs. Regina – October 19 (7 PM), October 20 (2 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.tv
LISTEN: UMFM 101.5
UPDATES: follow @umbisonsMHKY on Twitter
Last Friday was a critical win early in the season for Bison men's hockey, as they upset the no. 2 ranked Alberta Golden Bears 3-2. Despite losing the following night, there's some momentum heading into another home weekend, as the 2-2-0 Bisons take on the 0-3-1 Regina Cougars.
For Manitoba, the standout player last weekend was
Nick Zajac, who had the game-winning goal on Friday and added an assist earlier to wrap a two-point weekend. Team captain
Brett Stovin scored that goal off Zajac's assist, and currently leads Manitoba with four goals in four games.
Regina, who were ranked seventh in the conference coaches poll, will look for more blue line scoring from Tyler King, who also has four points through four games for the Cougars.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday are $10 at the door. U of M students and fans 17-and-under get in free. Friday is also Minor Hockey Night at the rink, with teams from across the city in attendance.
Women's Soccer vs. Saskatchewan (October 19, 6 PM), Regina (October 20, 6 PM)
UPDATES: follow @BisonWSOC on Twitter
Bison women's soccer come into the final weekend of the regular season with four straight shutouts. With two wins, they would achieve their highest win total (8) in 11 years. Thoughts are certainly on the present, though, as Manitoba looks to secure the third seed in the Prairie Division and hold off Mount Royal, who come in three points back.
On Friday, they'll take on the 2-6-4 Huskies, who have lost two straight and are still trying to lock down a playoff spot. The Bisons' defence will focus on midfielder Payton Izsak, who has four of her team's ten goals this season.
Saturday, meanwhile, is Senior's Night and will feature a celebration of Manitoba's graduating players. On the field, they'll take on the Regina Cougars, who are also on the playoff bubble — at 2-9-1, they come into the weekend with the same record as Lethbridge, with both teams in the last playoff spot.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday are $10 at the West Turf Field gate. U of M students and fans 17-and-under get in free.
Football at Saskatchewan – October 20 (3 PM)
Macho Bockru makes a catch against the Huskies
earlier this season.
GAME NOTES
WATCH: Bell MTS ch. 1802, CanadaWest.tv
LIVE STATS
UPDATES: follow @MBBisons on Twitter
With three teams at 3-3 in Canada West with two weeks to go, it's time to break out the calculators for playoff positioning and deciding who's going where. Right in the thick of things are two rivals, the Bisons and Huskies, who meet in Week 7 at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.
This is the second time these two teams meet this season, after Saskatchewan won a 48-46 shootout at Investors Group Field (Winnipeg, MB) on September 7. Both quarterbacks were outstanding in that game, as Kyle Siemens went 24-for-35 for 305 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. Manitoba's
Des Catellier went 33-for-48 for 432 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Catellier since then has continued to put up strong numbers. He is currently third in Canada West in yards per game (311.7) and second in touchdowns thrown (16). The Bisons have also boasted a strong running game with
Jamel Lyles coming off a 147-yard outburst in Calgary to lead the conference with 109.0 yards per game on the ground.
The Huskies, meanwhile, are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. Siemens will get the start after leaving last week's 20-10 loss to UBC, as the fifth-year went just 9-for-18, 116 yards and a pick in the first half.
And for those with your calculators out: in a tiebreaking scenario, Saskatchewan currently has two points in their head-to-head point differential with Manitoba. UBC also heads into Week 7 at 3-3, with Alberta on the playoff bubble with a record of 2-4.
Volleyball at Mount Royal – October 19 (7/9 PM), October 20 (6/8 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.tv
UPDATES: follow @BisonMVB and @BisonWVB on Twitter
It's season opening weekend for Bison men's and women's volleyball! The two teams start on the road in Calgary, as they'll take on the Mount Royal Cougars.
On the men's side, Mount Royal comes in ranked seventh in the conference coaches poll. Fifth-year Tyler Schmidt will be a force for the Cougars, as the outside hitter is already in Canada West's top ten for career kills and points. That matchup with Manitoba's
Dustin Spiring, who is moving from the middle to the outside, will be one to watch.
For the women, Cougars fourth-year outside hitter Chantel Park will face a stiff blocking game from the Bisons, with
Allison Alcock taking over the middle for the graduated
Emily Erickson. The matchup is promising, with the Cougars ranked ninth and the Bisons sixth in the coaches poll.
#2 Women's Hockey at Regina – October 19 (8 PM), October 20 (4 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.tv
UPDATES: follow @umbisonsWHKY on Twitter
Bison women's hockey will quickly look to put a weekend sweep by #4-ranked Alberta behind them, as the #2-ranked team in the country heads to Regina for a pair of games against the Cougars.
Regina comes into the weekend 3-1-0-0 after series against Lethbridge and Alberta. They currently have the leading scorer in Canada West in forward Jordan Kulbida (two points, four assists).
Manitoba, meanwhile, will look to fire up an offence that sputtered against the Pandas. The Herd were held scoreless in both games, with 19 shots on net combined in the two games. Leading the way for Manitoba through four games is forward
Lauryn Keen, who has a goal and three assists.
Notes from the Range
