The No. 1 ranked Bison women's hockey team returns to the ice after earning a conference bye in the first round of the 2018 playoffs. Manitoba host No. 2 Alberta Pandas in Canada West semifinal best-of-three playoff series on February 23-25 weekend held at Wayne Fleming Arena (U of Manitoba Fort Garry campus). Tickets available at the Arena door or on Bison website (gobisons.ca).

The best-of-three playoff series starts on Friday, February 23 with a start time of 7 p.m. CT for game one with game two on Saturday, February 24 at 7 p.m. CT and, if necessary, game three will be on Sunday, February 25 at 5 p.m. CT. All playoff games will be played at Manitoba.

During this season, Manitoba went 2-1-0-1 against Alberta as they lost at home (L 4-3 on Oct. 13/17; W 4-2 on Oct. 14/17) and were split on the road (W 2-1 on Jan. 5/18; OTL 3-2 on Jan. 6/18). Since the beginning of the second half of the 2017-18 season, the Bisons went 9-1-1-1 in regular season and won last nine games heading into the playoffs.

This is the 11th time that both teams meet-up in post-season series action since women's hockey started play in Canada West during the 1997-98 season yet the first time the Bisons will host Alberta in a best-of-three playoff series in the 21 year program's history. This is the fourth consecutive season that both teams play against each other in the post-season and third straight year in the semifinal round. Manitoba holds a 3-7 post-season series record with best-of-three series wins in 2009 (2-1 in games), 2011 (2-0 in games) and 2016 (2-1) while the rest of the results have fallen to the Pandas with 2-0 series victories in 2005-08, 2010, 2015 and 2017.

Manitoba had two players in the Canada West Top 10 scoring. Third year Jordyn Zacharias (12 goals, nine assists) was in third with 21 points. Fourth year Alanna Sharman (3g, 17a) fourth with 20 points. In conference defenceman scoring, fourth year Erica Rieder (7g, 4a) was tied for fourth while captain and fifth year Caitlin Fyten (3g. 6a) and fourth year Alexandra Anderson (1g, 8a) in T-7th while rookie Lauren Warkentin (1g, 7a) ended up tenth at eight points.

In the nets, Bison first year netminder Lauren Taraschuk was first in the conference with 0.71 Goals Against Average, second in CW Save Percentage at .961, T-4th with five shutouts and tied for fourth with ten conference wins. Fifth year goaltender Rachel Dyck was tied for second with 12 conference wins and T-4th in CW shutouts with five.

Manitoba has been ranked No. 1 in U SPORTS Top 10 for five different weeks during the 2017-18 season – the first time the Herd reached that mark during the program's history.

There will be ten 2017-18 Canada West conference all-star and all-rookie team players in this playoff series. Manitoba and Alberta had five each with the Herd having Erica Rieder and Jordyn Zacharias (1st Team All-Stars). Alanna Sharman (2nd All-Star) and Lauren Taraschuk and Lauren Warkentin (All-Rookie).

The winner of the semifinal series will advance to the CW Final best-of-three series against either UBC or Saskatchewan on March 2-4 weekend plus earn a U SPORTS National Championship berth.


Bison women's hockey - 2018 Canada West semifinal series home schedule
Date                                Game                                              Time        
Fri, February 23              Game 1: Manitoba vs. Alberta        7 p.m. CT    
Sat, February 24             Game 2: Manitoba vs. Alberta        7 p.m. CT    
*Sun, February 25           Game 3: Manitoba vs. Alberta        5 p.m. CT
* if necessary

Bison women's hockey - 2018 Canada West Semifinal series ticket prices: $12 adults; $7 non-U of Manitoba students and seniors while children under 17 are free while also U of Manitoba students are free. Playoff game tickets will be available at Wayne Fleming Arena door.


Bison Notes: Third year Bison (fourth year eligibility) Venla Hovi won a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics with Team Finland and will return to the team with a chance to be able to play in the series depending on travel.

Bisons-Pandas women's hockey playoff series record (Manitoba with a 3-7 record)
Year        Series Round    Results                 Played at        
2018        CW SF             TBD                      Manitoba
2017        CW SF             Alberta 2-0            Alberta
2016        CW SF             Manitoba 2-1        Alberta
2015        CW F                Alberta 2-0            Alberta
2011        CW F                Manitoba 2-0        Alberta
2010        CW F                Alberta 2-0            Alberta
2009        CW F                Manitoba 2-0        Alberta
2008        CW F                Alberta 2-0            Alberta
2007        CW F                Alberta 2-0            Alberta
2006        CW F                Alberta 2-0            Alberta
2005        CW F                Alberta 2-0            Alberta