The No. 1 ranked Bison women's hockey team earned a berth into the 2018 U SPORTS Championships after an exciting and epic three game playoff series versus No. 2 Alberta in CW semi-final. Manitoba now host No. 8 Saskatchewan Huskies in Canada West Final best-of-three playoff series on March 2-4 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, March 2 with a start time of 7 p.m. CT for game one with game two on Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m. CT and, if necessary, game three will be on Sunday, March 4 at 5 p.m. CT. All playoff games will be played at Manitoba.

During this season, Manitoba went 2-2-0-0 against Saskatchewan as Bisons split at home (L 3-1 on Jan. 12/18; W 1-0 on Jan. 13/18) and the Herd played at Sask. on October 20-21, 2017 and lost 1-0 (Oct. 20) and won 3-2 (Oct. 21). 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 first time the Bisons have hosted a conference women's hockey final in the 21 year program's history. Manitoba last played in 2016 and lost at UBC (2-1 games) and then played Alberta in the previous eight visits to the Final and all have been on the road. The Herd has a 2-7 record so far in conference final best-of-three series.

This is also the fifth 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 play Saskatchewan in the conference final in the program's history. Manitoba holds a 4-0 post-season series record with best-of-three series wins in 2016 (2-1 in games on the road in quarterfinal), 2010 (2-1 in games at home in semi-final), 2009 (2-0 in games at home in semi-final) and 2008 (2-0 in games at home in semi-final).

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 six different weeks during the 2017-18 season – the first time the Herd reached that mark during the program's history.

There will be seven 2017-18 Canada West conference all-star and all-rookie team players in this playoff series. Manitoba had five while Sask. had two players, 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).

Both teams earned a U SPORTS National Championship berth as Top 2 teams in CW.

Bison women's hockey - 2018 Canada West Final series home schedule
Date                         Game                                                        Time        
Fri, March 2              Game 1: Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan      7 p.m. CT    
Sat, March 3            Game 2: Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan       7 p.m. CT    
*Sun, March 4          Game 3: Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan       5 p.m. CT
* if necessary

Bison women's hockey - 2018 Canada West Final 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.

Bisons-Huskies women's hockey playoff series record (Manitoba with a 4-0 record)
Year        Series Round    Results                   Played at        
2018        CW F               TBD                        Manitoba
2016        CW QF             Manitoba 2-1        Saskatchewan
2010        CW SF              Manitoba 2-1        Manitoba
2009        CW SF              Manitoba 2-0        Manitoba
2008        CW SF              Manitoba 2-0        Manitoba


Bison women's hockey record in Canada West Final (Manitoba with a 2-7 record)
Year        Series Round    Results                  Played at        
2018        CW F                TBD                      Manitoba
2016        CW F                UBC 2-1                UBC
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