WINNIPEG – After seeing their streak of 11 consecutive marches to the conference post-season snapped in 2018-19, Bisons men's hockey (9-15-4) are back in the show in 2019-20 under head coach Mike Sirant, who is coaching in his 25^th season.

As a 6-seed, the Bisons will play the 3-seed Calgary Dinos (18-7-3) at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary in a best-of-three quarterfinals series. Puck drop for game one is set for 7 PM MT on Friday, February 14.

The Bisons and Dinos split their four games against each other this season, with both teams marking a 1-1 record on their home ice. One player who had particular success against the boys in red this season is second-year forward Colton Veloso, who recorded three goals in the weekend series played in Calgary on January 10-11, part of his eight goals and 14 points on the season.

While Veloso has been a bright spot among the forwards, fifth-year defenceman Adam Henry has been the two-way leader all season for this Bisons squad. The former Portland Winterhawks blue liner leads all Canada West defencemen in goals scored (11) and is third overall in points (22) — both categories leading Manitoba. Henry had his best game against Calgary back on October 19 at Wayne Fleming Arena, when he had a goal and an assist in a 2OT win over the Dinos.

In net, both teams have succeeded by committee this season. Manitoba has had 16 games from first-year Riley Lamb (6-8-1, .908 sv%) and 12 games from first-year Tyler Brown (3-6-3, .900 sv%). Calgary has gone with the tandem of Riley Morris for 18 games (12-3-1, .897 sv%) and Matthew Greenfield for 14 (8-5-0, .895 sv%).

Five-on-five play will be particularly critical in this matchup, as both the Bisons (16.2%) and Dinos (18.4%) finished in the bottom half of the conference in power play efficiency.

Manitoba has a 16-31 record in Canada West post-season play and are looking to advance past the first round of play for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

If they do advance, they will play one-seed Alberta in the Canada West semifinals, which take place between February 20-23. Both the Golden Bears and two-seed Saskatchewan Huskies have a bye from quarterfinals action this weekend.

DETAILS:
Game 1 – Friday, February 14 at Calgary Dinos – 7 p.m. MT
Father David Bauer Arena (Calgary, AB)

Game 2 – Saturday, February 15 at Calgary Dinos – 7 p.m. MT
Father David Bauer Arena (Calgary, AB)

Game 3* - Sunday, February 16 at Calgary Dinos – 6 p.m. MT
Father David Bauer Arena (Calgary, AB)
* if necessary

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