Critical points in the playoff race are at stake when Manitoba welcomes Trinity Western to Wayne Fleming Arena for a pair of games.

The Bisons are ten points back of MacEwan for the final playoff spot in Canada West's East Division, while the Spartans are looking to make group in the West Division, currently sitting with five points.

Manitoba swept TWU the last time the two sides squared off, winning a pair of games on the road in January of 2024. Both team's rosters are drastically different in 2025, with the Herd featuring a collection of eight WHL standouts who've made the jump to U SPORTS this season. Included in the first of first year Bisons are forwards Skyler Bruce (Edmonton Oil Kings, Vancouver Giants, Winnipeg Ice), Eric Alarie (Moose Jaw Warriors, Seattle Thunderbirds, Adirondack Thunder) and Riley Stotts (Calgary Dinos), who've combined for 43 points in their debut campaign for UM.

All four players, along with captain Jonny Hooker -- the team leader in goals, with ten -- have made notable contributions on Manitoba's top power play unit. As a team, Manitoba's scored 16 goals with the man advantage, tied for fourth in Canada West. Hooker's nine power play markers also lead Canada West, just five shy of the single-season school record set in 2005-06 by Paul Deniset.

The Spartans have been just as hot on the power play, with 16 goals of their own. Overall, 34 percent of TWU's tallies one the year have come with the extra skater, which should make for an interesting storyline. Ten different Spartans have scored during the team's power plays this year, led by Jonathan Krahn's three. He's one of five TWU players who've scored at least ten points this year, led by Christian Lowe's 20. 

Hooker and Stotts have both scored 16 points for Manitoba to lead their side, while TWU's Leon Sommer and the Herd's Braden Holt have combined for 1,054 saves in net.