The Manitoba Bisons welcome the nationally ranked Calgary Dinos to town this weekend, facing off for the third and fourth time in 2024-25. The Bisons are looking to hand the Canada West-leading Dinos just their third loss of the season, while Manitoba is in fourth in Canada West's East Division with nine points thanks to four total victories. 

Calgary swept Manitoba at Wayne Fleming Arena a month ago, however the Herd scored four goals in the Saturday rematch on October 18, the second-most by any school all year against the U of C. The Dinos led 4-1 in the Saturday tilt, before the Herd stormed back with three goals in seven minutes in the third period. Calgary killed the comeback in the final three minutes however, with Brendan Lee recording the game-winner. 

Forward Lucas Brennan, one of 12 impact recruits for Manitoba this season, scored twice against Calgary in their prior matchup, entering play in a tie for ninth in Canada West rookie scoring, with seven points. Defenceman Luke Brenton, a former WHL champion with Moose Jaw who has exceptional size at 6'4", 211 pounds, leads all Bisons rookies with nine points, which is also tied for the overall team lead with sophomore sensation Skyler Bruce. 

Brenton's physicality will be key against a Dinos team that is among the bigger squads in the conference. Forward Adam Kydd leads Canada West with 30 points, while Jake Poole and Sean Strange are also in the top five in conference scoring, with 17 and 16 points respectively. The latter is the most of any defenceman in CanWest. 

Look for special teams to play a factor as well. The two sides combined for 18 power play attempts in two games in October, however it was the Dinos -- whose power play percentage of 27 leads Canada West's East Division -- who capitalized on two of their five chances, while Manitoba went 0-for-13. Manitoba does still have the second-best PP in Canada West's East Division at 19.5 however, and captain Jonny Hooker is tied for fourth in school history with 23 career power play goals, just one shy of third and five shy of second.