Deep in the playoff hunt, the Bisons women's hockey team continue their second half push against Trinity Western this Friday and Saturday at home. Game times are 7 and 2 pm, respectively. Click here for tickets.

Manitoba enters this weekend with momentum, fresh off a weekend sweep of Saskatchewan to open the second half of their 2025-26 season. The wins (4-0 on Friday, 4-1 on Saturday) brought the Bisons to within two points of the Huskies for the third and final playoff spot in Canada West's East Division, with 16 on the year. With the regulation sweep, the Herd also own the season series against the U of S, after taking a point in a shootout loss earlier in the year. 

Manitoba's eight goals in their two games against Saskatchewan tied for the most they've scored in regulation during a weekend set. It's the second time in their last three series where they've potted at least eight goals against a conference opponent, with 11 different players scoring a goal since November 28. 

Julia Bird is among the goal scorers during that span of time, with a tally in both contests against the Huskies. Her second goal of the weekend on Saturday to open the scoring was vintage, as she stole the puck at the Saskatchewan blue line, used her strength and control to get inside positioning and put away her own rebound for her seventh goal overall on the year. That total leads Manitoba, is tied for fourth in Canada West, and is a career-high for the graduating veteran. Overall, Bird has seven points in her last six games. 

With a goal in last Friday's contest, sophomore forward Kelsey Huibers also established a new career-high with her third marker of the season, while rookie forward Sara Harbus moved into second in Canada West rookie scoring with six points, after two assists to start the back half of the campaign. Veteran forwards Dana Goertzen, Norah Collins and Aimee Patrick also lit the lamp, and have combined for 13 goals this year, and 39 dating back to the 2024-25 season. 

In net, Dana's sister Jenna -- who transferred from Carleton -- started her first game for the Bisons last Friday, recording a shutout with 15 saves. Meanwhile, veteran Emily Shippam's 311 saves are third in Canada West, and rookie Cypress Classen has a .914 save percentage in three starts. 

Looking ahead to this weekend, Manitoba faces off against Trinity Western (second in the West Division with 21 points) for the first time since their thrilling three-game playoff series last year at The 'Flem, which the Bisons won.

One of those victories came in triple overtime, an all-time classic where the two sides combined for 103 shots, in a 2-1 Bisons win. A total of 71 of those shots came from Manitoba, with Spartans goalie Kate Fawcett setting a Canada West record with 69 saves. She's traded time this season with Olivia Davidson, and the two netminders enter play with save percentages of at least .914 a piece. 

Defensively, shutting down fifth-year veterans Chloe Reid and Kyra McDonald will be key for the Herd. The pair are third and fifth in Canada West scoring, respectively, with 16 and 15 points. Presleigh Giesbrecht is also second amongst Canada West defenders, with 11 points.