Hollywood3
Bison/Jet/Moose Fan
- May 12, 2007
- 6,471
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MANITOBA BISONS (5-4-1, 6-7-3, OHT35 #16)
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (5-3-2, 6-4-2, OHT35 #8)
Friday, Nov 15th at 7:00 at Saskatoon
Saturday, Nov 16th at 7:00 at Saskatoon
Live Links:
➤ Video: [CanadaWest.tv]
➤ Friday: [Live Stats] ∞ [Hockey Tech]
➤ Saturday: [Live Stats] ∞ [Hockey Tech]
Manitoba Links:
➤ GoBisons: [Allison Alcock and Keaton Jameson are Boston Pizza Bison Sports Athletes of the Week]
➤ GoBisons: [WEEKEND PREVIEW: Volleyball and hockey alumni nights, rivalry matchups, and more]
➤ Manitoban: [Manitoba Bisons take three of four on the road in hockey and volleyball]
➤ Social: [Twitter] ∞ [Facebook]
➤ CW: [Stats] ∞ [Schedule/Results/Links]
➤ LeagueStat: [Stats] ∞ [Schedule/Results/Links]
Saskatchewan Links:
➤ UofS: [Men's Hockey Site]
➤ Social: [Twitter] ∞ [Facebook]
➤ CW: [Stats] ∞ [Schedule/Results/Links]
➤ LeagueStat: [Stats] ∞ [Schedule/Results/Links]
Other Links:
➤ USports: [Schedule/Links] ∞ [Standings]
➤ CW: [Home Page] ∞ [Schedule]
➤ LeagueStat: [Media Stats]
The schedule-maker played a cruel trick on the Bisons this year, scheduling their Saskatchewan road-trips on back-to-back weekends. Last weekend they went south to Regina and this weekend it's up north to Saskatown. The Bisons have barely recovered from the outhouse smell which permeates the province.
The places have similarities, such as the shoeless, gap-toothed, unwashed, moonshine drinking hillbillies who abound in both locations. The differences? South is feline, north is canine. South is mediocre, north is a perennial contender.
In fact, the Banjo Mutts have been the Herd's nemesis in recent years. Over the last four years the Bison record is 3-12-1, and only 1-7-0 in Banjoland.
The Mutts lost their first three games, which was concerning since they finished first at 25-3-0 a year ago. However, they are now on a 5-0-2 roll. Meanwhile, the Bisons have split all five series thus far. All told, Sask sits in 4th place, one point ahead of the Bisons. The teams may well be on a collision course for a first round playoff match-up.
The team stats are fairly comparable. Sask has 35 goals, the Bisons have 32. Sask has given up 31 goals, the Bisons 33.
For “players to watch” on the Bisons, I suggest captain, defenceman, and leading scorer Adam Henry (5-6-11, tied for 9th in teh CW) and forward Keaton Jameson (2-8-10, 12th in the CW). Also, the three 5th year players have all been top-notch. Henry (+9) is paired with Sean Christensen (+10) on defence. Up front, 6' 4” Jonah Wasylak has improved his skill level over his five years to the point where he at times can dominate opponents.
Sask is led by 4th year forward Carson Stadnyk (6-3-9, in a 5-way tie for 13th in the conference) and a quartet of players with 8 points, in a 12-way tie for 18th in the CW (Carter Folk, Layne Young, Levi Cable, Collin Shirley).
Of course, good goaltending is always mandatory to be competitive. The Bisons have three first year goaltenders and Riley Lamb has won the battle to be #1. His numbers are top-notch: 5-2-1, .921 S%, 2.90 GAA. Jeremy Link and Tyler Brown have each had just one start.
Meanwhile, neither of Sask's goaltenders have equalled Lamb so far. Veteran Taran Kozun is 4-2-2, .891 S%, 2.86 GAA and second year Travis Child is 1-1-0, .897 S%, 3.55 GAA. Both have done better.
This series could end up being one of significance. If the Bisons split or sweep, they will likely be comfortably in a playoff position for a long time, and would have realistic hopes of even hosting a quarter-final series.
ELSEWHERE IN THE CW
REGINA COUGARS (2-7-1, 3-10-1, OHT35 #31)
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (9-1-0, 15-3-0, OHT35 #1)
Links:
➤ UofA: [Men's Hockey Site]
➤ UofR: [Men's Hockey Site]
Welcome to the mismatch of the week! The Banjo Cats would love to have just one recruiting class to compare to the Evil Monkeys' average one. The Kittens have not made the playoffs since 2008. Since MRU joined the league, the Kittens have been 7th or 8th every year. Before that, they had a stretch of 6th or 7th place seasons. Meanwhile, the Apes are U-Cup or bust. The last time they did not qualify for the U-Cup final tournament was 2007. The time before that was 1998.
Good luck, Puddy Tats!
LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS (4-6-0, 4-9-1, OHT35 #22)
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS (2-5-3, 5-8=4, OHT35 #24)
Links:
➤ UBC: [Refreshed ‘Birds ready to begin critical stretch against Pronghorns]
➤ UofL: [Important points on the line for Pronghorns in Vancouver]
If you like watching teams in blue and yellow uniforms, this is the series for you. Also, this is the battle for the 6th and final playoff berth. The Hørny Ønes have 8 points, one ahead of the T-irds. Similar to the Bison series, this has the potential to define the remainder of the season for both teams. If one side could sweep, they could cast their gaze upon bigger and better things, like 5th place. Being the late game Friday, I'll likely see a good portion of that game.
CALGARY DINOSAURS (6-3-1, 12-4-2, OHT35 #7)
MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (7-2-1, 10-4-1-1, OHT35 #4)
Links:
➤ MRU: [Men's Hockey Site]
➤ UofC: [Dinos looking to rebound in Crowchild Classic]
This Thursday/Friday home-and-home crosstown derby should be top-notch. I have been watching on CanadaWest.tv while drafting this post. It is 4-4 mid-way through the 3rd period.
Bedrock U looked like world-beaters through the pre-season and early season. Then the Evil Monkeys made them crash to Earth last weekend. Meanwhile, the Bluegars keep trucking along. This series has overtime written all over it. Through 10 games, MRU has 52 goals and the Dinos have 43. Expect lots of offence.
OUT EAST
Sun Nov 10 Carleton 1 Ottawa 2
Tue Nov 12 York 3 Nipissing 2 (ot) – from Nov 9
Thu Nov 14 York 2 Toronto 3
Thu Nov 14 Brock 2 Laurier 0
Thu Nov 14 Lakehead 4 Waterloo 5 (ot)
Fri Nov 15 Ontario Tech at McGill
Fri Nov 15 Ottawa at Carleton
Fri Nov 15 Nipissing at RMC
Fri Nov 15 Queen's at UQTR
Fri Nov 15 Lakehead at Ryerson
Fri Nov 15 Guelph at Brock
Fri Nov 15 Laurentian at Concordia
Fri Nov 15 Laurier at Windsor
Sat Nov 16 Guelph at York
Sat Nov 16 Queen's at UQTR
Sat Nov 16 Ontario Tech at Concordia
Sat Nov 16 RMC at Carleton
Sat Nov 16 Nipissing at Ottawa
Sat Nov 16 W. Ontario at Toronto
Sat Nov 16 Laurentian at McGill
Sat Nov 16 Lakehead at Ryerson
Sat Nov 16 Waterloo at Windsor
Wed Nov 13 Moncton 2 UPEI 1 (ot)
Wed Nov 13 Saint Mary's 3 St. F.X. 4
Fri Nov 15 Moncton at New Brunswick
Fri Nov 15 Dalhousie at Saint Mary's
Fri Nov 15 Acadia at St. F.X.
Sat Nov 16 Acadia at Dalhousie
Sat Nov 16 New Brunswick at UPEI
Links:
➤ [USp Presto S&R]
➤ [OUA LS Daily]
➤ [AUS S&R]