2021-22 Manitoba Bisons/CW Thread

[Hollywood3]

June 25, 2021

U-SPORTS/CIS BOOKMARKS

The CW schedule came out this week so season prep is under way. So here's the links. I might add some of the former segments later.

League Sites:
USports Mens Hockey Site
... sub-links : Standings : Schedule/Results : U-Cup
Canada West Mens Hockey Site
... sub-links : Schedule/Results/Links : History and Records : Media Stats
OUA Mens Hockey Site
... sub-links : Schedule/Results
AUS Mens Hockey Site
... sub-links : Schedule/Results
ACAC Mens Hockey Site
... sub-links : Schedule/Results : CCAA History : ACAC Hockey
BCIHL Site
... sub-links : Schedule

Canada West Team Sites:
Alberta Golden Bears
Calgary Dinos
Lethbridge Pronghorns - withdrew in 2020-21
MacEwan Griffins
Manitoba Bisons
Mount Royal Cougars
Regina Cougars
Saskatchewan Huskies
Trinity Western Spartans
UBC Thunderbirds

AUS Team Sites:
Acadia Axemen
Dalhousie Tigers
Moncton Aigles Bleus - Google Translate
New Brunswick Reds - new link in 2019
UPEI Panthers
St. Francis-Xavier X-men
Saint Marys Huskies

OUA-West Team Sites:
Brock Badgers
Guelph Gryphons
Lakehead Thunderwolves
Laurier Golden Hawks
Ryerson Rams
Toronto Varsity Blues
Waterloo Warriors
Western Ontario Mustangs
Windsor Lancers
York Lions

OUA-East Team Sites:
Carleton Ravens
Laurentian Voyageurs - withdrew in 2021-22
Nipissing Lakers
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
Ottawa Geegees
Queens Golden Gaels
RMC Palladins - Team Site

RSEQ (OUA-East) Team Sites:
Concordia Stingers
McGill Redbirds
UQTR Patriotes - Google Translate

ACAC Team Sites:
Augustana Vikings
Briercrest Clippers
Concordia Thunder
NAIT Ooks
Portage Voyageurs
Red Deer Kings
SAIT Trojans

BCIHL Team Sites:
Fraser Valley Brigade - starting in 2022-23
Okanagan Lakers
Selkirk Saints - withdrew in 2021-22
Simon Fraser Clan
Thompson Okanagan Pioneers - starting in 2022-23
Vancouver Island Mariners
Victoria Vikings

Online video/audio:
CanadaWest.tv - YareTV link
UMFM.com - Bison home games

Stats:
Elite Prospects - USports Page - individual player stats on everybody
Internet Hockey Data Base (IHDB) : CWUAA Page - like Elite Prospects
USports/CIS Stats - 2009-10 to 2019-20
USports/CIS Schedule/Results - 2009-10 to 2019-20
USports/CIS Standings - 2010 to 2020
USports/CIS Playoff Schedule/Results - 2010 to 2019
AUS Archive
OUA LeagueStat
ACAC LeagueStat (inactive link)
Bob Adams Archives - CIS hockey from 1995-96 to 2008-09
Wikia - U Sports
... sub-links : University Cup
Wikia - CWUAA
... sub-links : GPAC : WIAA : WCIAU
Wikia - OUA/OUAA
... sub-links : QUAA : OSLC : OIAA : QOAA : CIAU Central
Wikia - AUS/AUAA/AIAA/MIAA
Wikia/Fandom - ACAC
Wikia/Fandom - BCIHL
Wikia - North American Championship
Wikia - Universiade
Atlantic Canadian Hockey History

Exhibition/Non-Conference Schedule/Results

Edit: July 5, 2021: Wikia/Fandom links for ACAC and BCIHL

Click to read more...

 

[Hollywood3]

June 25: The New Schedule Is Here! The New Schedule Is Here!

Canada West released the 2021-22 schedule on Wednesday. There is a format twist this year. Remember: Lethbridge is gone and MacEwan and TWU are added. Each team will play 20 games in weekend double-headers. There will be 16 games (2 against each team) followed by a further 4 games on a regional basis. In British California, UBC and TWU play those 4 games against one another (big plus for the T-irds). In Alberta, they play their cross-town rival twice (i.e. MRU v Calgary and Mac v Alberta) and one game each against the teams from the opposite city. Manitoba, Regina, and Sask play one another twice each. The playoffs are the same as always, i.e. 1st and 2nd get byes, 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th in the quarter-finals.

The Bisons start on October 15th in the Town of Bedrock to face the Dinos. They will have just 5 home double-headers (all Friday night/Saturday afternoon):
Oct 22-23 v UBC
Oct 29-30 v Saskatchewan
Nov 19-20 v MRU
Jan 14-15 v MacEwan
Feb 4-5 v Regina

So we won't see Holy Trinity, Calgary, or Alberta live and in person here in Friendly Manitoba.

Next phase is the outlook for non-conference games across the CW and USports as a whole. I would suspect limited travel for now, but one never knows.

Links:
➤ Canada West: Puck drop for 2021-22 season set for October 15
➤ Canada West: Complete CW Schedule
➤ Canada West: Stage set for return to CW play in 2021-22
➤Mount Royal: MRU Hockey 2021-22 Schedule Released
➤ Regina: Canada West unveils hockey schedules for 2021-22
➤ Trinity: MEN’S HOCKEY CANADA WEST SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Like all teams, when the Bisons finally do hit the ice they will have two years worth of new recruits in the lineup. Seven recruits were covered in my 2020-21 thread. Upon reviewing the roster page, there was one more (Linden McCorrister). Of interest, Barry Trotz (NY Islanders) and Jamie Kompon (Winnipeg Jets) did some coaching when they were available. In addition to the players who graduated after 2019-20, five other players were absent in 2020-21: Matthew Stanley (D), Josh Tripp (F), Lucas Skrumeda (D/F), and goaltenders Riley Lamb and Tyler Brown. Lamb went to the ECHL. Whether the others cancelled the season for Covid or have left permanently will be revealed.

Linden McCorrister - LW – Brandon (WHL)/Regina (CW)

The Bisons needed better forwards in 2019-20 and here's one. He's 6'1" and 190 lbs. As a teen, he played on Team Manitoba in aboriginal hockey. In four seasons with the Wheat Kings he ended as an assistant captain for two seasons. Articles describe a strong 2-way player, but he has decent offensive numbers in the WHL. In 2017-18 he played 59 games and was 20-23-43, plus 5-9-14 in 11 playoff games. In 2018-19 he played 45 games and was 14-15-29. For some reason, the Peguis native went to Regina to play for the Banjo-Cats in 2019-20, where he only played 4 games and had one assist. So I guess 2020-21 was his redshirt season.

Links:
➤ GoBisons.ca: Bisons men's hockey keeping busy both on and off the ice
➤ GoBisons.ca: Puck drop for Bisons Hockey set for October 15
➤ GoBisons: Roster Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Linden McCorrister Career Stats
➤ Wheat Kings: McCORRISTER LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION
➤ Hockey DB: Linden McCorrister Career Stats

The T-irds have two recruiting announcements. In one they added three forwards, Cyle McNabb (Medicine Hat Tigers), Carson Miller (Victoria Royals), and Jack Wismer (Flint Firebirds - OHL). And in the other they added three more and a goaltender. The forwards are Scott Atkinson (Edmonton Oil Kings), Chris Douglas (Red Deer Rebels), and Liam Kindree (Lethbridge Hurricanes). The goaltender is Ethan Anders (Red Deer). The announcements don't dwell on the players to have left, but did mention that many forwards were departing.

Links:
➤ UBC: T-Birds add offensive power
➤ UBC: T-Birds make heavy recruiting splash with WHL talent

The Sask site has a load of stories, mostly on coaching news. They have a toast to the retiring Dave Adolph, an announcment of the hiring Brandin Cote as "associate" coach, and one on Mike Babcock and his staff. You can also download "Dogs On Ice", an historical look at the Banjo-Mutts.

Links:
➤ U of S: Captains pay tribute to Dave Adolph
➤ U of S: Cote joins men's hockey as associate coach
➤ U of S: Huskie men’s hockey coaching staff takes shape
➤ U of S: Dogs On Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan 2nd Edition

In addition to their schedule announcement, The Big Macs have stories about a new goaltender recruit (James Porter, Vernon Junior A), and a pair of media awards going to Quinn Phillips and Salim Valji.

Links:
➤ MacEwan: Former CHL goalie of the week award winner, current Vernon Vipers star Porter Jr. joins Griffins
➤ MacEwan: Global TV's Quinn Phillips - who covers the Griffins - wins Canada West's Fred 'Gus' Collins Award
➤ MacEwan: Alum of the month: Griffins' minor official award winner Valji now TSN's Calgary Bureau Chief
➤ MacEwan: 2021-22 schedule: Griffins set for CW debut Oct. 15 in Regina, home opener Oct. 22 vs. Calgary

In the Town of Bedrock, their goaltending coach, Brad Kirkwood, will be lending a hand to the women's olympic team. They also have a nice story from the departed Logan Fisher where he reflects on his playing career for the Dinos.

Links:
➤ U of C: Goaltending guru Kirkwood named to Olympic staff
➤ U of C (by Logan Fisher): Thank you, Dinos Men's Hockey
➤ U of C: Puck drops for CW hockey Oct. 15

Lots of stories from the Evil Monkeys. One is a summary of the 12 grads who went on to play pro last year. Lots of bananas for those guys. The loss of Zach Sawchenko to the San Jose Sharks will hurt them. Oddly, former Monkey Jason Fram has aspirations of playing for Communist China in the Olympics.

Links:
➤ U of A: Bears Hockey alumni shine on professional stage
➤ U of A: Golden Bears Hockey Team Update
➤ NHL.com: Sharks Sign Goaltender Zach Sawchenko to Entry-Level Contract
➤ Spark: From Green & Gold to Red & Gold
➤ U of A: 2021/22 Golden Bears Hockey schedule released

Bad news from B.C. Selkirk College has folded their hockey program. With departure of Trinity to the CW, that leaves just three teams (Vancouver Island, Victoria, and Simon Fraser). The BCIHL is looking into expansion, with the UBCO Heat mentioned as a candidate. Good luck to them.

Links:
➤ BCIHL: Selkirk College no longer offering men's hockey
➤ BCIHL: BCIHL announces 2021 AGM date, considers expansion proposals
➤ NHL.com: Sharks Sign Goaltender Zach Sawchenko to Entry-Level Contract
➤ Spark: From Green & Gold to Red & Gold
➤ U of A: 2021/22 Golden Bears Hockey schedule released

The 2021 Universiade was originally scheduled for January 2021, now it is scheduled for December 11 to 21, 2021. That timing will screw up the World Junior series. I guess one conference will travel abroad as usual, leaving two others to oppose the Juniors.

The OUA has approved of a "structure", and the AUS has a full schedule. The OUA is going back to four divisions, and 20 games.

Links:
➤ USports: FISU | Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade to be held in December 2021
➤ USports: OUA announces approved structures for 2021-22 season
➤ OUA: OUA announces approved structures for 2021-22 season
➤ USports: AUS | 2021-22 schedules released
➤ AUS: Complete Schedule

 

[Hollywood3]

June 28: I guess this is the first recruit of 2021-22

Michael King - C – Spokane (WHL)/Steinbach (MJHL)

This is a 6' 180 lbs centre from Winnipeg. After 4 years in the WHL split between Kootenay and Spokane he went to the Steinbach Pistons for his overage year, where he had 4 goals and an assist in two games. Not much of a season, but it's two more games then most CW guys had.His peak WHL season was 2019-20 where he went 13-11-24 in 64 games for the Spokane Chiefs. He had a decent scrap, as you'll see in the Hockey Fights link.

I believe this qualifies as the Herd's first recruit of the season, since the others were all technically on the 2020-21 team. In the links I have the two usual reliable sources (Elite Prospects and the USports LOI spreadsheet) and a new site called 49-sport.com which has a commitments page. The site has a lot of articles linked. A lot of sites come and go, hopefully this one will last.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Michael King Career Stats
➤ Hockey DB: Michael King Career Stats
➤ Spokane Chiefs: Chiefs Acquire Forward Michael King from Kootenay
➤ Spokane Chiefs: Meet the Chiefs: #19 Michael King
➤ Spokane Chiefs: Michael King and James Porter Released
➤ Steinbach Pistons: King Commits to University of Manitoba
➤ Hockey Fights: Michael King vs Kaden Kohle Dec 31, 2019 : YT
➤ USports: LOI Registry
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transactions
➤ 49-sport.com: 2021 U SPORTS MHKY COMMITMENTS

 

[Hollywood3]

June 29: BCIHL ADDS A TEAM

The BCIHL has added a 4th team! The Okanagan Lakers are a Kelowna team to be using players from Okanagan College (formerly in the BCIHL as the "Okanagan Coyotes") and UBC-Okanagan Campus (operating in other CW sports as "UBCO Heat"). The Lakers and two more teams slated to join in 2022-23 are called "independent college transfer teams". BC Hockey was behind this expansion project.

The league will play a reduced schedule of 12 games plus a 4 game provincial championship. Not sure how that will work. There is also a vague reference to additional tournaments and events, so stay tuned.

The teams slated for 2022-23 are the Fraser Valley Brigade and the Thompson Okanagan Pioneers. It is unclear if these teams will play any games in 2021-22.

The Brigade are to be based in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. The players are to come from the University of the Fraser Valley, Columbia Bible College, Ashton College, Summit Pacific College, and CDI College.

The Pioneers are to be based in Kamloops. Their players are to come from Thompson Rivers University, Okanagan College, or Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.

IMO, we need more combined teams in university/college sports. Maybe this is the start of something. Great to see the provincial body being behind the project.

Links:
➤ BCIHL: BCIHL Announces Addition of Okanagan Lakers and 2021/22 Season Overview
➤ Team Site: Okanagan Lakers
➤ Team Site: Fraser Valley Brigade
➤ Team Site: Thompson Okanagan Pioneers
➤ BC University Hockey: A MESSAGE FROM THE BC INTERCOLLEGIATE HOCKEY LEAGUE & BC HOCKEY

 

[MeHateHe]

June 29: BCIHL ADDS A TEAM

The BCIHL has added a 4th team! The Okanagan Lakers are a Kelowna team to be using players from Okanagan College (formerly in the BCIHL as the "Okanagan Coyotes") and UBC-Okanagan Campus (operating in other CW sports as "UBCO Heat"). The Lakers and two more teams slated to join in 2022-23 are called "independent college transfer teams". BC Hockey was behind this expansion project.

The league will play a reduced schedule of 12 games plus a 4 game provincial championship. Not sure how that will work. There is also a vague reference to additional tournaments and events, so stay tuned.

The teams slated for 2022-23 are the Fraser Valley Brigade and the Thompson Okanagan Pioneers. It is unclear if these teams will play any games in 2021-22.

The Brigade are to be based in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. The players are to come from the University of the Fraser Valley, Columbia Bible College, Ashton College, Summit Pacific College, and CDI College.

The Pioneers are to be based in Kamloops. Their players are to come from Thompson Rivers University, Okanagan College, or Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.

IMO, we need more combined teams in university/college sports. Maybe this is the start of something. Great to see the provincial body being behind the project.

Links:
➤ BCIHL: BCIHL Announces Addition of Okanagan Lakers and 2021/22 Season Overview
➤ Team Site: Okanagan Lakers
➤ Team Site: Fraser Valley Brigade
➤ Team Site: Thompson Okanagan Pioneers
➤ BC University Hockey: A MESSAGE FROM THE BC INTERCOLLEGIATE HOCKEY LEAGUE & BC HOCKEY

Your assessment of this is a lot more generous than mine. I suppose more college hockey opportunities is better, but the lack of real ties to one institution rubs me the wrong way, as someone who followed and played ACAC hockey. I'm about to say vaguely get-off-my-lawn kinds of things, but the benefit to an institution of school sports is to instill school pride. Even if you get your ass handed to you on a regular basis, the team is carrying your colours, your logo and your name into competition against others who are doing the same. So someone from Ashton College is going to cheer for the Fraser Valley Brigade because why? While Canadian schools don't have the history of US schools when it comes to raising alumni donations off their sports programs, it has always struck me as a missed opportunity. Raising money is a specific art form that Canadian schools don't practice well, but there is an untapped opportunity that requires some long-term thinking, I suppose.

At the end of the day, these are only college teams in the sense that the players are going to a college. They're community teams. Community teams are a good thing, but I just see this as a missed opportunity.

 

[MiamiHockey]

The BCIHL has added a 4th team! The Okanagan Lakers are a Kelowna team to be using players from Okanagan College (formerly in the BCIHL as the "Okanagan Coyotes") and UBC-Okanagan Campus (operating in other CW sports as "UBCO Heat"). The Lakers and two more teams slated to join in 2022-23 are called "independent college transfer teams". BC Hockey was behind this expansion project.

The league will play a reduced schedule of 12 games plus a 4 game provincial championship. Not sure how that will work. There is also a vague reference to additional tournaments and events, so stay tuned.

The teams slated for 2022-23 are the Fraser Valley Brigade and the Thompson Okanagan Pioneers. It is unclear if these teams will play any games in 2021-22.

The Brigade are to be based in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. The players are to come from the University of the Fraser Valley, Columbia Bible College, Ashton College, Summit Pacific College, and CDI College.

The Pioneers are to be based in Kamloops. Their players are to come from Thompson Rivers University, Okanagan College, or Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.

IMO, we need more combined teams in university/college sports. Maybe this is the start of something. Great to see the provincial body being behind the project.

I predict that this idea will die a quick death. These are glorified Senior teams.
The problem is that nobody is going to pay to watch them play, the players are not going to be really committed, and there is no upside for the organizations paying the bill (the College athletic departments). If this lasts more than one season, I'll be surprised.

 

[Hollywood3]

I predict that this idea will die a quick death. These are glorified Senior teams.
The problem is that nobody is going to pay to watch them play, the players are not going to be really committed, and there is no upside for the organizations paying the bill (the College athletic departments). If this lasts more than one season, I'll be surprised.

We'll have to wait and see. Only one team starts in 2021-22, two more start in 2022-23.

College teams haven't drawn many fans, so the bar is relatively low. I like the initiative shown by BC Hockey in making this happen.

 

[Hollywood3]

We'll have to wait and see. Only one team starts in 2021-22, two more start in 2022-23.

College teams haven't drawn many fans, so the bar is relatively low. I like the initiative shown by BC Hockey in making this happen.

Also, Ontario has started a new league called the "G-League" for junior grads between 21-28 years of age.It will be classed Senior AA. OUA players can play, former pros cannot.

New senior hockey league caters to junior graduates | Brantford Expositor

 

[Aces89]

Also, Ontario has started a new league called the "G-League" for junior grads between 21-28 years of age.It will be classed Senior AA. OUA players can play, former pros cannot.

New senior hockey league caters to junior graduates | Brantford Expositor

There's another senior league that stretches from Tweed, ON to Cornwall to Ottawa that has many OUA, AUS, NCAA grads playing in it.

Home - EOSHL

 

[Hollywood3]

July 28: Historical Results

In an interesting feature on CW team schedule pages, when you hit the "history" button for a team you have never played before (like MacEwan or Holy Trinity), you get a table for all-time records against every team, and in some cases for games outside the CW. I suppose that these links will disappear from the schedule pages once games are played, so here are the links:

- Alberta
- Calgary
- MacEwan - not active link
- Manitoba
- Mount Royal
- Regina
- Saskatchewan
- Trinity Western
- UBC

 

[Hollywood3]

August 2: News & Notes

Since the schedules were announced, there has been a lack of news around the CW. Alberta is the only CW team to have posted their exhibition games.

There have been seemingly many more recruits out east than in the west. While some recruits are surely not yet announced, it would seem that many players decided to save a final year of eligibility and so there may not be room for a lot of new recruits this year. We'll see. The teams do not have updated roster pages.

I also link a smattering of stories from here and there. The CHL broadcast deal with TSN and CBC could be a sign that properties like USports could be up for bids. Both have streaming apps looking for content. However, the story about corporate sponsorship cuts may blunt that optimism.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Confirmed Transfers
➤ 49-Sport: Commitments in U SPORTS men’s ice hockey since October, 2020
➤ USports: Letter of Intent
➤ USports: LOI Registry (pdf)
➤ WHL: Canadian Hockey League announces new multi-year broadcast partnerships
➤ Boxscore News: Puck drop for 2021-22 Canada West Hockey season set for October 15
➤ Saltwire: Acadia confirmed as host of 2022 University Cup men's hockey championship in Halifax
➤ Sportsnet: Pandemic uncertainty drives minor-league hockey pros to find new careers
➤ Calgary Journal: New game-plan for U SPORTS emerges after COVID cancellations

“About 40 per cent of the money that Canadian corporations spend on sport sponsorship has been cut. Outside of live entertainment, sports and events has been the hardest hit industry.”
Norman O’Reilly, professor at the University of Guelph

The Evil Monkeys' have one new recruit, goaltender Nick Schneider from the ECHL. They have also lost a handful of players to the pros. The stories are about former Ape Derek Ryan going the Greasers, Joel Jackson joining the coaching staff, and Clayton Kirichenko being a Monkey fan since he was a kid.

Links:
➤ Hockey Writers: Derek Ryan Signing Revives Oilers’ Link with Alberta Golden Bears
➤ Alberta: Joel Jackson hired as strength and conditioning coach by Edmonton Oilers
➤ Alberta: Fan First, Bear Always
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Team Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Nick Schneider Career Stats

Like their northern nemesis, the Town of Bedrock has just one recruit confirmed so far. Jake Gricius is a forward from the Allen Americans.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Team Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Jake Gricius Career Stats

GMU has a fair number of new recruits: Sean Comrie (D - Kelowna Rockets - WHL), Ryley Appelt (F - Kamloops Blazers - WHL), Tyler Smithies (F - Swift Current Broncos - WHL & Drayton Valley Thunder - AJHL), James Porter (G - Vernon Vipers - BCHL), and Kobe Mohr (F - Red Deer College - ACAC). Their career numbers are linked.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Team Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Sean Comrie Career Stats
➤ Elite Prospects: Ryley Appelt Career Stats
➤ Elite Prospects: Tyler Smithies Career Stats
➤ Elite Prospects: James Porter Career Stats
➤ Elite Prospects: Kobe Mohr Career Stats

There are no new recruits announced in Manitoba other than the previously announced Michael King. In other updates, former Bison coach Don McGillivray went out to Brandon in 2020-21 to coach the Wheaties. He had been coaching in the MJHL. I also linked a story about Brian Munz getting a job with the Winnipeg Ice, who will be at the Wayne Fleming Arena with the Bisons for a couple more years it seems. There was a story in the WFP about the Ice's arena project a while a while back (linked), but there have been no follow-up updates. So more free renovations for the Bisons, I guess! Also, I linked a story about Bison football player Breydon Stubbs playing hockey for St. Vital in the MMJHL. Nick Demski did likewise a few years back, though he played for Charleswood.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Team Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Michael King Career Stats
➤ Winnipeg Free Press: Ice's shift to new arena pushed back
➤ Manitoban: Bison preps for 2021-22 season playing junior hockey
➤ CHL: Wheat Kings name MacGillivray new head coach
➤ CBC: Brandon Wheat Kings name new head coach after Dave Lowry moves up to Jets
➤ Dubnetwork: Daily Dose of the DUB: Kraken to play in WHL arenas, Munz joins the ICE, and lots of alumni news!

The Bluegars have two recruits: Ethan Regnier (F - Everett Silvertips - WHL) and Riley Sims (G - Janesville Jets -NAHL). Otherwise, ne news from them.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Team Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Ethan Regnier Career Stats
➤ Elite Prospects: Riley Sims Career Stats

No news on any new recruits, or otherwise, from Regina.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Team Page

The Banjo Mutts had two recruits, but Cole Clayton (D - Medicine Hat Tigers - WHL) now shows up as a recruit for the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. That leaves them with just goaltender Josh Dias (G - Merritt Centennials - BCJHL). I also link a story about Taras Kozun's pro career, so he's not coming back. And, of course, another Babcock story is out there.

Links:
➤ Sportsnet: Mike Babcock named coach of University of Saskatchewan men’s hockey team
➤ Rapid City Journal: Rush get goaltender Kozun from Indy Fuel
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskathewan Team Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Josh Dias
➤ Elite Prospects: Cole Clayton

Holy Trinity is the run-away leader with announced recruits, weighing in with 11. They are:
Adam Nobes F - Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)
Berk Berkeliev G - New Jersey/Chippewa (NAHL)
Jarrett Penner F - Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
Elijah Brown F - Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) / Cold Lake Ice (NEAJBHL)
Kade McMillen D - Estevan Bruins (SJHL)
Kylor Wall D - Nipissing Lakers (OUA)
Luke Spadafora - RW - Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
Michael Spafford - F - Canmore Eagles (AJHL) / Philadelphia (NCDC)
Talor Joseph - G - Nipissing Lakers (OUA)
Jadon Joseph - C/RW - Bodens HF (Sweden)
Drake Lindsay - F - Nipissing Lakers (OUA)

Their website story on some of the players is linked. The other links go to a Spotify podcast and a sory on graduate Elijah Vilio heading to Kazakhstan, to play for Barys Nur-Sultan of the KHL.

Links:
➤ TWU: Signed Recruits Men's Hockey
➤ Spotify: Episode 4 | Barret Kropf SPARTA Podcast
➤ TWU: VILIO SIGNS CONTRACT WITH BARYS NUR-SULTAN
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Team Page

The T-irds are keeping up with their new provincial rival. UBC is also losing a load of players. Here they the newcomers:
Jack Wismer - RW - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Cyle McNabb - RW - Saskatoon Blades/Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Carson Miller - C - Victoria Royals (WHL)/Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)
Scott Atkinson - C - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Chris Douglas - RW - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Liam Kindree - F - Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Ethan Anders - G - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

The linked story is about Jackson Playfair, taking over from Nate Fleming. Playfair once played for the Dalhousie Tigers.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: UBC Team Page
➤ UBC: Hockey ‘Birds add new Assistant Coach

From out east, Concordia had a hat-trick of stories. They've added a coach, a captain, and a new club team. We need more club teams across the country.

Links:
➤ Concordia: New elite men's hockey team approved for action this season
➤ Concordia: Phélix Martineau to wear the C for Stingers men's hockey team
➤ Concordia: Stingers men's hockey team adds Alexandre Jacques to staff

I shared the story of Selkirk College's program folding, but here is the team's announcement.

Links:
➤ Selkirk College: Selkirk College Saints

 

[Hollywood3]

Canada West TV passes are now available. I got the all access early bird pass for $79.99. Here's the menu:

2021-22 PASS OFFERINGS

ALL-ACCESS PASS

PRICES:

Tier 1 (August 3-20) - $79.99
Tier 2 (Aug. 21 - Sept. 3) - $89.99
Full price (Sept. 4) - $99.99

SPORT PASS - REGULAR SEASON (available for football, soccer, hockey, volleyball, and basketball)

PRICES:

Tier 1 (August 3-20) - $31.99
Tier 2 (Aug. 21 - Sept. 3) - $35.99
Full price (Sept. 4) - $39.99

SINGLE EVENT PASS

PRICE: $7.99

Links:
➤ CWUAA: 2021-22 Canada West TV passes on sale
➤ CWUAA: CanadaWest.tv
➤ CWUAA: TV Schedule

 

[Hollywood3]

August 11, 2021: Bluegars Announce 10-Man Recruiting Class

The Bluegars have announced a 10-man recruiting class, two of which (Ethan Regnier and Riley Sims) were previously announced elsewhere. That is a large class, which infers that they have had a lot of departures since 2020. As always, we need to see the departures list before evaluating the recruiting class for any team. The preponderance of players with WHL experience could foretell a strong season. Here are the players:

Seth Bafaro - D - Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
Spencer Moe - F - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) / Canmore Eagles (AJHL)
Jared Power - F - SAIT Trojans (ACAC)
Josh Tarzwell - C - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Levi Kleiboer - D - Maine Black Bears (NCAA)
Kyle Walker - D - Regina Pats (WHL)
Robbie Holmes - LW - Regina Pats (WHL) / Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL)
Ty Kolle - C - Regina Pats / Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Team Page
➤ MRU: 2021-22 Cougars Recruiting Class: Men's Hockey

 

[Hollywood3]

August 18, 2021: Several Recruits Announced By MacEwan, and Rumours From Regina

There are four separate recruiting announcements on the MacEwan website. Others are reported at 49-sport. Here are the players, linked to their Elite Prospects career page:

Kobe Mohr - F - Red Deer College Kings (ACAC)
Loeden Schaufler - D - Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)
Ty Taylor - G - New Hampshire Wildcats (NCAA)
David Kope - F - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Mohr was at Red Deer College last year, but played no games due to Covid cancellations. In 2019-20 he played for Kamloops, Kelowna, and Moose Jaw of the WHL and Drumheller of the AJHL. He also once played for the Edmonton Oil Kings. In 265 WHL games, he was 35-66-101.

Schaufler played in the AJHL last year after two years in the WHL and two additional years split between the WHL and Junior A leagues.

Taylor played three seasons in the NCAA and was a 7th round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018.

Kope was previously with the Edmonton Oil Kings and spent last year in Kelowna. It was his best season stats-wise, going 6-9-15 in 16 games.

Previously announced recruits include Sean Comrie (D - Kelowna Rockets - WHL), Ryley Appelt (F - Kamloops Blazers - WHL), Tyler Smithies (F - Swift Current Broncos - WHL & Drayton Valley Thunder - AJHL), and James Porter (G - Vernon Vipers - BCHL).

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Team Page
➤ MacEwan: Griffins net another Oil Kings alum, signing talented forward Mohr
➤ MacEwan: Latest Griffins recruit Schaufler brings character, championship experience and solid blue-line play
➤ MacEwan: Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Taylor joining Griffins as a transfer from NCAA's UNH
➤ MacEwan: Griffins add proven WHL scorer Kope to the mix for 2021-22 season

There is nothing official from the Banjo-Cats, but four names are now listed at 49-sport.

Christian Reimer - D - Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
Donovan Buskey - G - Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)/Regina Pats (WHL)
Riley Krane - F - Dawson Creek (NMJHL) / Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Austin King-Cunnighman - D - Estevan Bruins (SJHL)

Reimer and Buskey are labelled as "not confirmed" by 49-sport. Reimer previously had one full season with Swift Current (WHL) and a partial season split between Portland (WHL) and Steinbach (MJHL). Buskey had a full season with the Spokane Chiefs (WHL) in 2017-18 followed by two seasons split between the WHL and BCHL.

Krane and King-Cunningham are labelled as "confirmed" by 49-sport. Krane has played all but 2 games in the last 3 years in the WHL, two with the Regina Pats and one with the Moose Jaw Warriors. King-Cunnngham is the only player of the four to be listed as a Cougar by Elite Prospects. He had an occasional cup of coffee in the WHL, but has spent most of his junior career with Estevan (SJHL).

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Team Page

 

[Hollywood3]

August 29, 2021: Bisons Confirm Pre-season Games

Across the CW, August news has come to a stand-still. I am hoping for a pre-Labour Day flood of information. At least we now have the Bisons' pre-season schedule:

Sept 11 Intrasquad Game
Sept 24 Manitoba at Regina
Sept 25 Manitoba at Saskatchewan
Oct 2 Manitoba at North Dakota
Oct 8 Regina at Manitoba (at Seven Oaks)
Oct 9 Regina at Manitoba

The only new game not already announced elsewhere is the Sept 25th game in Saskatown. I usually like to attend intrasquad games because they usually pass out a line-up list, so you can see everybody who is recruited, or walked-on, and who is not returning. Sometimes a recently departed player takes part to give each side enough players.

The game at UND, of course, may be a last-second cancellation due to the border situation.

The Bisons played an exhiition game against Regina at Seven Oaks a few years back. It is a nice place to watch a game. The seating is elevated above ice level. Everything is nice and new. They even have a decent snack bar!

Whatever happens, I just hope I can attend in person!

The other CW teams with schedules released are Alberta, Regina, and Trinity Western.

Links:
➤ Manitoba: Full Schedule
➤ Alberta: Full Schedule
➤ Regina: Full Schedule
➤ Trinity: Full Schedule

 

[Hollywood3]

September 8, 2021: T-irds, Monkeys, Mac announce more recruits in news trickle

With exhibition games starting Friday, I was expecting a lot of announcements. Some teams have, but others are holding off. Sask and MRU have yet to confirm their exhibition schedules and roster pages across the league are stuck in 2020-21. Here are the games posted by teams individually:

Sept 10 Red Deer College at Alberta
Sept 11 Alberta at Red Deer College

Sept 15 Calgary at SAIT
Sept 17 Mount Royal at Alberta
Sept 17 Trinity Western at Victoria
Sept 17 Simon Fraser at UBC
Sept 17 Calgary at Saskatchewan
Sept 18 Regina at Briercrest College
Sept 18 Alberta at Mount Royal
Sept 18 Calgary at Saskatchewan
Sept 18 Trinity Western at Vancouver Island

Sept 23 Regina at Saskatchewan
Sept 24 Calgary at Alberta
Sept 24 MacEwan at Mount Royal
Sept 24 Manitoba at Regina
Sept 25 Alberta at Calgary
Sept 25 Manitoba at Saskatchewan
Sept 25 Trinity Western at UBC
Sept 26 Mount Royal at MacEwan

Oct 1 MacEwan at Alberta
Oct 1 Vancouver Island at UBC
Oct 2 Alberta at MacEwan
Oct 2 Calgary at Mount Royal
Oct 2 Manitoba at North Dakota
Oct 2 Victoria at UBC

Oct 7 MacEwan at Calgary
Oct 8 Calgary at MacEwan
Oct 8 Regina at Manitoba
Oct 8 Saskatchewan at Alberta
Oct 8 Trinity Western at Simon Fraser
Oct 9 Calgary at MacEwan
Oct 9 Regina at Manitoba
Oct 9 Saskatchewan at Alberta
Oct 9 Captains Cup Seed #2 v Captains Cup Seed #1 (at UBC)

Oct 15 Red Deer College v Saskatchewan (at Wainright, AB)
Oct 16 Red Deer College v Saskatchewan (at Wainright, AB)

All teams, other than Saskatchewan, start their regular season on October 15th. With 9 teams, somebody has a bye every weekend.

The U of M has gone to Vaxx required for home games. So I won't be going in person until sanity prevails. The CWUAA is requiring a double-vaxx, one shot by September 9, 2021 and a second by October 17, 2021. No word on the 3rd, 4th, and subsequent shots. Also, an intra-squad game is scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

Links:
➤ Manitoba: GAME DAY
➤ Manitoba: Canada West adopts proof of COVID-19 vaccination policy

MacEwan has announced their last two recruits and here they are, linked to their Elite Prospects career page:

Hunter Donohoe - D - Vernon Vipers (BCJHL)
Hunter Lamb - F - Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL)

Donohoe is a 6'5" defenceman. After two seasons in the WHL he played the last two years back in Junior A. Lamb is from the Junior A ranks. Last year he was 10-15-25 in 16 games. In two prior seasons in Fort Mac and Lloydminster he was under a PPG.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Team Page
➤ MacEwan: Griffins complete recruiting class with Donohoe and Lamb as they kick-off training camp

After getting 7 recruits last year, the Monkeys added 8 more this year. Five banana-eating primates since they last played have signed pro contracts (Cole Sanford, Trevor Cox, Steven Owre, Chad Butcher, and Tyler Soy), and others are no doubt leaving as well. Here are the recruits:

Nick Schneider - G - Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL)
Wyatt McLeod - D - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)/Utah Grizzlies (ECHL)
Carter Wolski - D - Red Deer College (ACAC)
Brandon Cutler - F - Victoria Royals (WHL)
Eric Florchuk - F - Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Gary Haden - F - Victoria Royals (WHL)
Josh Prokop - F - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Matthew Wedman - F - Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL)

Schneider was signed by the Calgary Flames and played two seasons with Stockton (AHL) and Kansas City (ECHL). He never played last year.

On defence, McLeod played four seasons for the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) before splitting last season between Saskatoon (WHL) and Utah (ECHL). Wolski is the only non-WHLer in the recruiting class.

The five forwards all seem to have good credentials, all having WHL experience.

The Apes start their exhibition season on Friday and Saturday in a home-and-home series against the Red Deer College Kings.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Team Page
➤ Alberta: Bears Hockey welcomes eight recruits for 2021/22 season

The T-irds have been announcing recruits bit-by-bit, and here are two WHL defencemen.

Matthew Smith - D - Victoria Royals (WHL)
Matt Leduc - D - Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

They no doubt would have lost a lot of the players that got them to the nationals in 2020, just as it was called off for Covid.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: UBC Team Page
➤ UBC: 'Birds beef up blue line

 

[Hollywood3]

The Bisons deleted from their schedule the Oct 2nd game at UND. The UND schedule now contains a game on October 2nd against Bemidji State, also a frequent Bison opponent over the years.

 

[Hollywood3]

Sept 10-11: Weekend Preview: Monkeys and ACAC, BCIHL Drop the Puck

RED DEER COLLEGE KINGS (2019-20: 26-2-0, 2nd in ACAC, playoffs cancelled)
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (2019-20: 23-5-0, 1st in CW, 1-2 in playoffs)

Links:
➤ UofA: Men's Hockey Site
➤ UofA: Schedule & Results
➤ UofA: Roster Page
➤ UofA: History from Oct 13, 1979 - Oct 8, 1985
➤ LeagueStat: Live Stats (Friday)
➤ RDC: Men's Hockey Site
➤ ACAC: Schedule & Results
➤ ACAC: ACAC Live Stats (Saturday)

The puck is about to drop in Saudi Alberta tonight. Although we have had quite a summer of hockey, with the Stanley Cup dragging into 35c weather and Canada's Battling Broads grabbing some gold just a few days ago, it seems like an eternity since we have seen our scholars hit the ice. Friday in Edmontown, Saturday in Red Deer. Both games at 7:00 MT, 8:00 CT.

There is no TV or radio coverage being streamed, so hopefully the live stats links will work.

Neither team has posted a preview story. The Monkeys have at least updated their roster page. I see they have Taz Burman coming over from Lethbridge to be one of their four goaltenders. They have a 28-man roster, so I suspect a whole lot of taxi squad players are in that total.

I clicked on the new "history" feature on CW team websites (some of which are highly inaccurate), and that link shows five prior games between these teams, all wins for the Primates. The results (with RDC's season record in parenthesis) were:

1979: 6-2 (21-2-1)
1980: 5-2 (20-3-1)
1982: 10-6 (12-11-1)
1985: 10-1 (14-9-2)
1985: 7-6 (14-9-2)

Red Deer finished second, and were rewarded with a bye to the semi-finals. However, after their quarter-final round concluded, the ACAC had to cancel the remainder of the playoffs. The Evil Monkeys also had a bye, but were defeated by UBC in the CW semi-finals.

In recent years, Red Deer played Lethbridge in exhibition games. With the departure of the Pronghorns, the Kings have lined up Alberta and Saskatchewan this year. They are clearly fearless!

Sept 10 Vancouver Island at Victoria
Sept 11 Victoria at Vancouver Island
Sept 11 Okanagan at Simon Fraser

The Battle of the Island will hit the ice Friday in Victoria and Saturday in Nanaimo. There may be live stats available from the linked page, but no guarantees there.

Links:
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results

The Okanagan Lakers, the new expansion college transfer team, make their debut Saturday night when they visit the SFU Clown. Both of these teams have 2021-22 roster pages posted. The Lakers have 26 players, mostly from the Junior A ranks. Hopefully they will do well.

Links:
➤ Okanagan: Roster Page
➤ SFU: Roster Page

Reminder: The Bison intersquad game is Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

 

[Hollywood3]

Double Post

 

[MeHateHe]

Sept 10: Monkeys Hit the Win Column

RED DEER COLLEGE KINGS 1
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS 4

Links:
➤ UofA: Boxscore
➤ LeagueStat: Summary : Game Report

No game stories have been posted but we have the stats. Three Evil Monkeys had multiple points. Tyler Preziuso had 2 goals, and Dylan Plouffe and Eric Florchuk each had a goal and an assist. Nick Schneider got the win in net, stopping 11 of 12. Taz Burman stopped all 17 shots he faced in the last half of the game. Anik Weersink took the loss for the Kings, with 37 saves on 41 shots. It seems to have been a feisty affair. There were 3 misconducts, 6 roughing penalties (4 of which came in a pair) and a double-minor to RDC for kneeing.

The rematch goes Saturday night in Red Deer.

VANCOUVER ISLAND MARINERS >
VICTORIA VIKINGS >

Links:
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results

No reports anywhere on this one, and it's bedtime.

Ahem, it’s Red Deer [BOLD] Polytechnic. [/BOLD]

Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference

 

[Hollywood3]

Sept 10: Monkeys Hit the Win Column

RED DEER COLLEGE KINGS 1
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS 4

Links:
➤ UofA: Boxscore
➤ LeagueStat: Summary : Game Report

No game stories have been posted but we have the stats. Three Evil Monkeys had multiple points. Tyler Preziuso had 2 goals, and Dylan Plouffe and Eric Florchuk each had a goal and an assist. Nick Schneider got the win in net, stopping 11 of 12. Taz Burman stopped all 17 shots he faced in the last half of the game. Anik Weersink took the loss for the Kings, with 37 saves on 41 shots. It seems to have been a feisty affair. There were 3 misconducts, 6 roughing penalties (4 of which came in a pair) and a double-minor to RDC for kneeing.

The rematch goes Saturday night in Red Deer.

VANCOUVER ISLAND MARINERS 6
VICTORIA VIKINGS 3

Links:
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results
➤ Facebook: VIU Mariners Page

Nothing but the final score available for this one. The host UVic site is way behind. Their schedule page still has games from 2018 listed.

 

[Hollywood3]

Sept 11: Bison Brown v Gold Game

BROWN 4
GOLD 3
(in overtime)

I was able to get in and watch this! For actual games, I will need to wait for their Vaxx policy to change. One thing they lacked was numbered jerseys. It looks like they got new practice jerseys and are waiting to see who makes the team. Each side had two goaltenders and about 13 or 14 skaters. I was able to identify some returning players by the little numbers on the backs of their helmets. But that was very hit-and-miss. Hopefully, the team roster page will be updated once the coaches have thinned the Herd.

As for the game, it was split into two halves rather than three periods. Each goaltender got a half. The Gold side bombarded the Brown net with loads of shots in the first period, but only had a 1-0 lead. Each team had a penalty shot, awarded in lieu of two minutes in the box, both of which were saved. The starting goaltenders both looked sharp. The Gold side built a 3-1 lead at one point in the 2nd half, but the Brown side rallied and with an empty net and 0.7 seconds left forced overtime. They played about 3 minutes of 3-on-3 before Brown won. Although most goals were goal-mouth scrambles, the goaltender who surrendered 4 goals in half a game+ must be frustrated.

Saturday night has the Alberta at Red Deer re-match, the Victoria at Vancouver Island rematch, and the Okanagan Lakers make their franchise debut against Simon Fraser.

The Bisons' next action is in Banjoland Sept 24-25. Their next home games are against Regina on Oct 8-9. The game at North Dakota has been scrubbed.

 

[Hollywood3]

Ahem, it’s Red Deer [BOLD] Polytechnic. [/BOLD]

Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference

The link still says "college"!

 

[MeHateHe]

The link still says "college"!

Yeah. I know a little about branding and the important thing is consistency. This ain’t it.

Red Deer Polytechnic ready for new experiences during year ahead | Red Deer College

 

[Hollywood3]

Yeah. I know a little about branding and the important thing is consistency. This ain’t it.

Red Deer Polytechnic ready for new experiences during year ahead | Red Deer College

Sept 2nd is too late to announce a change. This is like CIS changing to USports after the football season had started.