Sept 29: BISONS PICK UP A SPLIT
MANITOBA BISONS 5
CALGARY DINOSAURS 3
Links:
LeagueStat: [Summary] : [Report]
CW Hockey Tech: [Summary] : [Report] : [Text]
Boxscores: [US/CIS] : [CW] : [Coach's View] : [UofM]
Stories: [UofC] : [rp @CW] : [rp @UM]
Whenever a team makes a trip to the Town of Bedrock, a split is considered a decent weekend. So that aspect of the weekend should make Bison fans very happy.
However, was this a case of capitalizing on a shaky goaltender? Matthew Greenfield stopped just 11 of 15 shots before an empty-netter closed the scoring.
Oddly, this was the night of the players whose last name starts with "S". Skoleski, Skrumeda, and Stovin led the Bisons to a 3-0 lead by the 2nd period. Sydora started in place of Spriggs in goal, and stopped 32 of 35 to get the "W". Sheen (with two) and Shearer scored for the Dinos, and Stovin's empty-netter closed the scoring. The only non-S contribution was from Brooks, whose 3rd period goal gave the Bisons a 4-2 lead which lasted until the end of the game.
Stovin and Skoleski also scored on Friday night. I'd like to see them focus on Stovin's offensive side this year.
The Bison scratches were skaters Kamerin Nault, Jonah Wasylak, and Thomas Lenchyshyn, and goaltenders Justin Paulic and Tyler Brown (who's not expected to play much, if at all, this year). It looks like they lined up like this:
Defence:
25 Skrumeda 27 Doerksen
3 Christensen 2 Henry
23 Dwyer 11 Dyck
Forwards:
12 Zajak 15 Jameson 21 Brooks
9 Franko 28 Stovin 8 Bolton
26 Leblanc 10 Skoleski 22 Leipsic
18 Armour 16 Martin 14 Freeman
When PP and PK were out there a fair bit, the 4th line and Leblanc had very little ice time.
Next weekend the Bisons are off to the Excited States (North Dakota and Omaha to be precise), before opening at home against the Alberta Evil Monkeys on October 12th and 13th. The Dinos, meanwhile, will muse over their pending extinction whilst relaxing with a bye week.
OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD
REGINA COUGARS 2
MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS 3
(In overtime).
Links:
LeagueStat: [Summary] : [CWHT Summary]
Boxscores: [US/CIS] : [CW]
Stories: [MRU] : [rp @CW] : [UofR]
Indeed, it is hard to sweep a team. The Bluegars had it all their way on Friday night but this matinee was a lot tougher. Last season, the Banjo Cats seemed to throw in the towel once the losses were piling up. Let's see how they handle this season. They acquired some better players but are still at least a notch behind most CW teams. In this one, pair of PP goals kept Regina in it. Riley Morris stopped 19 of 21 to get the win, and Dawson MacAuley stopped 33 of 36 to suffer defeat. 3rd year defenceman Jesse Lees scored the OT winner, his 2nd point of the night.
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS 3
LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS 2
Links:
LeagueStat: [Summary] : [CWHT Summary]
Boxscores: [US/CIS] : [CW]
Stories: [UofL] : [rp @CW] : [UBC]
It is never easy to sweep on the road, even in Lethbridge. So the T-irds must be thrilled with the sweep. In an interesting stat, over the series the Hørny Ønes were 1-for-11 on the power play and UBC was 5-for-10. Both sides switched goaltenders, giving a rookie his debut. Patrick Dea stopped 29 of 31 for the win, and Taz Burman stopped 45 of 48 at the other end. All season long we will be contemplating what a massive upset it would be to see Lethbridge upset a conference champion when they host the U-Cup.
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES 5
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS 2
Links:
LeagueStat: [Summary] : [CWHT Summary]
Boxscores: [US/CIS] : [CW]
Stories: [UofA*] : [rp @CW*] : [rp @UofS*]
It was funny that every other team in the CW had two games under their belts before these two teams even stepped on the ice for game 1. This was a special night for the Apes. As defending conference and national champions they had banners to raise. They were scratching their armpit with one hand whilst holding a banana in the other, taking an occasional break to swing from the other banners at the Clare Drake Arena.
The celebratory mood seemed to lift the Monkeys early on, as they mounted a 2-0 lead with goals in the opening minute of each of the 1st and 2nd periods. From there it was all downhill, as five different Mutts helped put the boots to the Primates. In net, 2nd year Taran Kozun answered the call with 30 saves on 32 shots for the win. Meanwhile, Brendan Burke took the loss with 27 saves on 32 shots.
Of note, the Monkeys dressed just 19 players due to a rash of injuries.
OUT EAST
Atlantic (regular season)
Sep 29
Saint Mary's 5 St. F.X. 4 (so)
Sep 29
New Brunswick 5 Moncton 4
Ontario (exhibition games)
Sep 29
Brampton Beast (ECHL) 3 Toronto 4 : [
UofT Story]
Sep 29
Guelph 2 Windsor 5 : [
UofW S&R]
Sep 29
Laurentian 2 Waterloo 4 : [
UofW S&R]
Sep 29
Nipissing 1 Lakehead 6 : [
LU Story]
Sep 29
Queen's 5 Western Ontario 3 : [
UWO S&R]
Sep 29
R.M.C. 3 Concordia 6 : [
LS]
Links:
• [US/CIS S&R]
• [OUA S&R]
• [AUS S&R]
* indicates link not active as I post
NEXT UP
Sep 30 Saskatchewan at Alberta
Sep 30 Laurier at Brampton Beast (ECHL)
Oct 03 Toronto at York
Oct 03 Waterloo at Ryerson
Oct 03 Western Ontario at Windsor
Oct 04 Western Ontario at Waterloo
Oct 04 Concordia at R.M.C.
Oct 05 Saint Mary's at Dalhousie
Oct 05 St. F.X. at Moncton
Oct 05 Queen's at McGill
Oct 05 Laurier at Windsor
Oct 05 U.O.I.T. at Laurentian
Non-conference CW Games
Oct 06 Alberta at Denver (NCAA)
Oct 06 Lethbridge at Western Michigan (NCAA)
Oct 06 Manitoba at North Dakota (NCAA)
Oct 06 Mount Royal at Minnesota State (NCAA)
Oct 07 Alberta at Air Force (NCAA)
Oct 07 Lethbridge at Ferris State (NCAA)
Oct 07 Manitoba at Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA)
Oct 07 Mount Royal at St. Cloud State (NCAA)