2022-23 Manitoba Bisons/USports Hockey

Other Leagues and Sports
1

June 19, 2022

U-SPORTS/CIS BOOKMARKS

No CW schedule yet, but signings are starting to roll in. So heres the new links. Some are still in 2021-22.

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 : LeagueStat Daily
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/Results

Canada West Team Sites:
Alberta Golden Bears
Calgary Dinos
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
UPEI Panthers
St. Francis Xavier X-men
Saint Marys Huskies

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

OUA-East Team Sites:
Carleton Ravens
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:
Logan Lake Miners
Okanagan Lakers
Simon Fraser Athletics
Vancouver Island Mariners
Victoria Vikings

Online video/audio:
CanadaWest.tv - YareTV link
OUA YareTV link
AUS YareTV link
UMFM.com - some Bison home games
USports Nationals - with archive

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
CW LeagueStat
Bob Adams Archives - CIS hockey from 1995-96 to 2008-09
Wikia/Fandom - U Sports
... sub-links : University Cup
Wikia/Fandom - CWUAA
... sub-links : GPAC : WIAA : WCIAU
Wikia/Fandom - OUA/OUAA
... sub-links : QUAA : OSLC : OIAA : QOAA : CIAU Central
Wikia/Fandom - AUS/AUAA/AIAA/MIAA
Wikia/Fandom - ACAC
Wikia/Fandom - BCIHL
Wikia/Fandom - North American Championship
Wikia/Fandom - Universiade
Atlantic Canadian Hockey History

Media Sites/Blogs:
TSN USports Page
SportsNet USports Page
ChrisD.ca
CISblog.ca
Independent Sports News
Hockey Scene - AUS
Ryerson Rams Hockey Alumni
AcadiaAxemenHockey.com
RedmenHockey.com (McGill)
Hockey Blog in Canada (includes Manitoba)
The Manitoban (student paper)
The Varsity (Toronto student paper)
Game On Magazine
Stadium Journey
Livesport
Flashscore
Huskie Fan (Saskatchewan fan site)
49 Sport

Recruiting/Transactions:
Elite Prospects - USports Transactions
USports Letters of Intent Page
USports LOI Registry
49 Sport - 2022 Men‛s Hockey Recruits
49 Sport - 2022 Men‛s Hockey Departures

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2

June 20: Five Recruits

We anxiously await the CW hockey schedules, since other conferences and other sports within the CW have already done so. A few Bison recruits are rumoured and/or announced at the various sources, amid a smattering of news around USports hockey. Two players come from the Dub, two from Junior A, and one NCAA transfer. Only one has been announced on the official website.

RYAN GOTTFRIED - D - Seattle (WHL)

We have here a 6'4" 209 lbs defenceman from Winnipeg. He split his 4 year WHL career between Red Deer and Seattle. The various links would describe a hard-nosed player who played a significant role in leading his team to the WHL final.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Ryan Gottfried Career Stats
➤ WHL: Video
➤ Hockey Fights: Gottfried v Kuefler
➤ Seattle Thundebirds: T-Birds Acquire Ryan Gottfried From Red Deer

JONNY HOOKER - C - Prince George (WHL)

Here we have another Winnipeg boy coming home. He split his 5-year WHL career between Brandon and Prince George. In his final season he was team captain and in 64 games had a 17-29-29 stats line.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Jonny Hooker Career Stats
➤ Hockey Fights: Seven Videos
➤ PG Cougars: Jonny Hooker named 27th Captain in franchise history
➤ PG Cougars: Video
➤ YouTube: 2019-20 HIGHLIGHT REEL | Jonny Hooker
➤ Prince George Citizen: Hooker turns Cats into Giant slayers
➤ Our Sports Central: Cougars Announce 2021-22 Leadership Group

ROSS HAWRYLUK - G - Western Michigan (NCAA)

Goalies are now tall, aren‛t they? This one is 6'4". He‛s from Lloydminster and played junior for the Nipawin Hawks in the SJHL before a mid-season jump to the NCAA. I would imagine a battle in the crease with the returning Jeremy Link.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Ross Hawryluk Career Stats
➤ GoBisons.ca: Bisons men's hockey bolsters net presence, adding Ross Hawryluk
➤ SJHL: Ross Hawryluk, Nipawin Hawks (player profile)
➤ SJHL: Ross Hawryluk added to CJHL Prospects Game

ZAC PATRICK - D - Steinbach (MJHL)

He got in two seasons with the Kootenay Ice in the WHL before they moved to Winnipeg. That was followed by two seasons of very few games before settling into Steinbach last year in the MJHL. As a defenceman, he had 9-26-35 in 46 regular season games and then 12 points in 14 playoff games.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Zac Patrick Career Stats
➤ Game On: Zac Patrick Ready for a New Opportunity with the Steinbach Pistons
➤ Steinbach Pistons: Pistons Thank Graduating Player Zac Patrick
➤ Steinbach Pistons: Zac Patrick Commits to the University of Manitoba Bisons
➤ MJHL: Zac Patrick commits to University of Manitoba

JACKSON ARPIN - LW - Winkler (MJHL)

We have here a 6'2" 205 lbs grinding winger. He wore at "A" for the Winkler Flyers. He‛s from Rainy River, Ontario but came to Manitoba for his whole junior career. His Lake of the Woods/Rainy River High School team played in Minnesota, where he amassed 84 points in 49 games over two seasons. He had 54 points in 118 MJHL games.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Jackson Aprin Career Stats
➤ Pembina Valley Online: Under The Bucket With Winkler Flyers Forward Jackson Arpin
➤ Winkler Flyers: Flyers Assistant Captain Jackson Arpin Commits to University of Manitoba
➤ MJHL: Jackson Arpin commits to University of Manitoba

ELSEWHERE

The Mutts‛ coaching situation is not yet resolved. They have two stories at a fan site, nothing on their official site.

Links:
➤ Huskie Fan: Decision on a second season as Huskies' head coach yet to come
➤ Huskie Fan: Offseason preparation in motion for men's hockey staff

Last year‛s expansion teams have taken a substantial lead in official recruiting announcements. We start with the Mythical Mutants. They have announced six newcomers, two each from the WHL, AJHL, and NCAA. They are:

  • Ethan Strang (F - Grand Prairie - AJHL);
  • Ashton Abel (G - Boston U - NCAA);
  • Brandon Boyle (F- Okotoks - AJHL);
  • Carter Chorney (F - Medicine Hat - WHL);
  • Merritt Oszytko (F - RIT - NCAA); and
  • Neithan Salame (D - Regina - WHL).

Links:
➤ Macewan: Griffins add skill to their forward group with prolific Grande Prairie Storm goal scorer Strang
➤ Macewan: Following Taylor's successful NCAA transfer, Griffins land another high-level goalie in BU's Abel
➤ Macewan: Faceoff specialist, strong two-way forward Boyle joins Griffins out of AJHL Okotoks
➤ Macewan: Speedy, gritty Tigers winger Chorney returning home to play for the Griffins
➤ Macewan: Griffins add another key NCAA transfer as RIT's Oszytko returns home
➤ Macewan: Local product Salame returning home to help bolster left side of Griffins' defence

Holy Trinity has one story with eleven (11!) names:

  • Mikol Sartor (F - Estevan - SJHL);
  • Daine Dubois (F - Long Island U - NCAA);
  • Josiah Vanderhooft (F - Winnipeg Blues - MJHL);
  • Raphael Audet (G - Edmunston - MHL);
  • Boston Bird (F - Waywayseekappo - MJHL);
  • Mitchell Joss (F - Sherwood Park - AJHL);
  • Jesse Pomeroy (D - Niagara U. - NCAA);
  • Tanner Hopps (F - Long Island U. - NCAA);
  • Adam Oates (D - Drayton Valley - AJHL);
  • Nicksha Eric (D - Humboldt - SJHL); and
  • Jonathan Krahn (F - Melville - SJHL).

With just three teams reporting here, there are already 6 NCAA transfers. For TWU, no players are coming directly from the BCHL or the WHL.

Links:
➤ Go Spartans: Men's Hockey Recruits

3

June 22: CW's New Schedule Announced

The regular season begins on September 30th, with the Bisons on a bye week. The Bisons will also have the bye to close the 1st semester on December 2nd & 3rd.

Each team plays 14 weekend double-headers, for 28 regular season games. That means six opponents are played home and away, whilst two are played either at home or away. For the Bisons, they play Saskatchewan away only and MacEwan at home only.

The Bison home series are:
Oct 7-8 v UBC
Oct 28-29 v Mount Royal
Nov 11-12 v Calgary
Nov 18-19 v MacEwan
Jan 6-7 v Regina
Jan 27-28 v Trinity Western
Feb 10-11 v Alberta

Now comes the wait for non-conference schedules. Alberta jumped ahead of the pack with a lot of games announced with the CW schedule:

Sept 3 Mount Royal at Alberta
Sept 9 Calgary at Alberta
Sept 16 Alberta at Saskatchewan
Sept 17 Alberta at Saskatchewan
Sept 23 UBC at Alberta

Links:
➤ Canada West: Puck drops on new season September 30
➤ Canada West: Schedule
➤ Canada West: Canada West TV (available July 18th)
➤ Alberta: Defending CW champion Bears open 22/23 season on September 30th
➤ Calgary: 2022-23 hockey schedules announced
➤ MacEwan: Sept. 30 home opener vs. Regina kicks off a 28-game 2022-23 schedule for Griffins
➤ Mount Royal: MRU Hockey 2022-23 Schedule Released
➤ Saskatchewan: Huskies Drop the Puck on 2022-23 Season on September 30
➤ UBC: T-Birds Men's Hockey returns September 30

Meanwhile, Holy Trinity needs a new coach. Barret Kropf left to be the new general manager and U15 prep head coach at the Prairie Hockey Academy in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He had been at TWU since 2013.

Link:
➤ TWU: KROPF TO LEAVE SPARTANS MEN'S HOCKEY PROGRAM

4

June 24: Trinity Makes News

Anybody want to move out to British California for a coaching job? TWU has their recruitment posted. They have also got their schedule announcement, leaving just Regina and Manitoba as laggards.

Link:
➤ TWU: SPARTANS TO LAUNCH NEW ERA IN 2022-23
➤ TWU: Recruitment - Head Coach, Men's Hockey

5

June 25: New Looks

Red Deer College of the ACAC changed to Red Deer Poly near the advent of the 2021-22 season. However, they never changed their logo nor uniform. Now they have. I like the uniforms but the real-looking logo would have been my preference.

Link:
➤ RDP: Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics refreshes brand for 2022/2023 season
➤ YouTube: Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics | History and Brand Reveal
➤ Hockey Blog in Canada: Updating The Crown

Meanwhile the egregiously re-named Toronto Metropolitan University (although if the common abbreviation becomes "T-Met" rather than "TMU" I'd be happier) is keeping everybody guessing on their new look. Are they still the Rams?

The new university web address is "torontomu.ca". Yuck. When you click away to "athletics" it takes you to "ryersonrams.ca". So we need to wait.

Link:
➤ Ryerson: Men's Ice Hockey
➤ Toronto MU: University Website

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I like the updated logo incorporating mountains into a more minimal crown. Sharp.

7

June 26: Strength of Schedule Analysis

This year the CW teams will play two series against six conference opponents and one series against two conference opponents. Here are the match-ups which occur just once:

MacEwan at Manitoba
Manitoba at Sask
Sask at MacEwan
UBC at Alberta
Alberta v Calgary
Calgary at TWU
TWU at Regina
Regina at MRU
MRU at UBC

I find it odd that long-term rivals like the Evil Monkeys and Dinosaurs will play just the once.

I did a strength-of-schedule calculation based last year's standings. For each team, I removed them and ranked their opponents by their ranking from 1st to 8th. The lowest score is therefore 3 (i.e. you play the number 1 and 2 teams) and the highest score is 15 (i.e. you play the number 7 and 8 teams).

Last year's rankings were:
1 Alberta
2 UBC
3 MRU
4 Sask
5 Calgary
6 Regina
7 Manitoba
8 MacEwan
9 TWU

Adding it up and UBC hit the jackpot whilst Sask drew the short straw. Here's the numbers:

UBC 3
Alberta 5
MRU 7
Calgary 9
Regina 11
TWU 11
MacEwan 12
Manitoba 12
Sask 13

Of course, this year's standings are unlikely to be the same as last year's.

I am wondering if they put forward a multi-year plan for a schedule rotation. If so, over four seasons each team would have 7 series against each opponent. (Assuming no teams are added or deleted in the meantime.)

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June 29: Bisons Have One More Recruit

PARKER MALCHUK - D - Dauphin (MJHL)

I got word of one more Bison commitment from the USports' LOI update. Malchuk was the captain of the Dauphin Kings (MJHL champion) and was voted top defenceman in the MJHL in 2021-22. He previously played for Victoria and Saskatoon in the MJHL before coming back to the MJHL. In 2020-21 he played a very few games for Dauphin before the MJHL season was called, then went to New Brunswick to play three games before they also canned their season. He is only 5'10" and 174 lbs.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Parker Malchuk Career Stats
➤ WHL: Blades acquire Malchuk from Royals
➤ Dauphin Kings: Captain Malchuk joined by Dube and Cherepak
➤ Dauphin Kings: Malchuk leads on and off the ice
➤ Edmundston Blizzard: Two more players join the Blizzard
➤ Portage Online: Former Terrier excelling in leadership role with MJHL's best team

9

I prefer the more realistic crown. Best example of an old realistic logo is the UPEI Panthers:

10

July 2: Meanwhile, out in British California ...

There is a post on the SFU site which has a story from March accompanied by a recent picture. The link is posted and the picture is below. The picture is stated to be a "proposed schedule", which is not how teams typiclly phrase these things.

If accurate:

  • It would confirm that the BCIHL is going to be a 5-team league. The two teams previously announced to commence play in 2022-23 (Thompson Okanagan Pioneers and Fraser Valley Brigade) are being replaced by one (Logan Lake Miners). These are all called "independent transfer teams", a designation unique to B.C. The Okanagan Lakers (who started play in 2021-22) had players from Okanagan College's main Kelowna campus and UBC-Okanagan. The Pioneers were to have players from Thompson Rivers University, Okanagan College's smaller Kamloops campus, and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. Logan Lake is to include players from just Thompson Rivers and Nicola Valley. The Brigade was to be based in Abbotsford and Chilliwack with players to come from the University of the Fraser Valley, Columbia Bible College, Ashton College, Summit Pacific College, and CDI College. Clearly, the Pioneers have been replaced by the Miners. Whether the Brigade is still a possibility is TBA.

  • SFU would make a trip to Alaska Sept 24-25 to play one game against each of Alaska's NCAA teams. Each of those would make a return trip south for a weekend double-header later in the season. That makes six games against NCAA teams for SFU.

  • Exhbition games against Holy Trinity and UBC are a given. Whether this will continue to be part of the "Captain's Cup" series is TBA and, if so, whether or not VIU and Victoria would again be included.

Links:
➤ Simon Fraser: Simon Fraser University Hockey is set to embark on a pilot project that could see the program soar to new heights.

11

Six USports players have signed NHL deals to attend training camp:

Luke Richardson - G - Queen's Gaels - Tampa Bay Lightning
Alexis Gravel - G - U.Q.T.R. Patriotes - Seattle Kraken
Liam Hawel - F - St. F.X. X-Men - Columbus Blue Jackets
Riley Sawchuk - F - Mount Royal Cougars - Seattle Kraken
Noah Philp - F - Alberta Golden Bears - Edmonton Oilers
Ryan Roth - F - U.N.B. Reds - St. Louis Blues

Links:
➤ 49 Sport: 6 U SPORTS players called to NHL Development Camps
➤ U-Sports: Six U SPORTS players called to NHL Development Camps

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12

July 13, 2022: Toronto Metropolitan Narrows the Options

Toronto Metropolitan is down to 3 names and 6 mascots. It seems they were dedicated to something which will be stale within a couple of years. Yuck!

  1. The Bold/TMU Bold
  2. The Meteors/TMU Meteors/Met Meteors
  3. The Towers/TMU Towers/Metropolitan Towers

Funny they are trying out abbreviated university names. (I like T-Met myself.)

The potential mascots are also odd:

  1. Bee
  2. Caribou
  3. Meteor
  4. Moose
  5. Squirrel
  6. Tower

So Squirrels made the list? Must be hoping for UNB to pay a visit.

I wonder if the people who gave us "USports" (or "U Sports", "U-Sports", or "USPORTS") instead of "CIS" were involved in this?

Links:
➤ Toronto MU: Provide input on the shortlisted options for TMU mascot and team name

13

From the list of options, I'd probably go with the name Towers and a tower mascot.

But I wonder if they ever considered simply the name "Metropolitans"?

What's your preference?

14

From the three options, I find "Towers" to be the least cringeworthy. I would have preferred "Metropolitans" if the university had a different name. I would prefer that they stuck with "Rams" since they have a relatively new logo and merch.

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15

July 19: CWTV Passes Available

I usually just watch hockey and football, but I will still go for the all-access.

ALL-ACCESS PASS - all sports, regular season nd playoffs
Early bird price (July 18-Aug. 1) - $89.99
Full price (Aug. 2) - $99.99

SPORT PASS - REGULAR SEASON (available for football, soccer, hockey, volleyball, and basketball)
Early bird (July 18-Aug. 1) - $34.99
Full price (Aug. 2) - $39.99

SINGLE EVENT PASS: $8.99

2022-23 POSTSEASON: $19.99

Links:
➤ Canada West: Canada West TV passes now on sale

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16

July 21: Bisons Add Defenceman

EVAN TOTH - D - Vancouver (WHL)

The Bisons have landed yet another defenceman, local boy Evan Toth. He's a Manitoba prototype d-man at 6'2" 205 lbs. He played for the Calgary Hitmen until being dealt to the Vancouver Giants early in 2021-22. This is the 4th blueliner announced as recruited so far, two each from the WHL and MJHL. (Along with two forwards and a goaltender.) I would be expecting four returnees on defence. We'll have to wait and see.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Evan Toth Career Stats
➤ WHL: Hitmen deal defenceman Toth to Giants
➤ Dub Network: All you need to know about Evan Toth
➤ Hockey Fights: October 10, 2021: Jordan Borysiuk v Evan Toth
➤ Calgary Hitmen: Hitmen Trade Defenceman Evan Toth To The Vancouver Giants
➤ Vancouver Giants: TRADE: Giants Acquire 2002-Born Defenceman Evan Toth From Calgary
➤ Our Sports Central: Giants Acquire 2002-Born Defenceman Evan Toth from Calgary
➤ Twitter: @umbisons

17

July 23: New Bumpkin Cup, OUA Story

Starting this coming season, games between the Banjo-Mutts and Banjo-Cats will be part of a multi-sport challenge between their universities. This is like the Duckworth Challenge started years ago as a challenge from the University of Winnipeg to the University of Manitoba. Unlike the Duckworth Challenge (where one game in each sport is designated as the challenge game), every Battle of the Bumpkins will count with each sport being worth a point. Hopefully the winner gets free moonshine, a concert featuring Saskatchewan's finest banjo and kazoo players, and indoor plumbing in at least 50% of school buildings within 5 years.

Links:
➤ U of R: Friends. Rivals. Two Universities. One Title.
➤ U of S: Huskies, Cougars/Rams team up for U-Prairie Challenge
➤ YouTube: U Prairie Challenge
➤ U of S: Huskies, Cougars/Rams team up for U-Prairie Challenge
➤ Huskie Fan: Huskies, U of R to commence inaugural U-Prairie Cup Challenge
➤ 980 CJME: U of R, U of S teams set to battle for bragging rights

The title of the story at 49 Sport covers its theme. The five dates cited include the derbies in Kingston, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, the opening game at Brock's new arena, and the season finale. The best story of those IMO is the new building in St. Catharines. Brock University donated land and got a building in return.

Links:

➤ 49 Sport: 5 must-watch days of the 2022-23 OUA MHKY season
➤ YouTube: Canada Games Park | Niagara 2022
➤ Brock U: Canada Games Park

18

July 28: Bisons Recruit Another Goaltender

SIMON HARKNESS - G - Steinbach (MJHL)

Harkness is another tall goaltender, at 6'3". He's a Calgary native who has played in Alberta, B.C., and Ontario before moving to Manitoba in time for the abbreviated 2020-21 season. In 2021-22 he led Steinbach to the upper echelons of the MJHL and eventually a game 7 loss to Dauphin in the final. His complete MJHL record is 15-8-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .906 S%. Back in February there was a story from Steinbach (linked) about him commiting to Alvernia University, a new program making its NCAA3 debut in 2022-23.

This gives the Bisons a total of eight announced recruits, 4 defencemen, 2 forwards, and 2 goaltenders. As usual, until we see who is returning and who is not, we cannot really evaluate the new crop.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Simon Harkness Career Stats
➤ MJHL: Simon Harkness commits to University of Manitoba
➤ Twitter: July 28th @umbisons
➤ YouTube: Simon Harkness - Solid Playoff Wins
➤ YouTube: Simon Harkness - 1st Star Playoff Performance
➤ YouTube: Simon Harkness - Strong Playoff Performance
➤ Steinbach Pistons: Pistons Thank Graduating Player Simon Harkness
➤ Steinbach Pistons: Harkness Commits to Alvernia University

19

August 1: A Smattering of Stories

The Bisons have a belated scheduling announcement, with no comment on exhibition games. It also notes that the Wayne Fleming Arena is undergoing repairs. The Winnipeg Ice and both men's and women's Bison squads will not be able to use it until November. The Ice will play two home exhibition games at The Rink Training Centre before a lengthy road trip. Both Bison teams will play two regular season series there as well. The Rink is located barely outside official southwest city limits in the R.M. of MacDonald, technically not in Oak Bluff (and, despite what the schedule says, definitely not in Oakbank which is just east of the city). It is the home of the Blues and the Freeze of the MJHL. It holds just 700 spectators.

Links:
➤ UofM: Men's hockey begin home schedule October 7-8 weekend
➤ The Rink: Website

Holy Trinity has had three players turn pro since last season, and has a new coach. Logan Casavant has signed with Soderhamn Ljusne HC (Sweden's 2nd tier), Brayden Brown with the Coventry Blaze(EIHL), and Kylor Wall with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL).

Behind the bench, Ben Walter will be the Spartans' new coach. He played in the AHL and a lot of European leagues. He wa salso a finalist for the Hobey Baker award. His coaching resume includes a lot of skills development work. He was with the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) last year and runs his own training program as well.

Links:
➤ Trinity: CASAVANT SIGNS WITH S?DERHAMN LJUSNE HC
➤ Trinity: BEN WALTER NAMED TWU MEN?S HOCKEY HEAD COACH

A former Bluegar has an NHL job now. Connor Rankin has been hired as the Calgary Flames' video analyst.

Links:
➤ MRU: From on ice to off ice - Rankin's jump to the NHL

One hockey player and one coach are being honoured with U of C Hall of Fame inductions.

The CW was a great cultivating ground for coaches back in the day. Father David Bauer (UBC), Clare Drake (Alberta), Dave King (Sask), Mike Babcock (Lethbridge), Wayne Fleming and Barry Trotz (Manitoba) join Kingston as names of great renown.

Links:
➤ UofC: Dinos announce 2022 Hall of Fame Class

Dr. Randy Gregg played for the Evil Monkeys, went on to play for the 1980 Olympic Team, and then the Edmonton Greasers. He is now being inducted into the CW Hall of Fame. The link also includes a video.

[quote]HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Five-time Stanley Cup champion
  • Four-time CWUAA champion
  • Two-time CIAU champion
  • Olympic team captain
  • Eponym of U SPORTS excellence award[/quote]

Links:
➤ CW: Dr. Randy Gregg (MHKY | Student-athlete)

20

August 20: (Almost) No News Is ... Good News?

The pace of off-season announcements usually picks up as August rolls on. We are just two weeks away from exhibition games. This year, the Bisons have had just two official announcements, a recruiting announcement (on May 3rd) and a belated schedule release without non-conference games on (on July 29th). There hasn't been a lot of news elsewhere, either. MacEwan and Trinity Western had a lot of recruiting news (posted here on June 20th), and then nothing conference-wide. In the links, MacEwan's announcement of a new coach and Sask's hockey camp are the only stories from around the CW.

The unofficial sources (Elite Prospects, USports Letters of Intent Registry, and 49 Sports) have had some announcements. However, it seems there is more news across the country about departures to pro leagues. It would seem teams are waiting to make mass recruiting announcements, just before they update roster pages.

So, here's a summary of the Bison roster, with links to each player's Elite Prospects page. The large question is always just how many of those eligible to return will actually do so.

Goaltenders:

Eligible to return:
1 Jeremy Link (South Blues MJHL)
30 Zach Bennett (West Kelowna BCHL)
35 Brett Murphy (Dryden SIJHL)

Recruits:
Ross Hawryluk (Western Michigan NCAA)
Simon Harkness (Steinbach MJHL)

The Bisons always keep three goaltenders, so I have my doubts that all eligible returnees will be back. Link was the #3 goaltender in 2020, 2021 was cancelled, and he was the #2 goaltender in 2022 until Liam Hughes turned pro during the season. (He's in the EIHL now.) Link has managed to have stats comparable to those ahead on the depth chart. Last year his numbers were 3-8-1, 3.60 GAA, .893 S%, while Hughes was 3-4-0, 3.73 GAA, .891 S%. Murphy played just once, a 3-2 win over Sask where he played quite well. Bennett came in after Hughes' departure and did not see game action. Whatever happens, it looks like there will be a battle for the #1 spot. Oddly, the Bisons' best success with goaltenders has been from the Junior A ranks. For example, Steve Christie and Byron Spriggs.

Defence:

Eligible to return:
2 Samuel Stewart (Tri-City/Edmonton WHL)
5 Liam Schioler (Regina WHL)
6 Mitchell Dyck (Winkler MJHL)
16 Chase Hartje (Moose Jaw/ICE WHL)
25 Garrett Sambrook (Swift Current WHL)

Graduated:
4 Tyler Anderson (St. Cloud State NCAA)
27 Carter Doerksen (Nipawin Hawks SJHL)

Recruits:
Ryan Gottfried (Seattle WHL)
Zac Patrick (Steinbach MJHL)
Parker Malchuk (Dauphin MJHL)
Evan Toth (Vancouver WHL)

Last year rookie Reece Harsch left late in the season to join the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. He also played some in the ECHL and is now signed to play in the EIHL. The departing Anderson and Doerksen were usually 3rd pair or scratches. Of the returnees, Dyck is the only "veteran", in his 3rd year last year. I thought he may be graduated now. The rest of the possible returnees were either 1st or 2nd year players last year. On paper, this should be the strength of the team.

Forwards:

Eligible to return:
9 Dylan Thiessen (Mercyhurst NCAA)
10 Devon Skoleski (Prince Albert WHL/South Blues MJHL)
14 Geordie Keane (South Blues MJHL)
15 Ben Dalke (Virden MJHL)
17 Colton Veloso (Kootenay WHL/Jacksonville ECHL)
19 Nathan Halvorsen (Selkirk MJHL)
20 Tony Apetagon (OCN/Blues MJHL)
21 Noah Basarab (Johnstown NAHL)
22 Hayden Ostir (Swift Current WHL)
23 Brett Davis (Manitoba AHL)
24 Duncan Pierce (Regina/Brandon WHL)
26 Linden McCorrister (Brandon WHL)
28 Codey Behun (Steinbach MJHL)
29 Michael King (Spokane WHL)

Graduated:
11 Ryan Carlson (Wisconsin-Superior NCAA)
12 Keaton Jameson (Swan Valley MJHL)

Recruits:
Jonny Hooker (Prince George WHL)
Jackson Arpin (Winkler MJHL)

Carlson and Jameson were both off to the ECHL after the season. Keane and Veloso may also be graduated. Last year the Bisons had two point-per-game+ players - Skoleski and Davis. Jameson and Veloso were close. The lack of snipers hurt the team in many games. The recruits are mostly known for their size, although Hooker scored 17 goals in the WHL. They also have a handful of 1st/2nd year returnees with WHL backgrounds who never really broke out a year ago. There were a lot of games lost up front due to Covid. Overall scoring seemed to be up in the CW last year. The Bisons scored 2.9 goals per game yet were 7th in the conference.


Links:
➤ MacEwan: Dailey named interim head coach as Ringrose takes parental leave
➤ Saskatchewan: Huskie Hockey Camps Ready to Hit the Ice on August 15

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