2024-25 Manitoba Bisons/USports Hockey

Thus far there are no official announcement at GoBisons.ca. However, Elite Prospects lists three new Bisons, all with WHL experience. There are not many other recruits in the CW. In fact, there are more announcements of players departing for pro careers thus far. Here we go!

DEXTER WHITTLE - D - Everett (WHL)

Whittle is just 5’ 9" and is one of two Virden boys recruited to the roster. As a bonus, he shoots right. He is unfortunately known for being on the receiving end of a vicious hit-from-behind which cost him most of last season. He played just two games after a lengthy hospital stay. His assailant received a 25-game suspension. There are several linked stories and videos of the incident.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Dexter Whittle Career Stats
➤ CHL.ca: 2023-24 Player Profile
➤ Brandon Sun: WHL NOTEBOOK: Dexter Whittle makes his way back
➤ BVM Sports: 2023-24 Player Profile
➤ Hockey Unplugged: Player suspended 25 games after putting opponent in hospital for 3 days with dirty hit
➤ Hockey Feed: WHL forward suspended 25 games for hit that sends opponent to hospital
➤ Victoria News: Victoria Royals forward suspended 25 games for hockey hit from behind
➤ Empire Advance: Whittle has gone from Wheat Kings fan to foe
➤ YouTube: Edwards hit on Whittle - Tough Call Breakdown
➤ YouTube: Alex Edwards drives Dexter Whittle into the glass

GRADY LANE - F - Victoria (WHL)/Virden (MJHL)

Lane played three seasons for the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL, and wore an “A” in his final season there. He then split his overage season between the Victoria Royals in the Dub, and his hometown Virden Oil Capitals in the MJHL. He is a 6’ 2", 192 lbs winger, shoots left, and apparently likes to scrap. The offensive numbers in the WHL aren’t much (137 GP, 8-15-23, 250 PIMS), but his junior denouement in the MJHL was better (41 GP, 14-16-30, 155 PIMS). The Bison shopping list has two big items up front: scoring and grit. Lane appears to cover the latter fairly well.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Grady Lane Career Stats
➤ Empire Advance: Lane excited to play for WHL’s Royals
➤ Empire Advance: [ Lane helps hometown team in many ways ](http://Lane helps hometown team in many ways)
➤ CHL.ca: Player Profile
➤ RoyalsFan.ca: Grady Lane, Hockey’s Swiss Army Knife
➤ YouTube Fights: March 19, 2023 : [
➤ Facebook Video: [url=Redirecting...] rady Lane (03) puts home the nice feed from Braeden Lewis (03) ](https://youtu.be/g95d72G5XEM?si=cg5Exmlox1jVnTHF April 14, 2021 [/url)
➤ BVM Sports: Royals Acquire Grady Lane in exchange for an 8th Round Pick

CADE ZAPLITNY - F - Everett (WHL)

Zaplitny is a Winnipeg boy, coming home from the west coast. He is 6’ 1" and 190 lbs and shoots left. After splitting 2021-22 between the Winnipeg Blues and Everett Silvertips, he then played two full seasons in Everett with decent enough numbers (101 GP, 23-22-45, 92 PIMS). So a bit of scoring and a bit of grit.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Cade Zaplitny Career Stats
➤ CHL.ca: 2023-24 Player Profile: Cade Zaplitny
➤ Winnipeg Blues: CADEN ZAPLITNY STAYING WITH SILVERTIPS IN WHL
➤ Our Sports Central: 2023-24 Player Profile: Cade Zaplitny

Hollywood · May 4, 2024, 8:04am

May 4, 2024: One More WHL Recruit

I checked the LOI Registry and found that Bison Hockey has four names, the three from the prior post and one more. Here’s the details.

SKYLER BRUCE - RW - Vancouver/Edmonton (WHL)

Bruce is 5’ 10" and 168 lbs with a track record of goal-scoring prowess. I thought I remembered the name from Team Manitoba at the NAHC (the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship), but the tournament was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 when he would have been eligible. (Bruce is generally a Metis surname in Manitoba.) So this is not the player I was thinking of.

After partial seasons split between AAA and the Kootenay/Winnipeg Ice, he played a full season for the Winnipeg Ice in 2021-22 (68 GP, 16-21-37). He then split 2022-23 between the Ice and Vancouver Giants (63 GP, 15-31-46) and 2023-24 between the Giants and Edmonton Oil Kings (43GP, 15-24-39). His AAA stats were always better than a point per game, even better than two points per game on occasion. Another goal-scorer or three and the Bisons could be on their way in 2024-25!

This signing is not confirmed at Elite Prospects. No recruiting announcements have been released by the Bisons at GoBisons.ca.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Skyler Bruce Career Stats
➤ USports: Letter of Intent
➤ CHL.ca: Oil Kings acquire forward Skyler Bruce from Vancouver
➤ CHL.ca: Skyler Bruce Player Profile
➤ BVM Sports: Oil Kings acquire forward Skyler Bruce from Vancouver
➤ Winnipeg Free Press: Ice forward has the magic touch - Skyler Bruce is on the small side, but he posts big numbers
➤ YouTube: WHL Hat-Tricks – Skyler Bruce

Hollywood · May 10, 2024, 4:24am

May 9, 2024: Teams Are Posting Stories

Although some teams have posted recruitment announcements (linked below) Elite Prospects has the most consistent early news across websites. Here are the links for all teams (some have yet to add a link for 2024-25.).

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (0)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (0)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (1)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (0)

The Bisons have started updating their website with recruiting announcements. So far, nothing anywhere about schedules. The two stories cover the four players previously announced in this thread.

Links:
➤ GoBisons.ca: Men’s hockey announce commitment of local standouts Cade Zaplitny, Grady Lane and Dexter Whittle
➤ GoBisons.ca: Local standout Skyler Bruce announced as newest men’s hockey commit

The Family Guys lead the league in posted stories, with four. All about their recruits, with a heavy local Junior A flavour.

Links:
➤ MacEwan: AJHL scoring champion, Lloydminster Bobcats captain Cabana joining Griffins in 2024-25
➤ MacEwan: AJHL all-star defenceman, Canmore Eagles captain Tallman joining Griffins in 2024-25
➤ MacEwan: Veteran goaltender Epp returns home to join Griffins for final season of eligibility
➤ MacEwan: Eastman returns home to join Griffins after capping junior career with prolific scoring season in P.E.I.

The Banjo-Cats have just one story, but have four recruits.

Links:
➤ Regina: Men’s hockey signs defenceman Chase Friedt-Mohr

Holy Trinity has one recruiting announcement and a fund-raising announcement.

Links:
➤ TWU: Complete Champion Challenge Set for May 25th
➤ TWU: Men’s Hockey New Recruit - Sammy May

The Banjo-Mutts have no recruiting announcements, but they do have a unique ticket program. In addition to the usual types of perks, they also offer discounts on CFL tickets to watch the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Links:
➤ Saskatchewan: Ticketing Details 2024-25

Hollywood · May 15, 2024, 5:14pm

May 15, 2024: Another Pair of WHL Recruits

One more name is on the LOI Registry and at Elite Prospects, while one more is LOI only for now. Neither has a story at GoBisons.ca right now.

DAWSON PASTERNAK - F - Victoria (WHL)

Here we have another small forward at 5’9" and 152 lbs. But he can really score, doing better than a PPG in Victoria in the WHL. He started his junior career in the USHL before moving west with Portland then Brandon in the WHL. There are linked stories about each phase. He had an injury a couple years back which hampered his numbers. Reliable goal scoring was IMO the #1 recruiting goal this year, and he certainly could address that.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Dawson Pasternak Career Stats
➤ USports: Letter of Intent
➤The Hockey News: Victoria Royals Dawson Pasternak Thriving In Final WHL Season (with video featuring a Tiger Williams celly)
➤ Winnipeg Free Press: Pasternak a steal of a deal
➤ CHL.ca: Dawson Pasternak Leaves USHL, To Play For Portland In 2021-22
➤ CHL.ca: Brandon Sun: Pasternak Finally Returns to Manitoba
➤ CHL.ca: Royals Acquire Dawson Pasternak From Wheat Kings
➤ Victoria Times Colonist: Dawson Pasternak leads Victoria Royals past Rockets

BRADEN HOLT - G - Victoria (WHL)

This signing is on the LOI but not yet at Elite Prospects. I am not sure which goaltenders are returning this year. However, last year’s goaltending was roughly league average. (The only part of the roster to do so.) Holt is from Bozeman, Montana and entered the WHL with Everett before a trade to Victoria. His cumulative stats were 3.39 GAA, .893 S%, and a 72-51-12 record. The linked stories (and others) have praised his efforts. So I’m guessing that the Bisons will have solid goaltending.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Braden Holt Career Stats
➤ USports: Letter of Intent
➤ The Hockey Writers: Braden Holt – 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
➤ NHL.com: Braden Holt G
➤ CHL.ca: Royals Roundup – Episode #11 ft. Braden Holt & Nate Misskey
➤ YouTube: NHL Draft Highlight Reel: Braden Holt
➤ YouTube: 2023-24 Season Preview Interview - Braden Holt
➤ CHL.ca: Royals goaltender Braden Holt named WHL Goaltender of the Week
➤ TSN.ca: WHL roundup: Holt holds off Blazers as Royals post win
➤ Victoria Times Colonist: Royals’ new crease acquisition Braden Holt records shutout in win over Giants

Hollywood · May 20, 2024, 5:59pm

May 20, 2024: Updating News with a Trickle of Stories

There are not a lot of newer postings around the CW. The Bisons have posted a story about the recruitment of Dawson Pasternak (announced above). Coach Burnett sings his praises and they emphasize his 72 points in 62 WHL games.

Links:
➤ GoBisons.ca: Victoria Royals Team MVP, top scorer Dawson Pasternak commits to Bisons hockey

The T-irds’ first story of the season is a recruiting announcement. They have landed Carson Latimer, a 4th round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators from 2021. They tout his 122 points in 178 WHL games.

Links:
➤ UBC: Carson Latimer adds big offensive weapon to Canada West champion T-Birds

More players have been added at the Elite Prospects pages. (Insert usual warning here that EP does not necessarily have all announcements, such as with UBC.)

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (0)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (5)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (0)

We also have to send a nod to the news from the AUS about the departure of former Portage Collegiate, Flin Flon Bombers, and OCN Blizzard coach Gardiner MacDougall from the UNB Red Squirrels to the Moncton Wildcats.

Links:
➤ AUS: MacDougall retires from REDS
➤ UNB: MacDougall Retires From REDS

Hollywood · May 28, 2024, 4:32pm

May 28, 2024: More Stories Posted Across the CW

The Bisons have issued their press release on the commitment of goaltender Braden Holt. In the last week I have seen no new announcements at Elite Prospects and the Letter of Intent page has not been updated since May 21, 2024. (Not every recruited player registers a Letter of Intent.) They still have six recruits listed at Elite Prospects. No team has posted a 2024-25 roster page on their website yet.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (6)
➤ GoBisons.ca: Men’s hockey announce commitment of veteran WHL goalie Braden Holt

The Family Guys have added a hat-trick of stories. Two of those about new recruits, one about a grad heading to Germany’s 2nd tier of pro hockey. They continue to have five recruits listed at Elite Prospects.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (5)
➤ MacEwan: Dependable defensive defenceman Haynes brings 163 games of WHL experience to the Griffins
➤ MacEwan: Taupert realizes a dream, signing pro contract to play for Lausitzer Füchse in DEL 2
➤ MacEwan: Griffins solidify goaltending position with two-time Centennial Cup champ Barwick

The Evil Monkeys have no stories about recruits yet. The headline on the story is wrong. Hockey player Alex Thacker was voted rookie of the year, not athlete of the year. Still no recruitment stories. However, they still have the two announcements at Elite Prospects: goaltender Tyler Palmer from the Everett Silvertips (WHL) and centre Vincent Lamanna from Fort McMurray (AJHL), where he spent his overage season after also playing for Everett in prior seasons.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2)
➤ Alberta: Thacker named UofA Male Athlete of the Year

Hollywood · June 2, 2024, 6:48am

June 1, 2024: News Has Slowed

As we enter a new month, the early off-season activity from May has slowed, albeit to somewhat normal levels for this time of year.

Regarding recruitment, the main sources are Elite Prospects and the USports Letters of Intent page. At Elite Prospects there was a steady stream of additions across USports until May 17th. After that, there have been just seven USports transactions, and four of those were departures. The former link to the USports Letters of Intent page is now a 404. Search engines do not disclose a new link for that page. The last update I saw for it was on May 21st.

The MJHL has a linked recruitment page. A lot of players have gone to the NCAA or various other leagues. I suspect that the Bisons have a lot of yet unannounced recruits from the MJHL and other Junior A leagues. Most students will have by now completed their registrations for the 2024-25 academic year, perhaps subject to a pending fee payment.

Coach Gord Burnett gave a talk at the MJHL’s prospects camp. So I assume that he was talking to players for this year and down the road.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transactions
➤ USports: Former Letter of Intent Page
➤ Instagram: MJHL Hockey IG Post May 31st
➤ MJHL: 2024 Prospects Camp
➤ MJHL: Player Advancements

The Evil Monkeys still have no recruiting announcements on their website. However, they have announced their 2023-24 award winners!

W.D. Smith Trophy (Golden Bears Most Improved Player) - Konrad Belcourt
University of Alberta President’s Award (Student-Athlete’s career contribution to the team and program as an outstanding athlete, leader and role model) - Matt Berlin
Andy Purcell Hockey Trophy (Golden Bears Most Valuable Player) - Eric Florchuk
Golden Bears Hockey Alumni Three-Star Award (Most Three Star Selections) - Eric Florchuk
The Captain’s Trophy (Golden Bears Outstanding Contribution with the Least Recognition) - Adam Hall
Gord Thibodeau Trophy (Awarded to the Golden Bear who best displays perseverance and courage) - Jacob Herauf
Vic Dzurko Memorial Trophy (Golden Bears Outstanding Defensive Player) - Wyatt McLeod
Bill Moores Trophy (Golden Bears Outstanding Freshman) - Alex Thacker
President’s Trophy (Bear who best combines sportsmanship, leadership & integrity) - Jakin Smallwood

Links:
➤ Alberta: Bears announce 2023/24 team award winners

The Banjo-Cats have just one previously linked recruitment story. However, they now have five recruits listed at Elite Prospects. All five are defencemen, mostly players with a junior career blended between Junior A and the WHL.

Ashton Fishley split his time between the Portage Terriers and Swan Valley Stampeders of the MJHL. The rest had blended careers.

Aiden Brook played a total of 35 WHL games and 24 MJHL games in 2020-21 and 2021-22. He spent the last two years with the Dauphin Kings and Portage Terriers of the MJHL

Three others were WHL vets who went to Junior A for their overage season.

Chase Friedt-Mohr was mostly in the WHL, dividing time with the Spokane Chiefs, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Tri-City Americans before he spent last year with the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL.

Blake Heward was with the Edmonton Oil Kings and Calgary Hitmen of the WHL then spent last year with the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL.

Adam McNutt was with the Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, and Swift Current Broncos of the WHL before playing with the Flin Flon Bombers of SJHL last year.

That’s basically a brand new blue-line for the Kittens.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (5)

Hollywood · June 4, 2024, 10:24pm

June 3, 2024: Sirant to Glasgow

Former Bison coach Mike Sirant is off to Scotland to be an assistant coach for the Glasgow Clan in the EIHL. The Bisons played them once-upon-a-time, even back when they were called the Braehead Clan. Sirant coached over there before joining the Bisons.

Links:
➤ Glasgow Clan: NEWS: SIRANT LINKS UP WITH NEILSON ON THE BENCH

Hollywood · June 7, 2024, 7:04am

June 7, 2024: Recruiting Updates

Nothing new from the Bisons, in fact the only new story posted is at Alberta. The Elite Prospects pages have been updated with new recurits listed for Regina, Mount Royal, and UBC.

The UBC recruit is Carson Latimer, previously noted in this thread sourced to a news story from UBC.

MRU’s recruit is Leith Olafson, a defenceman from the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL.

Regina recruited their 6th player, and first forward. Noah Willis is a small forward (5’9" 157 lbs) with a good Junior A scoring touch. He finished with the Sherwood Park Crusaders, one of the AJHL teams which switched to the BCHL mid-season. He had 83 points in 67 games last year.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (0)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (5)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (1)

The Evil Monkeys’ story is about the grads who have gone from eating bananas to cometing for the Stanley Cup. There is a total of 22 on-ice and off-ice personnel in that category. Those who played for the Apes are Derek Ryan, Kris Knoblauch, Dustin Schwartz, and Joel Jackson.

Links:
➤ Alberta: Abundance of UofA connections on display in 2024 Stanley Cup Final

Hollywood · June 14, 2024, 6:02am

June 13, 2024: Bisons Add to Bumper Crop

The Bisons have a 7th new recruit, and we have stories from Portage la Prairie, Flin Flon, and Saskatown.

ERIC ALARIE - LW/C - Moose Jaw & Seattle (WHL), Adirondack (ECHL)

This commitment was found on the LOI Registry. It is not yet on Elite Prospects, nor on the Bisons’ site. FWIW, there are no further announcements on the MJHL Player Advancements Page.

Here we have a Winnipeg lad coming home. He’s 6’1" 196 lbs. He does not have the massive stats of other recruits, but a couple years back was recruited by the Los Angeles Kings after not being drafted into the NHL. He also went to a camp with the Florida Panthers. In 2021 he was rated 51st by Central Scouting (of North American players) and 71st by McKeen’s. Here’s the scouting report from the Hockey Writers site:

At just 18 years old, Alarie has already grown into his six-foot-one frame, weighing in at 198 pounds entering the draft. He is a big winger built like a power forward and has some offensive scoring ability to add to that. In four career playoff games in the WHL, he notched one goal and has managed to play a clean game, staying out of the box for the most part and registering just eight penalty minutes during his juniors career.

While Alarie might not have made his way on to many prospects rankings heading into the 2021 draft, he has upside as a prospect and is built like an NHL player needs to be to succeed in today’s NHL.

His WHL career was based with the Moose Jaw Warriors until he was traded early last year to the Seattle Thunderbirds. After the season was over he went to the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL for 8 games. In 280 career WHL games he had 79-108-187.

Now the Bisons just need a handful of defencemen to balance the recruiting class. I’d be happy with a WHL grad with some offensive touch, and a big country boy from the MJHL who can clear the slot.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Eric Alarie Career Stats
➤ NHL.com: Eric Alarie Career
➤ CHL.ca: WHL Next Generation: Eric Alarie
➤ Hockey Writers: Eric Alarie – 2021 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
➤ Moose Jaw Today: Warriors’ Alarie looking forward to NHL opportunity after being passed over in Entry Draft
➤ Moose Jaw Today: Warriors welcome back Rysavy from Columbus, trade Alarie to Seattle for picks
➤ Elite Prospects: Forward Eric Alarie set to play for Los Angeles Kings
➤ CHL.ca: T-Birds acquire forward Eric Alarie from the Moose Jaw Warriors
➤ YouTube: WHL Hat Tricks – Eric Alarie
➤ ECHL Thunder: Thunder Sign Forward Eric Alarie
➤ ECHL.com: Game-By-Game Stats

Five Flon Flon Bombers are moving on to university hockey, and three of those are headed to the CW. The Mount Royal Cougars have recruited forward Justin Lies and goaltender Harmon Laser-Hume. Meanwhile, the Banjo-Cats have recruited defenceman Adam McNutt. All three of those movements were already on Elite Prospects.

Links:
➤ The Reminder: Five former Bombers commit for college, university hockey

This is one of those nice off-season community stories on three Calder brothers from Portage la Prairie.

Logan, the oldest brother, plays for Salve Regine University, in Rhode Island in NCAA Division III. Kian played his first season with the Bisons last year. Evan played in the KIJHL with the Castlegar Rebels. Kian sounds positive about the Bison recruiting.

Kian: “The season was good. We didn’t get a lot of the results we wanted win-wise, but I think the team took a big step in the right direction. Looking into next season, a lot of the guys are motivated, and the coaching staff has recruited some top-end players, so I think next year is going to be even better for us.”

Links:
➤ Portage Online: The Calder Brothers: Hockey, Homecomings, and Summer Plans

There is still no official word on recruits from the Banjo-Mutts. However, former coach Dave Adolph got some more recognition, this time at a USports level. He is the recipient of the Jean Marie De Koninck Coaching Excellence Award.

Links:
➤ UofS: Dave Adolph Honoured at 2024 U SPORTS Conference and Annual General Meetings

Hollywood · June 20, 2024, 6:10am

June 18, 2024: Monkeys, Ravens Going to Belfast

The Belfast Giants of the EIHL are hosting the Evil Monkeys and Cartoon U for a 3-way exhibition series. The schedule is:

Aug 30 Belfast v Carleton
Aug 31 Alberta v Carleton
Sept 1 Belfast v Alberta

The Bisons played the Giants twice each in 2017 and 2018 tours, going 1-2-1. The scores were:
Aug 26/17 Bisons 6 Giants 4
Aug 27/17 Giants 7 Bisons 6 (ot)
Aug 25/18 Giants 6 Bisons 1
Aug 26/18 Giants 5 Bisons 4

Links:
➤ Belfast: The Stena Line Belfast Giants are pleased to announce two upcoming fixtures against Carleton University and the University of Alberta as part of the club’s pre-season preparations
➤ Alberta: Bears to visit Belfast Giants this fall
➤ Carleton: Team Website

Hollywood · June 21, 2024, 5:40pm

June 21, 2024: News Smattering

The Bisons have their official announcement on Eric Alarie, whose recruitment was addressed above in this thread. The story quotes Coach Gordon Burnett gushing over this recruit. Their paths previously crossed with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL.

Links:
➤ GoBisons.ca: Equipped with pro experience, men’s hockey announce signing of proven scorer Eric Alarie

The Elite Prospects listing has had but one update in recent weeks, that being from the Bedrock Dinos announcing their first player commitment for 2024-25. (They remain the only team without a website story for the 2024-25 season on their team site.) The player is Logan Hauer, from from Sherwood Park of the AJHL/BCHL. (They were one of the team to switch leagues mid-season.) In 65 GP his line was 30-38-68.

Also, Holy Trinity has three new names on the LOI Registry: Zakhar Polshakov, Ricards Landmanis, and Mykhail Simchuk. None are listed at Elite Prospects, but I searched them individually. Their former USSR scouting department was busy. Polshakov is from Belarus and also played for Brandon (WHL) and Corpus Christi (NAHL). Landmanis is from Latvia and played for Collingwood (OJHL) and Grand Canyon U (ACHA). He was on the roster of Alaska-Fairbanks in 2022-23 but never played a game. Simchuk is from Ukraine and played for the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) and Grand Canyon U (ACHA).

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (1)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (5)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (1)
➤ USports: Eligibilty Page : XLS Spreadsheet

I was hopeful that the CW schedule would come out today. It was released June 20th last year, and June 22nd the year before. But no luck!

Hollywood · June 22, 2024, 8:45am

June 22, 2024: T-irds Recruit Two D-men

The T-irds announced two new recruits for their blueline. This news was not on the Elite Prospects transactions list, nor on the USports LOI. The players are Alex Serraglio (Tri-City Americans WHL, 68 GP 2-16-18) and Nick Ardanaz (RPI NCAA, 38 GP 1-5-6 over two years). These players replace two departing defencemen: Jonathan Smart and Ryan Pouliot.

Links:
➤ UBC: Defending champs add pair of dynamic blueliners

Hollywood · July 3, 2024, 3:10pm

July 2, 2024: CW Regular Season Schedule & Format

The new schedule announcement is always nice. This year, though, we also find out about what the new format looks like on paper (or a computer screen).

First, there is one division of four teams, and one of five. The top three in each make the playoffs. The first place teams get byes. The second and third place teams play a cross-over system, like the pre-merger NHL used to do.

Second, the teams are to rotate divisions on a 6-year cycle. The rotation remains undefined. My supposition is that the two teams from British California will never share a division with the three teams from Manitoba and Banjoland. The four teams from Saudi Alberta will switch about.

Here are this year’s divisions:
Four: UBC, Trinity, Calgary, Mount Royal
Five: Alberta, MacEwan, Saskatchewan, Regina, Manitoba

The schedule for the Division of Four is:

3 series against each divisional opponent (3 opponents x 3 series x 2 games/series = 18 games)
one series against each non-divisional opponents (5 opponents x 1 series x 2 games/series = 10 games)

The schedule for the Division of Five is:

3 series against two divisional opponents (2 opponents x 3 series x 2 games/series = 12 games)
2 series against two divisional opponents (2 opponents x 2 series x 2 games/series = 8 games)
one series against each non-divisional opponents (4 opponents x 1 series x 2 games/series = 8 games)

I am not fussy about this. I can see minimizing games between the east and west extremes of the conference. But long-time rivals like Bedrock U and the Evil Monkeys only face each other once. I would also prefer the CFL’s playoff format, i.e. top two from each division plus two wild-cards advance.

Since there is a 6-year rotation, I presume that there will be one season (this one) where the Calgary teams head west and Edmonton teams head east, and then another where this reverses. This would leave four seasons. Perhaps one for each of the Alberta teams to head east, whilst the other three head west.

In the Division of Five, the “3rd series” match-ups are:
Saskatchewan at Alberta
MacEwan at Regina
Manitoba at Saskatchewan
MacEwan v Alberta (all series home-and-home)
Regina at Manitoba

Here’s the Bison schedule:
Sat Oct 5 Manitoba at St. Thomas (exhibition) 1:07 CDT
Fri Oct 11 Manitoba at Alberta 8:00 CDT/7:00 MDT
Sat Oct 12 Manitoba at Alberta 3:00 CDT/2:00 MDT
Fri Oct 18 Regina at Manitoba 7:00 CDT
Sat Oct 19 Regina at Manitoba 5:00 CDT
Fri Oct 25 Manitoba at MacEwan 8:00 CDT/7:00 MDT
Sat Oct 26 Manitoba at MacEwan 3:00 CDT/2:00 MDT
Fri Nov 1 Saskatchewan at Manitoba 7:00 CDT
Sat Nov 2 Saskatchewan at Manitoba 1:00 CDT
Nov 8-9 bye week
Fri Nov 15 Mount Royal at Manitoba 7:00 CST
Sat Nov 16 Mount Royal at Manitoba 2:00 CST
Fri Nov 22 Manitoba at Calgary 8:00 CST/7:00 MST
Sat Nov 23 Manitoba at Calgary 7:00 CST/6:00 MST
Fri Nov 29 Manitoba at UBC 9:00 CST/7:00 PST
Sat Nov 30 Manitoba at UBC 5:00 CST/3:00 PST
Fri Dec 6 Regina at Manitoba 7:00 CST
Sat Dec 7 Regina at Manitoba 5:00 CST
Sat Jan 4 Manitoba at North Dakota (exhibition) 6:07 CST
Fri Jan 10 Trinity Western at Manitoba 7:00 CST
Sat Jan 11 Trinity Western at Manitoba 2:00 CST
Fri Jan 17 Manitoba at Saskatchewan 7:00 CST
Sat Jan 18 Manitoba at Saskatchewan 5:00 CST
Fri Jan 24 MacEwan at Manitoba 7:00 CST
Sat Jan 25 MacEwan at Manitoba 2:00 CST
Fri Jan 31 Manitoba at Regina 7:00 CST
Sat Feb 1 Manitoba at Regina 5:00 CST
Fri Feb 7 Alberta at Manitoba 7:00 CST
Sat Feb 8 Alberta at Manitoba 2:00 CST
Fri Feb 14 Manitoba at Saskatchewan 7:00 CST
Sat Feb 15 Manitoba at Saskatchewan 5:00 CST
Feb 21-23 Quarter-finals
Feb 28-Mar 2 Semi-finals
Mar 7-9 Finals
Mar 20-23 U-Cup Nationals

Links:
➤ CW: Canada West Releases '24-25 Hockey Schedule
➤ CW: 2024-25 Men’s Hockey Schedule

Hollywood · July 3, 2024, 3:16pm

July 3, 2024: Some Teams Posted News Releases About Schedules

Three of the nine CW teams accompanied the schedule release with a news story about the event. Those are linked. None of the three included their non-conference/exhibition games with their schedules.

Links:
➤ Calgary: 2024-25 conference hockey schedule announced
➤ MacEwan: 2024-25 Schedule: Griffins aim to take next step after making playoffs last February
➤ Mount Royal: 2024-25 Hockey Schedule Release

Hollywood · July 4, 2024, 5:51am

July 4, 2024: Recruitment Update

Elite Prospects has now added the recruits from Manitoba, Trinity, and UBC who were referenced earlier in this thread.

Saskatchewan now has four names listed:
Ethan Chadwick - G - Everett (WHL)
Logan Bairos - D - Kamloops (WHL)
Ethan Regnier - D/F - Rosthern (Senior A)
Ashton Ferster - F - Kamloops (WHL)

Regnier red-shirted in Senior hockey, which followed two seasons in the CW with MRU and six seasons in the WHL with Swift Current and Everett. During the Covid lockdowns, he played briefly in the SJHL.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (7)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (1)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (5)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (5)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (3)
➤ USports: Eligibilty Page : XLS Spreadsheet
➤ MJHL: Player Advancement Page : Advancement News

Hollywood · July 14, 2024, 4:53am

July 13, 2024: New Job for MacGillivray, Schedule Format

Don McGillivray, who filled in as Bison coach for three years (2006-07 through 2008-09) whilst Mike Sirant was in Denmark on a sabbatical, has signed on as an assistant coach with the Victoria Royals in the WHL. He was the CW’s 2008 coach of the year.

Immediately prior to his stint with the Bisons, he was GM/head coach of the Portage Terriers for eight years, and immediately thereafter he spent five seasons with the Winnipeg Blues in the same capacity. He then moved back to the WHL, spending seven seasons as assistant coach and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, followed by one season with the Calgary Hitmen. Former Ice coach/owner James Patrick is the head coach in Victoria.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Don MacGillivray Career Record
➤ Winnipeg Free Press: MacGillivray joins Patrick behind bench of WHL’s Victoria Royals
➤ Our Sports Central: Victoria Royals Name Don MacGillivray Assistant Coach
➤ Victoria Buzz: Victoria Royals hire new assistant head coach with extensive experience

The CW Playing Regulations for Hockey have not been updated since January 2024 and thus have no definition as to how the divisions will rotate in future years. In order to give each team equal time in a four team division, everybody would get four seasons in the four team division and five seasons in the five team division, and that would take nine years to rotate through. This can only be accomplished if one of the nine seasons has the five BC and Man/Sask teams in one division, and the four Alberta teams in the other. I doubt they would do this.

There are six possible formats, excluding the all-Alberta division:

Format 1 (being used in 2024-25):
Four: UBC, Trinity, Calgary, MRU
Five: Alberta, MacEwan, Sask, Regina, Manitoba

Format 2:
Four: UBC, Trinity, Alberta, MacEwan
Five: Calgary, MRU, Sask, Regina, Manitoba

Format 3:
Five: UBC, Trinity, Calgary, MRU, Alberta
Four: MacEwan, Sask, Regina, Manitoba

Format 4:
Five: UBC, Trinity, Alberta, MacEwan, Calgary
Four: MRU, Sask, Regina, Manitoba

Format 5:
Five: UBC, Trinity, Calgary, MRU, MacEwan
Four: Alberta, Sask, Regina, Manitoba

Format 6:
Five: UBC, Trinity, Alberta, MacEwan, MRU
Four: Calgary, Sask, Regina, Manitoba

If Formats 1 and 2 are repeated, then after eight years, the teams from B.C., Manitoba, and Sask would all have four seasons in a four team division and four in a five team division. Meanwhile, the Alberta teams would have three seasons in a four team division and five seasons in a five team division.

The playoff format makes this fairly important. Since the top three teams make the playoffs, participating in a four team division which includes Trinity gives a team a huge advantage.