2025-26 Manitoba Bisons/USPORTS

News around the CW is sparse, and nothing has been posted at GoBisons.ca. However, from other sources two recruits have been confirmed, and two exhibition games have been announced.

SAMUEL BORSCHOWA - D - Kamloops (WHL)

In a season where the WHL grads are moving en masse to the NCAA, the Bisons landed one for their blueline. This would have been item #1 on their off-season shopping list. Borschowa is a Saskatchewan boy, who started his WHL career with the Moose Jaw Warriors before being dealt to the Kamloops Blazers in 2023-24. He is not an offensive blueliner (2G, 8A, 10 Pts), which suits me just fine. Now they need a 6’3" 200+ lbs big farm boy from the MJHL and I’ll be happier yet.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Samuel Borschowa Career Stats
➤ CHL.ca: 2024-25 Player Profile
➤ Discover Moose Jaw: McTaggart, SK product Sam Borschowa signs with the Warriors
➤ CJFC: Blazers trade for blueline depth, get Borschowa from Moose Jaw
➤ CHL.ca: BLAZERS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN SAM BORSCHOWA

MATTHEW KIEPER - G - Flin Flon (SJHL)

I was satisfied with the Bison goaltending last year, and both starters were eligible to return, but if one is not returning they landed a good recruit. Kieper is a Winnipeg boy who played in the WHL with the Regina Pats, Kamloops Blazers, and Swift Current Broncos. He landed in Flin Flon for his overage season and was named the SJHL MVP and Goaltender of the Year. His stats were impressive: 23-2-2, .935 S%, and 1.80 GAA. In the playoffs he went 6-3-3, .935 S%, and 1.89 GAA. In a season where USports teams are digging into the Junior A ranks, this would rank as a blue chip recruit.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Matthew Kieper Career Stats
➤ CHL.ca: 2024-25 Player Profile
➤ Regina Leader-Post: The Regina Pats’ new goalie of the future looks like a Kieper
➤ CKOM: Pats trade goaltender Matthew Kieper to Blazers
➤ CFJC: Blazers deal G Kieper to Swift Current for draft picks
➤ CHL.ca: Broncos Acquire Kieper from Blazers
➤ Swift Current Online: Broncos wrapping up pre-season with Warriors
➤ SJHL.ca: Bombers acquire veteran goaltender Kieper
➤ Bombers.ca: Bombers Acquire Veteran Goaltender Matthew Kieper from Canmore Eagles
➤ Bombers.ca: Kieper Wins 2024-2025 SJHL MVP and Goaltender of the Year Awards
➤ Bombers.ca: A Salute To Our 20 Year Olds

EXHIBITION GAMES

After a one-year hiatus, the Bisons are back to face UND at The Ralph on the 1st weekend of October. And, for the 2nd year in a row, they are headed to Omaha for a holiday season game.

Sun Oct 5 Manitoba at North Dakota time TBA
Tue Dec 30 Manitoba at Omaha time TBA

GRIFFINS/GRYPHONS LOGOS

Both sets of Family Guys, or Mythical Mutants if you will, have new logos. Here they are:

Links:
➤ MacEwan: New era of MacEwan Athletics begins with bold reimagining of iconic Griffins logo
➤ Hockey Blog in Canada: A Sleeker Mythical Beast
➤ Hockey Blog in Canada: The Other Mythical Spelling

Hollywood · June 14, 2025, 4:29am

June 5, 2025: Stories Around the CW

Although GoBisons.ca has not posted anything thus far, we have a trickle of stories from around the league.

The Evil Monkeys have 20 Alumni spread amongst different roles in the Greasers’ bid for a Stanley Cup. Included are the coach, Kris Knoblauch, and forwards Noah Philp and Derek Ryan. The complete list is in the link.

Links:
➤ Alberta: Plethora of U of A connections on display in 2025 Stanley Cup Final

In the Town of Bedrock, graduate defenceman Zach Wytinck has signed a professional contract to play with IF Troja-Ljungby in Sweden’s 2nd level league. Meanwhile, Arjun Atwal is a finalist for the 2025 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. He works generating hockey interest among South Asian youth. There is a link to vote for him in the story.

Links:
➤ Calgary: Wytinck signs pro contract in Sweden
➤ Calgary: Dinos alum Arjun Atwal a finalist for NHL’s Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award

Like last year, the Family Guys are off to a jump in volume of posted stories. There is a heavy local Junior A flavour in their recruiting stories. Their only non-recruiting stoyr is the new logo story I already shared.

Links:
➤ MacEwan: Versatile Pontiacs forward Gauld set to bring strong two-way game to Griffins
➤ MacEwan: Griffins add AJHL record-breaking Wolverines goaltender Onyskiw, solidifying crease corps
➤ MacEwan: Eagles pipeline continues for Griffins with addition of strong two-way Canmore captain Dekowny
➤ MacEwan: Griffins add sandpaper and scoring with gritty Grande Prairie Storm forward Doherty

The departure of defenceman Clay Hanus is a big loss for the Bluegars. He was USports Player-of-the-Year. The CW version of Bobby Orr! In 28 games, he had 12 goals and 31 assists. Kalmar is also in Sweden’s 2nd tier league.

Links:
➤ Mount Royal: Clay Hanus signs with Kalmar Hockey Club following historic MRU career

The Banjo-Cats have a new orchestra leader, having lured Trevor Keeper from his post at Red Deer Poly in the ACAC. Maybe he can import some of the winning magic from RRP’s title reign. He replaces Todd Johnson, who coached for the last 12 years. They also have stories on four new recruits.

Links:
➤ Regina: Trevor Keeper named U of R men’s hockey head coach
➤ Regina: Rylan Silzer commits to Cougars
➤ Regina: Brayden Barnett to join Cougars in 2025-26
➤ Regina: Jaron Desnoyers commits to U of R hockey
➤ Regina: Swan Valley captain Landen Gulutzan commits to Cougars

The Banjo-Mutts have some two-way traffic going on with the ECHL. Leaving the squad are goaltender Roddy Ross and defenceman Parker Gavlas. Arriving are goaltender Bryan Thompson and forward Conner Roulette. This is quite an unusual off-season thus far.

Links:
➤ Saskatchewan: Roddy Ross Signs with ECHL’s Wichita Thunder, Records 42 Save Win in Debut Sunday Afternoon
➤ Saskatchewan: Former Huskie Defender Parker Gavlas Signs with ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals
➤ Saskatchewan: Huskie Men’s Hockey Adds Former ECHL Forward Conner Roulette
➤ Saskatchewan: ECHL Goaltender Bryan Thompson Signs With Huskie Men’s Hockey

Holy Trinity has one story about three of their new recruits: Danylo Korzhyletskyi (from Brooks and Ukraine), Matthias Bessey (from Drayton Valley), and Aiden Knutson (from Yorkton and Olds).

Links:
➤ Trinity Western: Men’s Hockey New Recruits

The T-irds have one recruiting story, WHL defenceman Jace Weir. Not as many such recruits thus far.

Links:
➤ UBC: UBC Men’s Hockey secures big blue line addition in Jace Weir

Hollywood · June 14, 2025, 4:33am

June 8, 2025 - ANOTHER BISON RECRUIT

LUCAS BRENNAN - F - Sherwood Park/Vernon (BCHL)

The Bisons now have a forward, a defenceman, and a goaltender in their recruiting class. Lucas Brennan was committed to play for Bemidji State, going back to the 2022-23 season when he led the Selkirk Steelers and the MJHL in scoring (53 GP, 41 G, 43 A, 84 pts) and won all the awards on offer. He is 5’ 9” & 168 lbs. After Selkirk, he played one season in the USHL and one in the BCHL. He will be striving to rediscover his 2022-23 form.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Lucas Brennan Career Stats
➤ MJHL: Lucas Brennan commits to Bemidji State University
➤ Game On Hockey: Western Marble Junior Player of the Month - Lucas Brennan
➤ MJHL: Five MJHL alumni advance to USHL
➤ Vernon Vipers: Vipers Swing Deal, Acquire Rights to Lucas Brennan
➤ Sherwood Park: Crusaders Acquire Forward Lucas Brennan

Elite Prospects has updated the Bisons’ page, and Mount Royal’s and Saskatchewan’s for good measure. One trend which may develop is NCAA players moving north. Manitoba has one, and MRU now has two.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (5)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (1)
➤ USports: LOI XLSX
➤ USports: USports Eligibility - Letters of Intent Page

Hollywood · June 14, 2025, 4:41am

June 11, 2025 - FORMER BISONS LAND COACHING GIGS

Former Bisons Josh Tripp and Zach Franko are having some success in the coaching field.

Tripp played for the Bisons in 2019-20, before the aborted Covid season. He now coaches the Swan Valley Stampeders of the MJHL, and landed the job coaching the Team Manitoba U18s to a gold medal at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC). They beat Alberta 4-2 in the final.

Starting in 2017, Manitoba has won NAHC gold in all the odd numbered years (except for 2021, which was cancelled for Covid). The team features a lot of MJHL players. Three Manitoba alumni have gone to the NHL, including the retired Michael Ferland and Brady Keeper, and current Golden Knight Zach Whitecloud.

Franko is the new head coach for the re-christened Winnipeg Monarchs of the MJHL. When the Winnipeg Ice came to the city to play in the WHL, the MJHL needed a 12th team to have three pods of four teams to create the chance of a season in the Covid year. They hurriedly threw together a new squad, dubbed the “Winnipeg Freeze”. The team has just changed names to adopt the Monarchs moniker, an historic name in the annals of Winnipeg hockey.

After a WHL career, Franko went to Acadia (AUS) for two seasons before coming home to the Bisons. He moved on to the ECHL and various European leagues. He had various coaching and scouting jobs, ultimately heading up the St. Boniface Riels (MMJHL) and last year assisted with the Swift Current Broncos (WHL).

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Joshua Tripp Career Stats
➤ MJHL: Team Manitoba wins gold at NAHC
➤ YouTube: NAHC Page
➤ Elite Prospects: Zach Franko Career Stats
➤ MJHL: Monarchs name Zach Franko Head Coach & GM

In the season of the great transition, there is now 2-way traffic between the NCAA and CIS. Brett Bamber is a defenceman who played two years at Alaska-Anchorage, and one at American International College (AIC). Since AIC announced they were dropping from Div 1 to Div 2, Bamber sought a return to Saudi Alberta.

Links:
➤ MacEwan: Talented two-way NCAA veteran D-man Bamber returning home to bolster Griffins’ blueline

There’s a hat-trick of stories from Banjoland North, each about a new recruit. One is from the WHL and two from the SJHL. Click the links for a profile of each player.

Links:
➤ Saskatchewan: Former WHL Captain Eric Johnston Signs With Huskie Men’s Hockey
➤ Saskatchewan: Huskie Men’s Hockey Adds Back-to-Back SJHL Champion Zac Somers
➤ Saskatchewan: SJHL Champion Nicholas Andrusiak Signs With Huskie Men’s Hockey

Hollywood · June 14, 2025, 7:11pm

June 14, 2025 - BISON RECRUITING NEWS

We still lack any news from GoBisons.ca, however Google notifications have yielded yet another recruit, and another story on Matthew Kieper (goaltender announced last week). The link on Kieper’s story is below.

ZACH TURNER - D - Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)

This is what I was looking for - a big Manitoba farm boy on defence. I was thinking I’d be satisfied with an old-school MJHL grad, but Turner has WHL experience as well. This is a 6’2" 192 lbs Boissevain boy, coming back to Manitoba to study aggie stuff. He had three full seasons and started a 4th in the WHL (with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current Broncos) before finishing as an over-ager with Melfort’s SJHL championship team.

This gives the Bisons a recruiting class (so far) on par with pre-NCAA rule change classes. Out of four recruits, one is directly from the WHL, two are WHL vets who spent their over-age year in Junior A, and one is an NCAA “de-commit”. Also, two of the four are much-needed defencemen.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Zach Turner Career Stats
➤ SJHL: Mustangs’ Turner commits to Manitoba (USports)
➤ CHL: Broncos Acquire Turner from Wheat Kings for Draft Pick
➤ Swift Current Online: Broncos acquire Turner from Wheat Kings for draft pick
➤ Northeast Now: Mustangs pick up former Swift Current Bronco
➤ Brandon Sun: Turner finds success in Melfort
➤ SJHL: Bombers’ Kieper commits to Manitoba (USports)

Hollywood · June 20, 2025, 3:15pm

June 20, 2025 - SPARSE NEWS WEEK

Although four Bison hockey recruits have been announced elsewhere (with three of those listed at Elite Prospects), the only post on GoBisons.ca is about yesterday’s golf tournament fundraiser.

The CW schedule usually comes out in the 20s of June, so next week could be the big news.

Links:
➤ GoBisons.ca: Men’s hockey hosting annual golf fundraiser

Regina and UBC have added new entries since the last update. Regina leads the CW with seven new bodies coming in. In this new recruiting era, Regina’s class is comparatively good. Two have some WHL experience, both returning to Junior A. They all have good Junior A stats. The position breakdown is one goaltender, three defencemen, and three forwards. I’ll break down the recruiting once team rosters come out.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (2)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (7)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (2)
➤ USports: LOI XLSX
➤ USports: USports Eligibility - Letters of Intent Page

The ACAC becomes the second conference to announce their schedule. No non-conference games are yet on that schedule. It starts on October 17th with Briercrest at Red Deer, NAIT at Concordia, Augustana at Portage, and SAIT having a bye.

Links:
➤ ACAC: 2025-26 Schedule/Results

Hollywood · June 23, 2025, 3:43am

June 22, 2025: C.W. SCHEDULING FORMAT

I have looked into the CW’s scheduling format. I really see no reason for the two division structure implemented in 2024-25. I delved into the CW’s regulations and here is what the regulations say:

I put the figures into a chart, and here is the result:

Before the conference expanded into Trinity Western and MacEwan while Lethbridge folded, the eight team format was perfect with one home series and one away series against each opponent. Now they don’t want to go from 28 games to 32 games, and from 14 weeks to 18 weeks to accommodate byes, so everyone acknowledges that a new format was needed. However, there is no need for two divisions. Especially not since there is a cross-over in the quarter-final round.

An option? Well, each team should have two opponents per season for one series, and six opponents for two series. They could have a rule which would state that the one series opponents would never be in your “zone”, i.e. BC (UBC and TWU), Edmonton (Alberta and MacEwan), Calgary (MRU and Calgary), and Man-Sask (Manitoba, Regina, and Saskatchewan). Then the playoffs could maintain the previous format, i.e. 1st and 2nd get byes to the semi-finals, and 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th in the quarter-finals.

Links:
➤ CWUAA: Operations Manual & Playing Regulations

Hollywood · July 1, 2025, 4:57pm

June 24, 2025: C.W. SCHEDULE RELEASED

The complete conference schedule has been released, and several teams included a number of exhibition games on their team pages. The Bisons have “extra” series against Regina and Calgary this year. There are many quirks with start times for the Bisons, with the Lakehead pre-season games Friday at 2:00 and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Then the home-opener against Calgary is a Friday at 2:00 p.m. Misprints?

Regina and Holy Trinity do not yet have the 2025-26 schedule uploaded.

Of note, Sask is off to Hungary and Slovakia for a Euro Tour. This is the first such tour for the Banjo-Mutts in my memory.

Hollywood · July 1, 2025, 5:02pm

June 28, 2025 - CANADA DAY WEEKEND NEWS WRAP-UP

Since the schedules came out, only the Banjo-Mutts have posted something new. They have a new Junior A goaltender by the name of James Venne. He went to Sherwood Park of the BCHL after playing for the Melfort Mustangs (suddenly a rich recruiting ground) of the SJHL. His numbers were so-so: 16-14-1 record, .890 S%, and 3.63 GAA. He replaces one of the all-star tandem of Roddy Ross and Jordan Kooy, a mighty big task. His new tandem partner stands to be previously announced recruit Bryan Thompson, who has pro experience.

Links:
➤ Sask: Huskie Men’s Hockey Signs Former BCHL & SJHL Goaltender James Venne

Elite Prospects continues to be the best one-stop source of information. I link each team’s recruiting page, with aggregate numbers in parenthesis. You can scour the links, but there are a lot more than the usual number of Junior A recruits on all lists. Regina’s the big leader in the numbers race, with NINE!

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (9)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (5)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (2)
➤ USports: LOI XLSX
➤ USports: USports Eligibility - Letters of Intent Page

I checked the CW schedule for the one twist which really matters, namely the 3 series v 2 series match-ups in the West division. With five teams, each team plays two opponents twice and two opponents thrice. The three-series match-ups are:
Calgary: v MRU & Manitoba
Manitoba: v Regina & Calgary
MRU: v Calgary & Sask
Regina: v Sask & Manitoba
Sask: v MRU & Regina

Manitoba is home to Regina once, and away twice. This is good because Regina always comes in for an exhibition series. And Manitoba is home to Calgary twice and away once. The away series has to wait until the end of the season.

Hollywood · July 4, 2025, 6:42am

July 3, 2025 - OMAHA’S WILD KINGDOM TO FEATURE MONKEYS, BISONS SCORE LOIs

The Usports LOI page has two new Bisons, both transfers from the NCAA. Sask and UBC also have stories posted, about off-ice developments. But the big story is the exodus from Alberta (and others) to Nebraska-Omaha (and others).

COLE PLOWMAN - G - Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA)

The Bisons have recruited another goaltender. Cole Plowman was with Alaska-Fairbanks last year, after having played for the Steinbach Pistons and Selkirk Steelers of the MJHL. Plowman played just 7 minutes last year, hence the push for a change of venue. His MJHL numbers were superior: 30-6-0, .934 S%, 1.81 GAA. Those numbers are very similar to those of fellow recruit Matthew Kieper: 23-2-2, .935 S%, 1.80 GAA in his final season with Flin Flon.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Cole Plowman Career Stats
➤ Pistons: Pistons Acquire Cole Plowman in Trade with Selkirk Steelers
➤ CJHL: CJHL names its 3 Stars of the Month for November – Fuelled by Gatorade
➤ MJHL: Plowman named CJHL 1st Star of the Month
➤ Brandon Sun: Veteran Steinbach Pistons goalie Cole Plowman earns weekly honour
➤ MJHL: Cole Plowman commits to Alaska Fairbanks
➤ Nanooks: 2024-25 Men’s Ice Hockey Roster

TANNER WILLICK - D - AIC (NCAA)

Willick is not the usual Bison blueline recruit. He’s from Saskatoon, stands 5’9” and weighs 157 lbs. In junior, he played one season with Drumheller in the AJHL and two seasons with Blackfalds in the AJHL and BCHL. He had 140 points in 163 Junior A games over his career. He went to AIC (American International College) last year. However, they announced that they are moving down from Division 1 to Division 3.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: Tanner Willick Career Stats
➤ Bulldogs: Bulldogs Name Captains For 2023-24 Season
➤ Bulldogs: Player Profile
➤ Dragons: Daneault Named to All-League Team
➤ Red Deer Advocate: AJHL seeking clarity, five departing clubs deny agreement with BCHL
➤ AJHL: Tanner Willick Commits to AIC

The Banjo-Mutts’ all-star goaltender has an NHL try-out with the Vancouver Canucks. In a season where players are leaving early, at least Roddy Ross graduated and moved on the way it is supposed to be done. Nevertheless, the Mutts will be facing question marks in goal this year.

Links:
➤ Sask: Canada West Goaltender of the Year Roddy Ross Invited to Vancouver Canucks 2025 Development Camp

The T-irds have switched assistant coaches, with Myles Fitzgerald coming in for Matt Revel. He played at Bemidji State, and coached in the BCHL and China. The linked story also delves into the NCAA impact this year.

Links:
➤ UBC: Myles Fitzgerald joins T-Birds bench as men’s hockey assistant coach

Yesterday, Elite Prospects listed five players from the CW who are on their way to the Omaha Mavericks of the NCAA. Today they added two more. Those players include four Evil Monkeys (Aidan De La Gorgendiere, Marc Lajoie, Brett Hyland, and Sean Tschigerl), plus one T-ird (Samuel Huo) and two Banjo-Mutts (Landon Kosior and Trevor Wong). This in addition to the Monkeys’ previous departures (Ty Nash to Arizona State and Tyler Palmer to Bowling Green). When handicapping the upcoming season, it will take a lot of roster review.

Also, Alberta went from 3 recruits, down to 2. Regina is now up to 10 recruits (2 goalies, 4 d-men, and 4 forwards) , and Sask is up to 6 (two of each).

I have added a number in parenthesis for the number of players going to the NCAA.

Links:
➤ Elite Prospects: USports Transfers
➤ Elite Prospects: Manitoba Bisons (4)
➤ Elite Prospects: Alberta Golden Bears (2) (6 to NCAA)
➤ Elite Prospects: Calgary Dinosaurs (4) (1 to NCAA)
➤ Elite Prospects: MacEwan Griffins (5)
➤ Elite Prospects: Mount Royal Cougars (3)
➤ Elite Prospects: Regina Cougars (10)
➤ Elite Prospects: Saskatchewan Huskies (6) (2 to NCAA)
➤ Elite Prospects: Trinity Western Spartans (6)
➤ Elite Prospects: U.B.C. Thunderbirds (2) (2 to NCAA)
➤ USports: LOI XLSX
➤ USports: USports Eligibility - Letters of Intent Page