It's Banner Time

No, we're not talking about Bruce Banner of the Hulk, but one superpower of hockey got its schedule today. It took them until mid-June, but Canada West has finally released the schedules for the 2018-19 men's and women's hockey seasons, and there are some big dates that should be pointed out on one of the schedules. Yes, I'm going to talk about the Manitoba Bisons women's hockey team here, so settle in and get ready for some information. There's a lot happening this season, and it's time that I let you all in on a few secrets that the program and UMFM have been keeping close to their chests regarding this season's broadcasts.

First off, if you're in town or coming into town and want to see the Bisons men's hockey team play, please click here. If you're interested in seeing the defending U SPORTS women's hockey champions in the Bisons women's hockey team play, please click here. You catch all home games on UMFM's Second Stream and on Canada West TV while select home games can be heard on the radio at 101.5 FM!

Ok, so you have all the places to find the Bisons this season whether in person or from afar. That's going to be important when it comes to the women's team trying to defend their Canada West crown and the U SPORTS National Championship. The men are going to give it their all in trying to unseat one of Saskatchewan or the defending U SPORTS National men's hockey champion Alberta Golden Bears, but they'll have their work cut out for them.

Let's get to the schedule. You'll note which team is at home based on the clear notation of the home team below. If Bisons women's hockey is at home, then the men are on the road playing the same team. The opposition for that week is listed next. The dates and times is listed as well, and special notes about specific games are also listed.

BISONS HOCKEY SCHEDULE

Date/Time	Bisons Team	Opposition	Notes
7PM 10/5	Women	Calgary	Banner Raising Night Girls' Hockey Day
2PM 10/6	Women	Calgary	n/a
7PM 10/12	Men	Alberta	Alumni Night Minor Hockey Night
7PM 10/13	Men	Alberta	n/a
7PM 10/19	Men	Regina	n/a
2PM 10/20	Men	Regina	n/a
7PM 10/27	Women	Mount Royal	Super Spooky Saturday
2PM 10/28	Women	Mount Royal	Sunday Game!
Nov 2 & 3	Both	Conf. Bye	No games scheduled
7PM 11/9	Women	Lethbridge	n/a
2PM 11/10	Women	Lethbridge	n/a
7PM 11/16	Men	UBC	n/a
1PM 11/17	Men	UBC	n/a
7PM 11/23	Women	Saskatchewan	n/a
4PM 11/24	Women	Saskatchewan	n/a
7PM 11/30	Men	Calgary	n/a
2PM 12/1	Men	Calgary	n/a
Dec. 7 to Jan. 3	Both	Holiday Break	No regular season games scheduled
7PM 1/4	Women	Alberta	n/a
2PM 1/5	Women	Alberta	n/a
7PM 1/11	Men	Mount Royal	n/a
2PM 1/12	Men	Mount Royal	n/a
7PM 1/18	Women	Regina	Pride Night Alumni Night
4PM 1/19	Women	Regina	n/a
7PM 1/25	Men	Lethbridge	Bell Let's Talk Winter Classic
2PM 1/26	Men	Lethbridge	n/a
7PM 2/1	Women	UBC	n/a
2PM 2/2	Women	UBC	Senior Students Game
7PM 2/8	Men	Saskatchewan	n/a
2PM 2/9	Men	Saskatchewan	Senior Students Game

There's your entire schedule for Bisons hockey at Wayne Fleming Arena this season. If you're wondering how to catch the away games for either team, the only way that will happen right now is through Canada West TV because most of the other schools aren't awesome enough to feature radio and internet radio broadcasts like UMFM offers. And this is where the changes that I mentioned above come into play.

Starting this season, the UMFM broadcasts will be simulcast over the Canada West TV broadcasts! There will be some modifications, but all the graphic overlays and information present on Canada West TV will also be discussed on the radio broadcast. In its most basic of explanations, Canada West TV and UMFM will have the exact same broadcast going out over the respective mediums. This way, listeners on both mediums will get the knowledgeable information and reporting that UMFM provides on the radio broadcasts that was previously unavailable on the Canada West TV broadcasts. As you probably know, UMFM does a lot of work in getting stories about the players last season to ensure high-quality broadcasts, and the feedback received by Bisons Sports suggested that this was missing on the Canada West TV broadcasts.

In short, no matter how you tune into games for Bisons hockey, you're going to get a top-notch broadcast team with unparalleled knowledge, stories, and information about your Bisons athletes. That's the whole point of these broadcasts, right?

There are more changes and more fun being planned for the broadcasts this season, and future announcements will be made as to what these additional changes are. For now, expect another great season of Bisons hockey this winter as we get set to deliver all the great action via UMFM and Canada West TV!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!