The Rundown - Week 13

I watched a total of zero minutes of action from Canada West this weekend given that I was watching tomorrow's stars all weekend at the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge, so don't expect a lot of breakdown or analysis this week. I'm cold, I'm tired, my voice is hoarse from broadcasting, and I need some serious sleep. The good news is the hockey I got to watch was pretty incredible, and there should be some Canada West teams who are very excited to have their signed players joining their programs next season. Before we get there, though, let's find out who did what on The Rundown!

FRIDAY: The Saskatchewan Huskies loaded up the bus for a short trip west to Edmonton where they met the Alberta Pandas for a two-game set this weekend with both squads hunting for points. Saskatchewan was looking to regain its playoff spot after being bumped out of the final East Division playoff spot for a week while the Alberta Pandas were aiming to grab second-place in the West Division. If everything played out as it could, this series could be a playoff preview based on where these teams may finish in the standings, so both were looking to make that statement as well. Who would improve their standing?

Huskies goals: Jayde Cadieux (1)
Huskies assists: Bronwyn Boucher (5), Kendra Zuchotzki (5)
Huskies shootout scorers: none
Huskies netminders: Clara Juca (28/29) in 65:00 plus 1/2 in the shootout

Pandas goals: Abby Soyko (7)
Pandas assists: Jadynn Morden (6)
Pandas shootout scorers: Natalie Kieser
Pandas netminder: Mackenzie Dojahn (18/19) in 65:00 plus 3/3 in the shootout

Result: 2-1 shootout victory for Alberta over Saskatchewan.

SATURDAY: Both teams grabbed points on Friday, but more were sought on Saturday as the Huskies and Pandas met in the back half of the two-game set. If this was a playoff series preview, we might have seen Friday's game go late into the night as neither side could solve the other's goaltending easily. Would we get the same results again?

Huskies goals: Jayde Cadieux (2), Peppi Virtanen (5)
Huskies assists: Shelby Williamson (1), Kendra Zuchotzki (6), Bronwyn Boucher (6)
Huskies shootout scorers: Jayde Cadieux, Sara Kendall
Huskies netminders: Colby Wilson (21/23) in 65:00 plus 2/3 in the shootout

Pandas goals: Holly Magnus (3), Sara Kazeil (3)
Pandas assists: Natalie Kieser (8), Riley Smith (4), Hailey Carothers (4), Hayleigh Craig (6)
Pandas shootout scorers: Abby Soyko
Pandas netminder: Mackenzie Dojahn (23/25) in 65:00 plus 0/2 in the shootout

Result: 3-2 shootout victory for Saskatchewan over Alberta.

FRIDAY: The MacEwan Griffins headed east to Winnipeg where the Manitoba Bisons welcomed them to the city on what might be the coldest weekend this year. The Bisons were looking to remain hot as they had won three of four games since the calendar flipped to 2026, putting them into a playoff spot in the East Division. The Griffins were simply trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with victories. Both sides were looking for a sweep this weekend!

Griffins goals: Sydney Jack (4), Kori Paterson (3), Allee Isley (2)
Griffins assists: Rian Santos (2), Claire Hobbs (4), Rian Santos (3)
Griffins netminder: Taya Currie (40/42)

Bisons goals: Kelsey Huibers (4), Alyssa Rasmuson (1)
Bisons assists: Dana Goertzen (8), Aimee Patrick (9), Norah Collins (4), Julia Bird (5)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (9/12)

Result: 3-2 victory for MacEwan over Manitoba.

SATURDAY: Friday's game marked the second-straight Friday where the Bisons built an early lead only to surrender the lead and eventually lose the game to their opponents on home ice. This is something the Bisons will need to address moving forward if they want to participate in the playoffs as coughing up leads won't lead to much success. Could the Bisons bounce back? MacEwan needed the win on Friday, though, and they looked for more on Saturday.

Griffins goals: Shaelyn Hopkins (1)
Griffins assists: Kali MacDonald (2), Allee Isley (2)
Griffins netminder: Taya Currie (33/35)

Bisons goals: Julia Bird (8), Alyssa Rasmuson (2), Louise Fergusson (2)
Bisons assists: Hanna Bailey (5), Sophia Anderson (4), Norah Collins (5), Julia Bilous (3)
Bisons netminder: Jenna Goertzen (12/13)

Result: 3-1 victory for Manitoba over MacEwan.

FRIDAY: The Mount Royal Cougars played host to the Regina Cougars this weekend as the two Cougars squads met in Calgary. Regina was looking for wins to try and close the gap between them and the two teams who stood before them in the East Division while Mount Royal was looking for wins to lock down top spot in the East. Both squads came in knowing what they had to do, so who would go home happy?

Cougars goals: Maggie Kate Fitzpatrick (2), Kaylee Dyer (2), Bailey McMaster (1)
Cougars assists: Brooke Fofonoff (3), Quinn McLaren (4), Bailey McMaster (2), Kaitlyn Gilroy (1), Tessa Stewart (3)
Cougars netminders: Natalie Williamson (25/29)

Cougars goals: Kiana McNinch (6), Sydney Benko (10), Jori Hansen-Young (2), Jordyn Hutt (3)
Cougars assists: Isa MacPhee (8), Keyana Bert (5), Kiana McNinch (9), Allee Gerrard (8), Isa MacPhee (9), Lyvia Butz (4)
Cougars netminder: Scout Anderson (16/19)

Result: 4-3 victory for Mount Royal over Regina.

SATURDAY: The back-and-forth action between these two teams on Friday was uncharacteristic of both squads, so I was expecting some tighter defence on Saturday. Both teams were still hunting for wins in the second game of their set, but it may have been mosre pressing for Regina as they were running out of games to get back in the race.

Cougars goals: Kaylee Dyer (2), Kaylee Dyer (3)
Cougars assists: Makena Kushniruk (5), Olivia Leggett (3), Jordyn Blais (4)
Cougars netminders: Amy Swayze (42/43)

Cougars goals: Julia Duke (8)
Cougars assists: none
Cougars netminder: Katherine Holan (15/17)

Result: 2-1 victory for Regina over Mount Royal.

FRIDAY: The battle of BC was back on the schedule as Trinity Western headed north to play UBC. The Spartans needed wins against their archrivals to help their playoff standing while UBC was looking to lock up home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs with victories this weekend. Both squads had their assignments entering this series.

Spartans goals: Kara Yackel (7), Kailey Ledoux (4)
Spartans assists: Sadie Isfeld (7), Kyra Anderson (4)
Spartans netminders: Kate Fawcett (29/33)

Thunderbirds goals: Vanessa Schaefer (6), Cassidy Rhodes (1), Annalise Wong (5), Presley Zinger (1)
Thunderbirds assists: Annalise Wong (22), Ashton Thorpe (2), Madisyn Wiebe (3), Grace Elliott (10), Grace Elliott (11), Jacquelyn Fleming (6), Annalise Wong (23), Ashton Thorpe (3)
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (11/13)

Result: 4-2 victory for UBC over Trinity Western.

SATURDAY: The home-and-home series shifted to Langley for the second game, but the stakes were still the same as both sides were looking for wins. Based on the number of games remaining, any points earned by the Spartans would eliminate the MacEwan Griffins, and UBC would officially lock up first-overall in Canada West with a win. Would the Spartans make the Thunderbirds wait another week?

Spartans goals: none
Spartans assists: none
Spartans netminders: Kate Fawcett (29/33)

Thunderbirds goals: Jaylyn Morris (8), Ilona Markova (1), Hanna Perrier (5), Jaylyn Morris (9)
Thunderbirds assists: Ashton Thorpe (4), Grace Elliott (12), Elle Lorenz (2), Annalise Wong (24), Ashton Thorpe (5)
Thunderbirds netminder: Mya Lucifora (13/13)

Result: 4-0 victory for UBC over Trinity Western.

Don't even ask about divisions. I'm not interested in that setup. It's one conference, nine teams, and we'll see who is best in the west.

CANADA WEST WOMEN'S HOCKEY

School	Record	Points	GF	GA	Streak	Next
UBC	20-2-2-0	44	75	23	W4	@ MAC
Mount Royal	12-5-6-1	37	60	37	L1	vs CAL
Calgary	12-5-1-4	30	52	40	L2	@ MRU
Alberta	8-6-1-7	25	43	47	L1	vs MAN
Trinity Western	5-12-6-1	23	53	58	L3	BYE
Saskatchewan	5-9-4-4	22	32	50	W1	@ REG
Manitoba	6-9-2-5	21	47	55	W1	vs MAC
Regina	4-11-3-4	18	34	53	W1	vs SAS
MacEwan	3-15-2-2	12	23	56	L1	vs UBC

Honour Roll

Each week on The Rundown, I highlight the best performances from the weekend's games. It won't always be the top scorer or the best goalie, but I'll have a reason for who gets picked each week. They haven't had a lot to celebrate this season as they work to get back into a playoff spot, but the Regina Cougars saw Kaylee Dyer play a big part this weekend in helping the Regina Cougars earn a win over one of the best teams in Canada. Three goals against the fourth-ranked team will do that as Kaylee Dyer adds her name to the Honour Roll!

Dyer entered this weekend's games without having dented twine this season, and her career-high for any season is four goals. Dyer put that number in jeopardy as she scored once on Friday against Mount Royal before potting both goals in the victory on Saturday to equal her total from last season and put her one back of the total she notched in 2023-24. Those three goals also pushed her to nine points this season, breaking her career-high of eight points in a season that she set last year so it was a productive weekend overall!

The fifth-year forward recently rolled over the 100-game mark, and she's just one point away from hitting double-digits in points for the first time in her university career. More importantly, she helped Regina earn a big win over Mount Royal to keep them in the race for the final playoff spot in the East Division as they stare down two important weekends against Saskatachewan and Manitoba. With Dyer catching fire this weekend, the chances of getting in got a lot better. For her three-goal weekend that included both goals in a big win, that's how Regina Cougars forward Kaylee Dyer made the list!

Playoff Situations

There are a handful of playoff situations that a few teams are facing as we barrel forward towards Week 14 of the Canada West season. A few are more dire, so here are those situaitons:

• MACEWAN: win at all costs. There is no tomorrow.
• REGINA: sweep Saskatchewan. At worst, a split will mean Regina will need help to catch the Huskies in the standings, but a sweep would be immensely helpful against their provincial rivals. Regina just has to win moving forward.
• MANITOBA: win at Clare Drake Arena. That could be a potential playoff scenario, so the Bisons have to win twice in Edmonton if they make the playoffs. Why not do that this weekend and put pressure on Saskatchewan and Regina to win games?
• SASKATCHEWAN: sweep Regina out of the playoffs. Two wins next weekend will remove one team from the playoff race, and the pressure would fall onto Manitoba to win out. Two wins over their provincial rivals would be huge for the Huskies.
• TRINITY WESTERN: cheer for Manitoba to sweep the Pandas.
• ALBERTA: sweep Manitoba, put all the pressure on the TWU.
• UBC, MOUNT ROYAL, and CALGARY: play hard, don't get hurt.

With most teams having just six games remaining, there isn't a lot of room for mistakes. Dropping a game could be the difference between playing in mid-February and watching the playoffs from home.

What We Know

As it stands, UBC will play at home throughout the playoffs thanks to their incredible season. They earned that right this weekend as the Mount Royal Cougars cannot catch them in the standings.

Mount Royal has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch a bye in the opening round if they earn a single point against the Dinos next weekend. Mount Royal is 3-1 against the Dinos this season, so they hold the tie-breaker unless Calgary sweeps the Crowchild Classic in regulation time. They did lose once in overtime, so that would give them seven points to Mount Royal's six points in the six-game season series. Of course, Calgary also has to catch Mount Royal, but Mount Royal is looking to wrap up that top spot before head coach Scott Rivett heads off to Italy for a couple of weeks for the Olympics.

Calgary is also in the playoffs, and they can still capture top spot in the East Division if they sweep the Crowchild Classic and win the two games in-hand they have on the Cougars. The first step is sweeping the two games against Mount Royal this weekend in regulation, so they'll need to be ready to play on Thursday night at the Saddledome.

Thanks to their effort against Saskatchewan this weekend, the Alberta Pandas have clinched a playoff spot. The Pandas still need to win games to put themselves in second-place, but they can put some serious pressure on Trinity Western by sweeping the Bisons at home this weekend. With Trinity Western idle thanks to the bye week, the six-point gap they could build could be the difference between playing at home in the quarterfinals and travelling to Calgary for a quarterfinal series. Forcing the Spartans to win out would be ideal.

Lastly, MacEwan has to win out if they want to play in the playoffs. They have six games remaining with two coming against Trinity Western, and any point that the Spartans earn over their remaining four games would spell the end for the Griffins' hopes. The biggest question will come this weekend as the Griffins have to sweep the Thunderbirds in Edmonton to keep the playoff dream alive.

The Next Wave...

I was privileged to be part of UMFM's broadcasts of the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge in Winnipeg where we got to see a number of players who are heading off to post-secondary institutions next season, and I don't think it would be a stretch to say that Canada West is getting a pile of talent who will join those teams.

UBC will have lots to be excited about with all of Balmoral Hall's Payton Henwood and Kate Chuback, Winnipeg Ice's Cassie Carvalho, and Winnipeg Avros' netminder Ana Almeida joining their squad next season. All of these players finished their tournaments with a win today, and each played a major role in those wins. Kate Chuback's hat trick in the semifinal was proof she's ready to take the next step while both of Henwood and Carvalho recording multiple points today. Almeida helped the Avros secure fifth-place in the event with a strong goaltending performance, so UBC looks strong moving forward.

She didn't show up on the scoresheet as much as her teammates did, but Balmoral Hall's Hudson Bradley looks like she's going to be the prototypical Alberta Pandas defender who can contribute at both ends of the ice. Bradley was excellent in her own zone where she showed a knack breaking up plays with a touch of a mean streak, and she solid offensively as she got pucks to the net from the blue line, pinched at opportune moments, and supported her teammates well. Alberta has another solid defender coming their way.

I only had the chance to see her play once, but the Saskatchewan Huskies will be happy with Charlie Shearer's play with the Westman Wildcats. Shearer didn't have any points this weekend, but she was a force in her own zone where she blocked shots, used her stick effectively to break up plays, and made smart breakout passes. I'm not sure Charlie Shearer will lead the Huskies in scoring, but she won't have to if she's as good defensively as she was this weekend.

Perhaps the one team who could see a major turn with the players they've recruited is the Regina Cougars. Westman's Ivy Perkin was magical with the puck all weekend, and she already looks like she's a university-level player. Aliyah Teixeira was excellent at both ends of the ice for the Winnipeg Ice as a leader and playmaker with the defender winning the saucer pass challenge at the FWSSC Skills Competition. Perkin was just as impressive at the Skills Competition as she just missed out on winning the accuracy shooting challenge, so the Cougars are going to have serious Manitoba talent next year.

Finally, Manitoba will get some offensive punch next season as the Winnipeg Avros' tandem of Braya Kapusta and Addilyn Nohlgren were solid all weekend in helping the Avros capture fifth-place. They led the way offensively with five goals, and they showed solid defensive responsibility in their backchecking. The Bisons can use the added scoring punch next season, and both Kapusta and Nohlgren will provide that. Nohlgren won the accuracy shooting event at the Skills Competition, so goalies may want to keep an eye on her!

... And Beyond?

There were lots of players who stood out that aren't in their graduation year this season, and it would be wise for teams to reach out and speak to these players if they need an upgrade in future seasons. Some of the players that stood out to Jason and I as we watched and called games included Westman defender Addison Henwood ('28), Balmoral Hall defender Lucy Ring ('27) and forward Brannagh Rae ('28), Winnipeg Avros defender Leah Claussen ('27), Winnipeg Ice netminder Gina Plett ('27) and forwards Sophie Woznesensky ('27), Kate Cairns ('27), and Maren Temple ('28), Rink Hockey Academy forward Georgia O'Neill ('27) and defender Piper Holbrook ('27), Pembina Valley forward Casey O'Brien ('27) and defender Ella Victor ('27), Interlake defender Ellis Pearson ('27), Pilot Mound forwards Sophie Drummond ('27) and Wytten Constant ('28), and Yellowhead forward Callee Despiegelaere ('27).

Not that anyone would want me doing it, but I could build one heckuva program if I could recruit all these players onto one team.

The Last Word

With the season into its final ten-game stretch, playoff spots will be decided soon. Some teams could take big steps forward next weekend while others are clinging to hope and need wins for the playoffs to remain a reality. For some teams, the playoffs start now if they want a shot at participating in the official Canada West playoffs.

With three weeks remaining in the season, though, all nine teams are still mathematically in the race meaning they all have a reason to play hard. Not all of them will make the playoffs, of course, but having this many teams alive this deep into the season means the intensity should remain high as we get near the end of the campaign.

Enjoy the games next week, folks. They should be good!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!