The Hockey Show - Episode 698

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, has the Olympic banner up as we are three games into the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Games already! Our hosts are back in the UMFM studios tonight where they'll be talking about the big tournament over in Italy among the discussion tonight as the latest version of the games becomes the first Winter Olympiad to be co-hosted by two cities! The women's hockey event is under, there were some U SPORTS people who made an impact, and more hockey chatter tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

Obviously, the opening cermonies still have to come but, tonight on the program, Teebz and Jason will talk about the 2026 Winter Olympics and the results from the games today along with all the U SPORTS people involved in the women's hockey event. Beyond that, they also discuss Gavin McKenna's legal troubles from one dumb move, the reason for delaying the Canada-Finland game today and how that's affecting the men's team, a forgotten name signing a contract in the ECHL, the dissolution of the Washington Post's sports department, and the two stoat mascots above in Tina and Milo! There's lots to go over tonight as the biggest tournaments in men's and women's hockey get underway in Italy so be ready to roll tonight for The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT on one of 101.5 FM, Channel 718 on MTS TV, or via UMFM.com!

If you live outside Winnipeg and want to listen, we have options! The UMFM website's streaming player works well if you want to listen online. We also recommend Radio Garden if you need an easy-to-use online stream. If you're more of an app person, we recommend you use the TuneIn app found on the App Store or Google Play Store.

If you have questions, you can email all show queries and comments to hockeyshow@umfm.com! Tweet me anytime with questions you may have by hitting me up at @TeebzHBIC on Twitter! I'm here to listen to you, so make your voice heard! And because both Teebz and Jason are on the butterfly app where things are less noisy, you can find Teebz here and Jason here on Bluesky!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason chat big games, first wins, costly punches, food poisoning, alternate lodging, past goalies, voices lost, mascots found, and much more exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

He's An Official BUG Now

If you're wondering, I didn't win an eBay auction or anything. The Garret Sparks bobblehead is real, though, as the Toronto Marlies honoured the former netminder with his own bobblehead back in 2018, and there could be another version made this season after it was announced that Garret Sparks signed with the ECHL's Bloomington Bison today as the ECHL team looks to improve their playoff position as the season heads into its stretch run. Sparks had been working with the Bison this season as an EBUG in late November, so he's somewhat familiar with the team and its systems already. Having him sign a contract to back up starting netminder Dryden McKay and possibly push him higher gives Bloomington one of the best tandems in the entire ECHL.

No one is expecting Sparks to come in and turn Bloomington's goaltending on its side. As we know, he's got NHL and AHL experience, but he hasn't played meaningful hockey at any level since 2023-24 and he hasn't won a professional hockey game since 2022-23. Sparks will have some work to do if he hopes to regain the same level of puck-stopping that saw him win 31 AHL games with the Toronto Marlies in 2017-18. Yes, that happened just short of a decade ago.

Bloomington is getting good goaltending right now from Dryden McKay, so having Sparks as a second option makes sense as the Bison find themselves in third-place with a 21-16-4 record and 46 points. The catch is that the Indy Fuel also have 46 points and sit in fourth-place with a game in-hand, and both teams are six points back of the second-place Fort Wayne Komets. Of the teams currently holding a playoff spot in the Central Division, the Bison have surrendered the most goals at 119 so it seems like a potential upgrade was needed.

I'm not sure Sparks is a better option than McKay and current goaltending partner Hugo Ollas. McKay is sporting a 2.18 GAA and a .929 save percentage, but he only has a 13-10-1 record on the season. Ollas seems like he's pulling his weight, but his numbers have to be better than the current 3.18 GAA, .895 save percentage, and 4-4-1 record that he sports. Even getting his GAA down below 3.00 would make a huge difference, but McKay's numbers show that the Bison need to find more scoring as well. If Sparks can outplay Ollas over the rest of the season, though, it will help the Bison's chances.

Bloomington goes on the road this weekend with a pair of games against the fifth-place Kalamazoo Wings on Saturday and Sunday before meeting up with the Fort Wayne Komets on Monday. Winning all three games would help the Bison immensely, but I doubt we'll see Sparks dressed for those games. They play the Utah Grizzlies in Salt Lake City the following weekend, so Sparks has lots of time to get himself into game shape. Assuming things go well, he could dress for the February 20 series against the Maine Mariners at home, so we'll see if #40 is ready to stampede with the Bison by that weekend.

The 32 year-old goaltender wasn't signed today to save a season or push the Bloomington Bison over some imagined hump they face. The Bison have never qualified for the playoffs in their short one-completed-season of history, so reaching the playoffs for the first time will be a big moment in their franchise's history. Where the story goes from there will be on the players and coaches, but Sparks, like the team, needs to take this one day and game at a time.

You can make it official, though: Garret Sparks is back in the ECHL!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

TBC: Tales From The Bus Leagues

If you've ever had a chance to sit and chat with a professional hockey player in a less-formal setting, you know that all players have about a million stories from their careers they enjoy telling. Minor-league hockey players always seem to have more of the crazier stories thanks to there being less cameras and eyeballs on them, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to add another great read to the library that is all about one man's hockey experiences. Teebz's Book Club is proud to review Tales from the Bus Leagues, written and published by Jamie McKinven. This book is one hundred stories from Jamie's life where hockey was his only concern as he played in the NCAA, the ECHL, the CHL, and in Europe over the course of his career, and the end result is a book where I couldn't turn pages fast enough when it came to reading about these stops in his career!

Jamie McKinven's biography comes from his Queen's University page where he serves as the women's hockey assistant coach! That biography reads, "Jamie is in his 9th season as an Assistant Coach with the team where he specializes in working primarily with the defense and on defensive systems and tactics on top of individual skill development & data/analytics. A Kingston, Ontario native, McKinven played NCAA Division I hockey at Clarkson University, earning the Fran Narigan Award for excellence in academics, athletics, and humanitarianism in his senior year. Following his collegiate career, he played professionally in the ECHL, Central Hockey League, and Europe. After his playing career, McKinven served as Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development for the Kingston Voyageurs Jr. A Hockey Club and as a skill development specialist with FL Sports Inc. and McKinven Hockey Development & Consulting." It should also be noted that he's written three books about hockey including Tales from the Bus Leagues!

Tales from the Bus Leagues takes you through Jamie McKinven's career, starting in junior hockey in Ottawa to his university days in Potsdam, New York to playing in hockey hotbeds such as Shreveport, Amarillo, Augusta, and more! McKinven's experiences are documented along the way as he includes lessons learned in and around the game, pranks pulled and experienced, teammates that made his career memorable, and some of the more memorable events and people that make Tales from the Bus Leagues a funny and enjoyable read!

You might be asking who McKinven played with or against that you know, and there were some notable names who skated in the leagues he did. Former NHL defender Grant Clitsome is the victim of a McKinven prank in one story, former NHL centerman Craig Conroy rewards McKinven and his teammates for their hockey skills, and former NHL forward David Desharnais was an opponent at one point. McKinven tells the story of Mike Sgroi who might be the scariest man on skates, and he talks about fighting the much larger Joel Irving, a Montreal Canadiens prospect. Through it all, McKinven ensures the humourous look at his career continues in Tales from the Bus Leagues.

What kept me hooked into Tales from the Bus Leagues early on was McKinven's experience in Serbia. During his time over there, the former Yugoslavia had broken up and there were still remnants of the war that went on all around Belgrade where he was playing. Rather than focusing on the conditions in and around Belgrade, McKinven spoke of the culture and people with very high regard. He writes,

"Considering that Serbians have been living with the constant presence of war and conflict for centuries, it makes complete sense that they would be extremely proud people. Family, religion and deep-rooted cultural values are what have guided the Serbians through their darkest days. It's the foundation of their perserverance, something we, as Canadians, were lax and somewhat absentminded about. It wasn't that we didn't appreciate the importance of these values. It was more that we never had to rely on them for survival."

That's a profound statement from a guy who was there to play hockey, but his experiences there and the teammates he befriended in Belgrade were reminders that he was stranger in a foreign land. I appreciate his cultural perspective on his time in Serbia, and I'm glad he wrote about it with such clarity, honesty, and transparency.

There are a range of hilarious and entertaining stories in Tales from the Bus Leagues that include McKinven's experiences as a hockey player at The Masters, life as a university student-athlete, bus trips on two different continents, run-ins with coaches, and a pile of other stories that came from his career in the minor leagues. Some are admittedly childish in nature, but they're all part of Jamie McKinven's experience in being a minor-league professional hockey player!

Overall, Tales from the Bus Leagues is a fun read that should generate a smile during some of the stories thanks to the craziness in which McKinven and his teammates indulge. McKinven makes it clear that anyone who is a minor-league hockey player isn't playing for the money, and this is a lesson repeated in a number of the stories. What should be remembered, though, is that McKinven has had himself a lifetime of experiences doing what he loved, and it's easy to award Tales from the Bus Leagues the Teebz's Book Club Seal of Approval!

Tales from the Bus Leagues was released back in 2015, so you can likely find it on library shelves right now. I read the eBook version that is linked above, and it was easy to get into the book as it's funny, has short stories that last only a few pages at most, and is all about hockey. McKinven's stories occasionally contain some strong language, so it would recommended for older teens and adult hockey fans. However, Tales from the Bus Leagues is an excellent, fun read with great hockey stories, and it comes highly recommended!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Major Losses In Stavely

I have never been to Stavely, Alberta, but the town was shaken to its core tonight upon hearing the news that three young hockey players lost their lives today following an automobile accident. The three players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were reportedly headed to practice when their small car collided with a truck carrying gravel at an intersection just outside of town on Highway 2. This is a heartbreaking moment for the town and the team, and I can't imagine the grief that is being suffered in the town of approximately 550 people and by the families of the three players. This is a tragedy and HBIC sends its deepest condolences to the players' families, friends, and teammates.

The three players - 18 year-old players JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso from Kamloops, BC, and 17 year-old player Caden Fine of Birmingham, Alabama - were pronounced dead on the scene following the accident. RCMP are still investigating what led to the collision, but the the driver of the truck, a 40-year-old man living in Stavely, was treated for minor injuries. I can't imagine what he's going through tonight, and my hope is he can find peace at some point.

The loss of the these three young men will undoubtedly ripple through the hockey community, and there have already been incredible gestures made as the Calgary Flames held a moment of silence in honour of these young men while Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement in finding out about this tragedy. We can talk about scores and stats all we want, but it's times like these where the humanity of the game comes through as the hockey community bands together to support one another in a time of need.

Mike Gilroy, a former player co-ordinator with the Mustangs, worked with the three players last summer, telling The Canadian Press, "They had the spark in their eyes and the fire in their hearts every day and enjoyed being a part of a team and took the time to put in the extra work to be successful.

"It is far too soon for young, talented people like this."

Gilroy's statement is entirely right as forward JJ Wright, goaltender Cameron Casorso, and centerman Caden Fine were just starting to find their stride in the United States Premier Hockey League with the Mustangs. The USPHL prides itself as a "top junior hockey level, with more than 1,000 alumni In college hockey every season" and these players looked like they were following that path before this tragedy. It's with a heavy heart that their stories come to an end today.

The Southern Alberta Mustangs issued the following statement today:

"It is with unimaginable heartbreak that we confirm three players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed in a motor vehicle accident earlier today while travelling to team practice.

"There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our grief. These young men were more than hockey players — they were teammates, sons, brothers, friends, and deeply loved members of our Mustangs family and the communities we call home.

"Our hearts are with the families, friends, billet families, teammates, coaches, and everyone who loved them. We ask that their families be given privacy and compassion as they navigate this devastating loss.

"The Southern Alberta Mustangs organization is working closely with authorities and will continue to support our players, staff, and families in every way possible during this incredibly difficult time.

"We are a family, and today our family is hurting."

Signed by team owners, I cannot even comprehend how difficult it would have been to compose that statement. Games will undoubtedly be put on hold as the Mustangs work through the grieving process, but I don't know how any team would regroup for games following a loss like this. They seem meaningless considering what has happened.

My thoughts are with the team, coaches, and families tonight in this unimaginable tragedy. I can't imagine the pain they're feeling, and I want to pass on my deepest condolences to all whose lives had been touched by these three men because they are gone far too soon.

Until next time, remember these three young men.

The Rundown - Week 14

There was a delay on this article thanks to Mother Nature interfering with the schedule set out by Canada West. Regina and Saskatchewan were forced to play the second game in their two-game set on Sunday as a winter storm swept into the rectangular province, and full credit to the two teams for not putting anyone at risk by travelling when it wasn't ideal. As such, this article was on pause when it came to being published until those teams got that final contest of the weekend in, but let's see how everything played out this week on The Rundown!

THURSDAY: You know it's Crowchild Classic season when the Calgary Dinos and Mount Royal Cougars are playing on a Thursday afternoon inside the Saddledome! The Dinos were looking to close the gap between themselves and the Cougars when it came to first-place in the East Division while the Cougars wanted to stretch the lead and lockdown a quarterfinal bye before February. With playoff positioning on the line and playing in the big rink, this was a marquee matchup!

Dinos goals: Caitlyn Perlinger (1), Josie McLeod (3)
Dinos assists: Brooklyn Anderson (7), Brette Kerley (3)
Dinos netminder: Amelia Awad (28/29)

Cougars goals: Gabby Lindsay (2)
Cougars assists: Abigail Borbandy (2), Kaia Borbandy (5)
Cougars netminder: Scout Anderson (20/22)

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

SATURDAY: After having an extra day to lick their wounds following the loss, Mount Royal met Calgary at Father David Bauer Arena. The Cougars wanted the split to restore the gap following Thursday's setback, and the Dinos were looking for another win to put pressure on Mount Royal. The stakes remained high between these two teams with points on the line and a potential bye waiting for the winner!


Cougars goals: Gabby Lindsay (3), Julia Duke (9), Allee Gerrard (10)
Cougars assists: Kaia Borbandy (6), Kiana McNinch (10), Isa MacPhee (10), Summer Fomradas (11)
Cougars netminder: Scout Anderson (23/27) in 63:02

Dinos goals: Solana Cooper (3), Brooklyn Anderson (6), Jess Martens (7), Brooklyn Anderson (7)
Dinos assists: Bree Kennedy (5), Solana Cooper (2), Sydney Mercier (5), Emma Tait (2), Alex Spence (11), Evelyn Lawrence (7)
Dinos netminder: Amelia Awad (34/37) in 63:02

Result: 4-3 overtime victory for Calgary over Mount Royal.

FRIDAY: The Manitoba Bisons hit the road with their destination set as Edmonton where the Alberta Pandas were waiting. The Pandas were looking to open up a wider gap between them and idle Trinity Western with wins over Manitoba. The Bisons were hunting for points in their attempt to catch and overtake Saskatchewan, so both teams came into this weekend's series knowing their assignments!

Bisons goals: Norah Collins (6), Julia Bird (9), Jessie Haner (2), Brenna Nicol (1), Norah Collins (7)
Bisons assists: Alyssa Rasmuson (8), Claire Moorman (6), Norah Collins (5), Alyssa Rasmuson (9), Brenna Nicol (5), Sadie Keller (3), Aimee Patrick (10)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (20/25) in 62:33

Pandas goals: Raegan Yewdall (4), Jadynn Morden (6), Abby Soyko (8), Natalie Kieser (6), Natalie Kieser (7)
Pandas assists: Hayleigh Craig (7), Sara Kazeil (2), Natalie Kieser (9), Alexandra Black (1), Sara Kazeil (2), Holly Magnus (12), Riley Smith (5)
Pandas netminders: Mackenzie Dojahn (19/23) in 61:56

Result: 5-4 overtime victory for Alberta over Manitoba.

SATURDAY: The stakes remained the same as the night before as both Alberta and Manitoba were seeking points. Both teams got points on Friday, but finishing off the weekend with a regulation win would be big for both sides. Manitoba, who held a one-goal lead after rallying in the third period on Friday, ended up on the wrong side of another game where they led, so will those losses come back to haunt them?

Bisons goals: Louise Fergusson (3), Julia Bird (9), Sadie Keller (3), Norah Collins (8)
Bisons assists: Norah Collins (6), Norah Collins (7), Jessie Haner (1), Addison Vines (1)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (15/17)

Pandas goals: Abbey Bourdeaud'hui (1), Abby Soyko (9)
Pandas assists: Raegan Yewdall (2), Annie King (4), Natalie Kieser (10), Brayden Stewart (3)
Pandas netminders: Grace Glover (17/20)

Result: 4-2 victory for Manitoba over Alberta.

FRIDAY: There wasn't a lot of math needed for the MacEwan Griffins this weekend: win against UBC to keep their season alive. A sweep would keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Anything less would mean another offseason starting in February for MacEwan with the remainder of the schedule switching to "spoiler mode". For UBC, this weekend was about playing well and preventing injuries.

Thunderbirds goals: Jacquelyn Fleming (5), Karine Sandilands (8), Olivia Buckley (4)
Thunderbirds assists: Ashton Thorpe (6), Grace Elliott (12), Cassidy Rhodes (4), Audrey Church (5), Annalise Wong (25)
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (12/12)

Griffins goals: none
Griffins assists: none
Griffins netminder: Taya Currie (48/50)

Result: 3-0 victory for UBC over MacEwan.

SATURDAY: With UBC's win, MacEwan was officially out of needed games to overtake anyone for a playoff spot in the West Division, so this second game of the two-game set was nothing more than two teams at different levels of Canada West hockey. That being said, the Griffins weren't about to roll over on home ice as they looked to give UBC a headache and, potentially, a loss as this series came to an end.

Thunderbirds goals: Grace Elliott (23), Grace Elliott (24)
Thunderbirds assists: Annalise Wong (26), Jacquelyn Fleming (7), Annalise Wong (27), Jaylyn Morris (13)
Thunderbirds netminder: Mya Lucifora (10/10)

Griffins goals: none
Griffins assists: none
Griffins netminder: Lindsey Johnson (26/28)

Result: 2-0 victory for UBC over MacEwan.

FRIDAY: The U Prairie Challenge was center-stage for the province of Saskatchewan as the Huskies met the Cougars in Regina. Two wins in regulation time by the Huskies would eliminate their southern counterparts from the playoffs, so Saskatchewan was looking to make things very unhappy in Regina. The Cougars were needing to beat the Huskies to close the gap between them as they needed to leap past Manitoba and Saskatchewan to make the playoffs. Sweeping the opposition was the goal for both squads in this U Prairie Challenge!

Huskies goals: Jayde Cadieux (3), Jayde Cadieux (4), Sara Kendall (4), Kahlen Wisener (5)
Huskies assists: Kaysah Nurani (2), Avery Gottselig (4), Paris Oleksyn (5), Bronwyn Boucher (7), Peppi Virtanen (4), McKenna Bolger (7), Avery Gottselig (5)
Huskies netminders: Colby Wilson (16/17)

Cougars goals: Kaylee Dyer (4)
Cougars assists: Julianne Girardin (2)
Cougars netminders: Natalie Williamson (22/25) in 29:32; Amy Swayze (20/21) in 30:04

Result: 4-1 victory for Saskatchewan over Regina.

SUNDAY: As stated at the top of the article, Mother Nature's wintery grip on Saskatchewan pushed the second-half of the U Prairie Challenge to Sunday as Regina and Saskatchewan met in Saskatoon late this evening. If the Huskies win in regulation, the Cougars would not be able to overtake them in the standings, eliminating them from the playoffs. If the Cougars earn a point or more, it sets up an important battle with Manitoba next weekend to keep their playoff hopes alive. Would we see desperation hockey from Regina?

Huskies goals: Paris Oleksyn (3), Kahlen Wisener (6)
Huskies assists: Jayde Cadieux (9), Julianna Herman (1)
Huskies shootout scorers: Sara Kendall
Huskies netminders: Colby Wilson (25/27) in 65:00 plus 4/6 shootout attempts

Cougars goals: Shaylee Scraba (4), Makena Kushniruk (4)
Cougars assists: Julianne Girardin (3), Shaylee Scraba (1)
Cougars shootout scorers: Cassidy Peters, Trinity Grove
Cougars netminder: Amy Swayze (38/40) in 65:00 plus 5/6 shootout attempts

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	22-2-2-0	48	80	23	W6	vs ALB
Mount Royal	12-6-6-2	38	64	43	L3	BYE
Calgary	13-5-3-4	34	58	44	W2	vs SAS
Alberta	8-7-2-7	27	50	55	L1	@ UBC
Saskatchewan	6-9-4-5	25	38	53	L1	@ CAL
Manitoba	7-9-2-6	24	55	62	W1	@ REG
Trinity Western	5-12-6-1	23	53	58	L3	@ MAC
Regina	4-12-4-4	20	37	59	W1	vs MAN
MacEwan	3-17-2-2	12	23	61	L3	vs TWU

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. She normally shows up earlier on this list, but there's no doubting that Manitoba Bisons forward Norah Collins is an important scorer for Manitoba. Adding three goals and three assists against Alberta this weekend helped the Bisons earn three points, but Norah Collins' six-point effort was big and that's how she made the Honour Roll!

Collins was a phenomenal scorer at the AAA level in Manitoba, and I expected to see her put into prominent offensive opportunities with the Bisons after she committed to them. Her first two seasons with the squad saw her play 27 games combined which was wholly puzzling considering how good she had been, but she broke out with 12 goals and 16 points last season to announce her presence in Canada West.

This season saw her getting chances, but pucks weren't finding twine. That all changed when the calendar flipped to 2026 as Collins has gone off since returning from the break. She has scored five of her eight goals over the last eight games and eleven of her 15 points have been scored over the last four weeks. As we know, six of those points came against the Pandas, and the Bisons are going to need Collins to remain hot if they're going to overtake the Huskies. Scoring points on 75% of the goals scored in a weekend is one way to do that, and that's how Manitoba Bisons forward Norah Collins made the list!

Big Crowd!

The Crowchild Classic was another success for the Dinos and Cougars this season as Calgary's two U SPORTS schools saw both the men's and women's games played at the Scotiabank Saddledome. While the crowd was sparse on Thursday for the afternoon women's game, the men's game was sold out weeks ago as 13,324 people pushed through the turnstiles in downtown Calgary! That total might be more than all of Canada West's season combined! Well done, Dinos and Cougars!

The Crowchild Classic hockey portion even got mainstream media attention! CBC Calgary's Zafir Nagji filed a report on how big this event has become for the two schools and the students that attend!

Full marks go out to everyone who attended the Crowchild Classic at the Saddledome because that place was rocking on Thursday night who set a U SPORTS record for the largest crowd for any U SPORTS game! The record they smashed this season was the one they set last year at the Saddledome when 13,139 fans watched the schools' hockey squads battle! My only question is why this crowd doesn't materialize every weekend in Calgary for Canada West hockey.

The fans clearly enjoyed the games, these four teams are highly-competitive, and all four have a shot at a National Championship berth. I know they don't play in the Saddledome every week, but seeing that electricity in the building is something both athletic departments should be looking to replicate each week!

Playoff Picture

It should come as no surprise that UBC is in and they have home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Mount Royal is in, but are still battling for a quarterfinal bye with the Calgary Dinos, and things could get very interesting based on next weekend's results. Calgary, for the record, is also in, but here's where the math gets involved:

• All of the head-to-head stats are identical as both teams have 3-2-1 records for seven points, and both teams have scored 13 goals against one another. Throw away the head-to-head stats.
• Total wins in league play would be the next tie-breaker, and that's where Calgary would move ahead if they win both games against Saskatchewan. Calgary would have 17 total wins to Mount Royal's 16 wins. At the end of the day, wins matter.

It isn't often that Mount Royal cheers for the Saskatchewan Huskies, but they'll be pulling for the team in green next weekend in order for Mount Royal to stay ahead. Four points by the Dinos would push them into first-place in the East Division with two games remaining for each team. The Dinos play the Bisons in Winnipeg on the final weekend while Mount Royal is in Saskatoon to play the Huskies.

Alberta and Trinity Western are both in thanks to UBC defeating MacEwan this weekend, but where they finish is still up in the air. Alberta has a four-point lead on Trinity Western, but Trinity Western holds the tie-breaker over Alberta. With Trinity Western playing MacEwan next week and Alberta meeting up with UBC, there's a chance that this race comes down to the last weekend of the season as well. In that case, Alberta and MacEwan have a home-and-home series whereas Trinity Western hosts Regina. Home-ice advantage for the quarterfinal series is still up for grabs in the West Division.

Saskatchewan holds a one-point lead over Manitoba for the final playoff spot in the East Division, and the Huskies may be in tough with back-to-back weekends against Calgary and Mount Royal. If they want to play at Nationals, however, they'll likely need to beat at least one of those teams in the playoffs so maybe this is what they want. In any case, Manitoba needs to sweep Regina in the Queen City and handle the Dinos at home. Nothing is guaranteed as of yet, so the final playoff spot looks like it will be a race to the finish!

Speaking of which, the Regina Cougars, thanks to their shootout win over the Huskies tonight, kept their hopes for a postseason berth alive for another week. Regina has to sweep the Bisons next week at home while getting some help from the Calgary Dinos in order to jump right back into the race, so the Cougars have to win if they want a shot. If they split with Manitoba, the playoff dream is over.

Unfortunately for the MacEwan Griffins, they'll be playing spoiler for the final two weekends of the season. They were officially eliminated with their loss on Friday to the UBC Thunderbirds, so they'll do their best to ruin playoff hopes for both Trinity Western and Alberta who they meet over the final two weekends of the campaign.

The Last Word

We're now into February on the calendar with five playoff spots still to be determined. I don't know if anyone could have predicted that we'd have playoff races right into the final weekend this year based on how some of these teams started the season, but this is where we find ourselves. If you're not excited for Canada West hockey over the next two weeks, you may want to check your pulse just to be sure.

Obviously, things may be a little different for the Mount Cougars as they go into the bye week by sending their coach to Italy, but I want to wish Scott Rivett all the best as he gets ready for Czechia's opening game in four days against Team USA! Czechia is looking for a medal at these Olympic Games, and the only question might be what colour that medal is when the dust settles! Good luck, Scott!

UBC will be down a solid player as well as Vanessa Schaefer will suit up with the Swiss team in Milano-Cortina! The last time we saw a player go to the Olympics, win a medal, and return to help her team win Canada West and the U SPORTS National Championship was 2018 when Venla Hovi captured a brozen medal in Pyeongchang only for her to return, help Manitoba dispatch Alberta and Saskatchewan, and then play a significant role in helping Manitoba secure the National Championship in London, Ontario! Is this Vanessa's time to shine?

Schaefer has a chance to do the same as she'll compete with Switzerland, rush back as fast as she can to suit up with UBC, and see if she can help the Thunderbirds win Canada West before heading out to Elmira, Ontario for the U SPORTS National Championship. I'm not saying there are similarities here, but there seems to be a number of opportunities for Schaefer to replicate what Hovi did! Could we see her bring home a medal only to help UBC capture a banner and bring home another important medal? We'll know soon enough!

The storylines are full of drama as we enter the two weeks of the season. How can anyone not get excited for what lies ahead?

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

A League-Imposed Break

I'll be fully honest in saying that I don't follow the CHL or its respective leagues likely as much as I did when the Winnipeg Ice were still a team. The Ice gave a reason to check in on the WHL and the other leagues under the CHL's umbrella, but I admittedly have not being doing that since they relocated to Wenatchee. Having spent the day in Brandon, it got me thinking that I should do more, and then social media got into the act tonight as several accounts posted the same clip from the OHL that will likely give one player a league-imposed break from hockey. The player pictured above is that player, and his name is Adam Levac who is a second-year centerman for the OHL's Peterborough Petes.

Levac is having himself a solid season this year. He skated in 57 games last year as 16 year-old where he had six goals and ten points, and he's shown solid improvement this season with 14 goals and 36 points in 48 games. Being a solid scorer at the OHL level is always encouraging to see because younger players can be overwhelmed by the league and its older players who often get the scoring chances.

In saying that, there is one thing that Levac doesn't do at this point in his career, and that's being an enforcer for the Petes. Levac has just one career fight in the OHL so far, but has been known to a throw a big hit every now and then as he has a physical side. Tonight, though, he used a move during a skirmish that will force him to miss games.

Let's go to the video from tonight's contest between the Petes and the Ottawa 67's where a melee broke out on the ice where Levac was paired up with Ottawa defender Kaleb Dietsch for some dancing.

I'm not sure what was going through Levac's mind when he swept the leg out from under Dietsch, but that move earned him a five-minute major penalty and a match penalty. I can understand Levac likely wasn't appreciating Dietsch's jabs despite him wearing his gloves, but that's what can happen when a player stands three inches shorter in a fight. What Levac did was completely uncalled for and rightfully deserves supplemental discipline, so he should expect a call from the OHL as early as tomorrow before the Petes arrive in Kingston.

I believe it should be a heavy suspension based on Levac's actions. As we know, the slew-foot alone will like get him a game or two, so that's a given. However, the fact that Levac landed on top of Dietsch and then started throwing punches will likely get him the longer suspension that he deserves. Had Dietsch been injured by the slew-foot move, this could have been much worse. Thankfully, it wasn't, but Levac doesn't get rewarded because Dietsch avoided injury.

Secondly, Dietsch has six total fights in his career. The jabs he threw with a gloved hand are done to keep Levac at a distance rather than trying to hurt him. I'm not saying that Diestch wasn't prepared to drop the gloves, but the fact that he still had his gloves on as Levac engaged him suggests he wasn't looking for a fight. In using his longer reach, he kept Levac where he could avoid damage, and that's when Levac pulled out the slew-foot to put Dietsch on his back.

Based on all of this evidence, this has to be a ten-game suspension. The slew-foot alone has to be worth two or three games just for safety reasons, but Levac landing on top of him and throwing punches will add another six-to-eight games for me. I'm not saying that Levac and Dietsch weren't going to fight had this played out normally, but the fact that Levac decided to commit two egregious acts - slew-footing an opponent and punching a player whil he's down - means that a message must be sent so this doesn't happen again.

No one is saying that Adam Levac is a bad player. He simply made bad decisions that could have resulted in terrible things happening to another player. I'm glad that Kaleb Dietsch is alright and will likely play against Sudbury on Sunday, but Levac should probably be prepared to watch a lot of game film over the next two weeks because he won't soon be on the ice for the Peterborough Petes.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Hockey Show - Episode 697

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, is back in the cozy confines of the UMFM studio tonight where it will be a normal temperature unlike our rink setting last week. Obviously, our hosts had a blast seeing some of the best women's hockey action this province has to offer at the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge, and they'll wrap up that experience with some well-deserved thank-yous, a recap of what happened, and a discussion on where the tournament may go from here. And then they'll talk other hockey stuff too! It's a fun episode with looks at hockey from across the globe tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason show a little gratitude in thanking at all the people who made the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge memorable, entertaining, and fun. Beyond that discussion, they'll also chat about the results and who finished where, highlights for each of the two radio voices, and where they may see the tournament going in 2027. They'll also discuss a former Bisons coach getting the bump to head coach in another league, an SDHL team that is making a hard decision on its future, the KHL being the KHL with some of the news coming out of that league, and there's an exciting development coming out of the University of Waterloo about concussion detection! It should be an interesting show based on those stories and more, so make sure you're listening tonight to The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT on one of 101.5 FM, Channel 718 on MTS TV, or via UMFM.com!

If you live outside Winnipeg and want to listen, we have options! The UMFM website's streaming player works well if you want to listen online. We also recommend Radio Garden if you need an easy-to-use online stream. If you're more of an app person, we recommend you use the TuneIn app found on the App Store or Google Play Store.

If you have questions, you can email all show queries and comments to hockeyshow@umfm.com! Tweet me anytime with questions you may have by hitting me up at @TeebzHBIC on Twitter! I'm here to listen to you, so make your voice heard! And because both Teebz and Jason are on the butterfly app where things are less noisy, you can find Teebz here and Jason here on Bluesky!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason chat about great people, great moments, big wins, new jobs, less teams, questionable hires, former stars, brain care, and much more exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Sarah Bruise-jold?

Having been able to watch her play before she became a professional hockey player, there was never any doubt that former StFX X-Woman sniper Sarah Bujold had the talent to continue playing. Her 2016-17 season where she scored 24 goals and 43 points in 24 games is still one of the best seasons in recent U SPORTS history, and the only award she seemed to be missing from her trophy cabinet was a U SPORTS National Championship. What also stands out from that five-year period is that she only spent 105 minutes in the sin bin despite being sent over the boards a lot for the X-Women.

Since her days in the AUS, Bujold's gone on to play in the PHF, the PWHL, and the SDHL including this season where she's lighting the lamp for Luleå HF. Through 31 games, she has nine goals and 20 points in pushing Luleå to second-place in the SDHL, sitting two points back of first-place Frölunda HC. There are players who have outscored her, but she does lead the entire SDHL by a wide margin in one statistic, and it likely isn't the one anyone expects her to lead!

In four seasons with Djurgårdens IF, HV71, and Luleå HF before this season, Bujold had 80 penalty minutes combined. In fact, she had recorded just four minor penalties last season for eight minutes, so it's not like she was some sort of goon patrolling the ice for Luleå HF. This season, however, Bujold has brought a mean streak that we simply haven't seen from her as she has sat for 78 penalty minutes already! If she's whistled for one more minor penalty this season, she'll have doubled her career SDHL PIMs in one season!

In no professional season had Bujold had more than 30 penalty minutes and, including her university career, she never got above 35 minutes. Her 78 minutes in the sin bin not only lead the SDHL, but she's 25 minutes ahead of HV71's Alva Solberg who is in second-place with 53 minutes! She's also 37 minutes ahead of her closest teammate in Nadia Mattivi, so it's not like Luleå has been gooning it up all season like they're the Swedish version of the Broad Street Bullies.

I have no idea where this side of Sarah Bujold came from this year, but it doesn't seem to be slowing her down in any way. Her team is winning, she's contributing, and she has scored three game-winners. It's just that she has visited the penalty box this season as much as she had in four previous SDHL seasons which is startling considering how she played with StFX. If this is the new Sarah Bujold at age 29, it seems Luleå is reaping the benefits despite having to kill a few more penalties than normal while Sarah watches from the penalty box!

It seems like players in the SDHL need to have their head on a swivel when Luleå's #62 comes over the boards because she's just as likely to setup or score a goal as she is to lay the body. In fact, she might be more willing to do the latter if it keeps Luleå in the win column!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

TLC Day

If there's one thing I tried to do this year while sitting in a cold rink for four straight days, it was bundling up as best as I could. I went to great lengths to layer clothing so that heat wouldn't escape, but the colder temperatures across southern Manitoba brought a chill inside the rinks at the Hockey For All Centre that eventually infiltrated my layering. As a result, I was going in and out of the rinks all weekend, trying to reclaim some warmth between games in the lobby and the hospitality room with coffee. Despite my best efforts, the chill just continued to work its way through the jackets and sweaters I was wearing, culminating in a case of the sniffles and some grogginess yesterday that bled into today.

Granted, I did go to bed earlier last night as I was tired, but it was very clear that I had myself a head cold this morning as my sinuses were clogged and my nose was a runny mess. After a shower, some medication, and a box of tissues, I was ready to tackle the day as best I could despite the setback. Would I make it through work?

The good news is that I did make it. The bad news is that I'm feeling pretty lethargic tonight, so it's going to be another early night for me as I work to fight off this cold bug. Honestly, I hate being sick, so getting through this as quickly as possible is my goal. If it takes a few days, so be it, but I'm hoping the ol' immune system opens a can of whoop-ass on the cold so I can get back to my healthy, normal self.

I do want to point out that going in and out of the cold literally has nothing to do with catching a cold, and the fact that I was around a vast number of people all weekend likely led to the sniffles. That being said, the Mayo Clinic's Dr. Jesse Bracamonte does point to the fact that colder weather can lead to catching a cold indirectly.

"If you're a little bit colder outside, your body's immune system may just drop a little bit because it's spending extra effort to keep you warm. That's not with everybody, but, in some cases, it may predispose you to a cold," says Dr. Bracamonte.

"When it's cold outside," he continued explaining, "typically people gather around the fireplace or around your home. Therefore, if people are sick, you're more likely to be in close proximity to someone who is ill, thus catch the cold."

See? Being around people at the rink was the problem. I assume that I probably was in the vicinity of someone who had a touch of this cold bug, and now I have it as it settled into a new host. These are the unforeseen health risks I take to broadcast great hockey for people!

Jokes aside, I'm off to medicate and get some rest. I'm sure I'll bounce back tomorrow and be back with something to say about a hockey story of some sort. It seems to be what I do here on HBIC!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Grateful And Thankful

After a night of well-needed sleep under a stack of blankets to warm up, it's time for some reflection on the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge. This isn't going to be some autopsy on the event; rather, it's more of a showing of gratitude for allowing myself and UMFM to take part when both Balmoral Hall School and the Balmoral Hall Blazers could have opted to go with any radio station or have no radio broadcasts at all. As we said on the broadcasts, we are honoured to have been given the opportunity and we were privileged to bring the action to any and all who tuned into the broadcasts. That being said, allow me to say thanks a little more.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it's very clear that it takes an incredible team of people to pull off a tournament like the Female World Sport School Challenge. Balmoral Hall showed they are a close-knit team by banding together, finding solutions to problems, welcoming goofballs like me, and keeping the tournament rolling through four days of action. To the parents, the staff, and the students who volunteered in some capacity over the four days, you are the key to this tournament's success, and you deserve infinite thank-yous for your time and efforts. Thank you for everything!

To the players, staff, and coaches of the nine teams who brought boundless energy, incredible skills and talents, and unrelenting competitive spirits, thank you for the fantastic hockey all weekend long. Yes, the Winnipeg Ice may have gone home with the gold medals, but there was no shortage of amazing hockey played in each of the nine games we called. Beyond that, the abundance of talent shown at the Skills Competition was unforgettable, and we are excited to see where everyone lands, whether it be in hockey or beyond the rink. Thank you for making the hockey so great!

To Aaron, Chelsea, Bryan, Geneviève, Erin, Jennifer, and Jennifer Armstrong, thank you so much for allowing UMFM to be the voice of the tournament once again this year. We are always proud to be able to broadcast this tournament so that parents, families, friends, and fans can hear their favorite players and teams play, and we hope that we'll be a part of the tournament again next year and beyond. You guys did a phenomenal job in organizing and running the tournament, and I hope we were able to rise to the occasion with our broadcasts to meet the standard you all set! Thank you for your leadership!

To the many sponsors who supported this tournament, we are extremely grateful for your generosity! UMFM ran ads before, during, and after every game in order to recognize your efforts in supporting this tournament, and I hope the commercials we found and created for all the sponsors were as helpful as each business was in supporting this tournament. If you're reading this, please try to frequent this amazing group of businesses as they're putting women's hockey on the map in Manitoba! Thank you for your support!

Finally, I want to say thank you to all the parents, families, and fans who trekked to the Hockey For All Centre this weekend in the brutal cold to cheer on daughters, granddaughters, sisters, friends, and teams. From the moment they put skates on for the first time to the final whistle this weekend, you've been there to cheer them on, push them higher, give them comfort when things get bumpy, and celebrate all their successes. If you couldn't make it to the rink, my hope is that we did a good enough job describing the game via the UMFM broadcasts so that it felt like you were there watching. It goes without saying, but thank you for being their biggest fans!

In showing gratitude, I also want to say thanks to both Jason Pchajek and Eugene Pelland for throwing on a headset this weekend and providing great commentary. I called a number of games, but you guys elevated the broadcasts with your insights, expertise, and knowledge, and I will always be proud to sit next to you while calling a game. Thank you for your excellent broadcasting skills while making the games sound more intelligent and exciting than I ever could!

Another incredibly successful tournament is in the books with the Winnipeg Ice bringing home their second-straight gold medal. The Rink Hockey Academy are the silver medalists and the host Balmoral Hall Blazers are the bronze medalists with the Westman Wildcats falling just short at fourth-place. The Winnipeg Avros defeated the Pembina Valley Hawks in the fifth-place game, and the Yellowhead Chiefs defeated the Pilot Mound Buffaloes in the seventh-place game. The Interlake Lightning finished the tournament in ninth-place.

The Skills Competition saw Balmoral Hall's Brannagh Rae win the Fastest Skater event. The Avros had three players take home awards as Addilyn Nohlgren won the Accuracy Shooting event, defender Leah Claussen won the Hardest Shot event, and Cali Lavallee won the Breakaway Shootout event. The Ice saw defender Aliyah Texeira win the Sauce Passing event while goaltender Gina Plett was named the top netminder in the Breakaway Shootout event. Honestly, all the players who took part in these events were outstanding, and we saw some incredible performances that didn't win from players like Ivy Perkin, Rowyn Street, Joslyn Tetlock, and Kate Chuback.

With this being Balmoral Hall's first attempt at hosting, they've set a lofty standard to meet next season if they plan on hosting this tournament again. From the awesome volunteers to the talented players to the incredible action on the ice, this was an excellent event. I can only hope we'll be back again next year to see the fantastic hockey once more, so thank you to Balmoral Hall School and the Balmoral Hall Blazers for all the fun we had this year!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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 Texeira 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!