Opening Round of Playoffs Goes the Distance
RELEASE #2005-06-26 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2006
OPENING ROUND OF PLAYOFFS GOES THE DISTANCE
MANITOBA AND CALGARY ADVANCE WITH VICTORIES IN THIRD GAME
ALBERTA AND SASKATCHEWAN HOST DIVISION FINALS
It went down to the wire in the opening round of the Canada West Hockey playoffs as the University of Calgary Dinos and the University of Manitoba Bisons needed three games to win the best-of-three Canada West Hockey Division Semi-Finals on Friday-Sunday, February 24th to 26th.
Calgary and Manitoba had to rally from behind as both teams lost the opening game of their respective series. Manitoba won its second consecutive playoff series, dating back to the 2004-05 Canada West Hockey Wild Card series, defeating the University of Regina Cougars two games to one, while Calgary took three games to defeat the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
After opening the Great Plains Division semi-final with a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1 on Friday night at the Max Bell Arena in Winnipeg, Manitoba rallied to win the series with 7-1 and 6-2 victories over Regina. It was a similar story in Calgary as the Dinos fell by a single goal to UBC in a 4-3 loss in Game 1 of the Mountain Division semi-final. In Game 2 Calgary came within four seconds of elimination before tying the score and winning 5-4 in double overtime and then earning the series victory with a 4-1 win in the third and deciding game.
With their victories, Manitoba and Calgary advance to the Canada West Hockey division finals, which will be hosted by the University of Alberta Golden Bears and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The best-of-three series will be played on Friday-Sunday, March 3rd-5th.
MANITOBA VERSUS REGINA
Looking to win their first playoff series since the 2003-04 season, the Regina Cougars skated to a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 1 of the series. Chad Anderson, who earned Canada West Hockey Player of the Week honors in the final week of conference play, scored the game winner at 5:32 of the first overtime period to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
After Scott Haggarty opened the scoring for the Cougars only 2:31 into the game, Warren McCutcheon scored twice in a five minute span to give Manitoba a 2-1 lead after the opening 20 minutes of play. Caine Pearpoint would tie the score in the second for Regina with his first of two goals on the night. Jamie Dohayko’s powerplay goal restored the Bisons’ one-goal lead at the 11:39 mark of the third period, but Pearpoint netted his second goal of the game less than a minute later to tie the score at 3-3.
Anderson netted the deciding goal 5:32 into overtime, beating Manitoba goaltender Krister Toews on the Cougars’ third shot of the extra session.
Facing elimination in Game 2, Manitoba looked to its top line for offence and the trio of McCutcheon, Paul Deniset and Kevin Saurette delivered. The three forwards, who combined to score 100 points during the conference schedule, accounted for two goals and seven points as McCutcheon netted two more goals including the game winning goal with a second period powerplay goal, and both Deniset and Saurette had two assists. Jamie Dowhayko and Jared Lang each scored twice for Manitoba, which outshot Regina 34-14. The four-point game was a career-high for Dowahyko and almost doubled his scoring totals for the season. The sophomore defenceman had scored 1-5-6 in 26 conference games. Ryan Martin accounted for the only Regina goal.
The third and deciding game saw Manitoba score the game’s first six goals, building leads of 1-0 and 3-0 at the intermissions before Regina rounded out the scoring with two late goals.
Manitoba’s offence was keyed once again by the Bisons’ top trio as Deniset (1-2-3), McCutcheon (1-1-2) and Saurette (2-1-3) accounted for eight points, including Saurette’s game winner on the powerplay. In total, the three Bisons scored 19 points in the series, with McCutcheon holding the lead in the post-season scoring race with 5-2-7 and earning conference player of the week honors. Saurette (2-4-6) and Deniset (1-5-6) have each scored six points.
Manitoba’s blueline corps also contributed to the series victory as Dowhayko and Jared Lang each scored six points. The defensive duo lead defencemen in scoring with 3-3-6 and 2-4-6, respectively.
CALGARY VERSUS UBC
After sweeping UBC in last season’s Mountain Division semi-final, Calgary went down to the wire to win the opening round of the conference playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. With their 2-1 victory over UBC, Calgary is now 9-0 in the division semi-finals, dating back to 1997-98. In that nine-year span the Dinos are 18-6, defeating the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns five times and UBC four times, including the last three seasons.
As was the case in the Manitoba – Regina series, the visiting team took the series opener with UBC earning a 4-3 win on Friday night, scoring twice in the last two minutes to overcome a 3-2 deficit to earn the victory.
It was a back-and-forth game with the teams exchanging the lead three times before the final outcome was decided. Jordan Beirnes scored the only goal of the opening period giving UBC a 1-0 lead at 8:58. Dan LaPointe tied the score with an unassisted goal for Calgary 7:36 into the second period before Peter Hay regained the lead for UBC at 10:08.
It took the Dinos only 89 seconds after the start of the third period to tie score on Ryan Annesley’s first goal of the post-season and Calgary took its first lead of the game at 17:26 on Jarret Lukin’s goal. The 3-2 Calgary lead was short lived however, as defenceman Jarret Winn tied the score only 31 seconds later. It appeared that the teams were headed to overtime, but Jon Kress beat Calgary netminder Scott Talbot with a low shot from the slot with only six seconds remaining in regulation to give the Thunderbirds the 1-0 series lead.
Game 2 saw the Dinos come four seconds from elimination before tying the series at a game apiece with a 5-4 win in double overtime. The Dinos fell behind 3-1 in the first period, battled back to tie the score at 3-3 after two periods of play and then sent the came into overtime on a goal by Jarret Lukin at 19:56 of the third.
Kyle Bruce scored twice and Peter Hay added a single to give UBC a 3-1 lead in the first period. After Ryan Annesley opened the scoring for Calgary with his second goal of the series, Hay and Bruce scored powerplay goals 1:05 apart midway through the period to take a 2-1 lead and Bruce added his second goal of the period at 18:05.
Second period goals by Alex Lalonde and Dan LaPointe evened the score heading into the third period. Stephane Gervais gave UBC its second lead of the game at 14:49 and the Thunderbirds appeared to be on their way to a series sweep with just over five minutes remaining. The Dinos wouldn’t giveup, scoring the game tying goal at 19:56 when Jarret Lukin shoveled a backhand past Gerry Festa.
After both teams failed to score in the first overtime period, a 10-minute affair, Ryan Annesley netted the game winner with an unassisted goal at 16:27 of the second overtime to tie the series at 1-1. It was the second goal of the game and third of the series for Annesley, who led all scorers with 2-2-4. Lukin had a goal and two assists for Calgary, while Hay had 1-1-2 for UBC, which was outshot 51-29, inclcuding 11-6 in overtime.
Calgary found itself behind once again in Game 3 as they entered the third period of the deciding game down 1-0. The teams played through a scoreless first period before Darrell May opened the scoring 1:15 into the second. Tyrel Lucas and Andre Blanchette were the Dinos’ heroes in the third period as both players scored twice. Lucas tied the score at 7:20 and Blanchette netted the series winner at 12:52. Lucas would up the lead to 3-1 at 16:12 with his second goal of the period and Blanchette rounded out the scoring with an empty net goal with 23 seconds remaining. Lucas added an assist for a three point game, while Ryan Annesley had one assist to finish the series with 3-3-6 to top all Calgary scorers.
PLAYOFF PREVIEW
ALBERTA AND SASKATCHEWAN HOST DIVISION FINALS
The Alberta Golden Bears and Saskatchewan Huskies earned a bye in the first round of the post-season after finishing atop the Mountain and Great Plains Division standings, respectively. Alberta will host Calgary in the Mountain Division final for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons, including the last nine consecutively from 1995-96 to 2004-05. Alberta is 13-7 in the 20 times they have faced-off against Calgary in the playoffs, including 8-0 in the last eight series.
Manitoba travels to Saskatoon for the third time in the last four seasons for the Great Plains Division final against the Saskatchewan Huskies. Saskatchewan has won its last two playoff series against Manitoba, with Saskatchewan sweeping the 2002-03 and 2003-04 series. The Huskies hold a 6-1 advantage over the Bisons in their seven previous playoff series, including 5-0 in the five series played at Rutherford Arena.
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS versus CALGARY DINOS (Alberta leads 13-7)
SEASON VENUE SERIES RESULT
1969-70 Calgary CWF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinosaurs 6-3.
1971-72 Edmonton CWF Alberta defeated Calgary 1-0, outscoring Dinosaurs 3-1.
1973-74 Calgary CWF Calgary defeated Alberta 2-0, outscoring Golden Bears 9-7.
1975-76 Calgary CWF Calgary defeated Alberta 2-0, outscoring Golden Bears 9-2.
1978-79 Edmonton CWF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-1, outscoring Dinosaurs 12-9.
1979-80 Edmonton CWF Calgary defeated Alberta 2-0, outscoring Golden Bears 5-1.
1987-88 Calgary CWF Calgary defeated Alberta 2-1, outscoring Golden Bears 18-16.
1988-89 Edmonton CWF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-1, outscoring Dinosaurs 9-7.
1989-90 Calgary CWF Calgary defeated Alberta 2-0, outscoring Golden Bears 11-6.
1991-92 Edmonton CSF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-1, outscoring Dinosaurs 15-13.
1993-94 Calgary CSF Calgary defeated Alberta 2-0, outscoring Golden Bears 8-3.
1995-96 Calgary CWDF Calgary defeated Alberta 2-0, outscoring Golden Bears 9-4.
1996-97 Calgary CWDF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinosaurs 9-6.
1997-98 Edmonton CWDF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinosaurs 13-5.
1998-99 Edmonton CWDF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinosaurs 13-6.
1999-00 Edmonton CWDF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinos 12-5.
2000-01 Edmonton CWDF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinos 12-0.
2002-03 Edmonton CWDF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinos 12-4.
2003-04 Edmonton CWDF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinos 10-1.
2004-05 Edmonton CWDF Alberta defeated Calgary 2-0, outscoring Dinos 11-4.
MANITOBA BISONS versus SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (Saskatchewan leads 6-1)
SEASON VENUE SERIES RESULT
1986-87 Winnipeg CSF Saskatchewan defeated Manitoba 2-1, outscoring Bisons 10-7.
1996-97 Saskatoon DF Saskatchewan defeated Manitoba 2-0, outscoring Bisons 8-2.
1997-98 Saskatoon DF Saskatchewan defeated Manitoba 2-1, outscoring Bisons 15-12.
1998-99 Saskatoon DF Saskatchewan defeated Manitoba 2-0, outscoring Bisons 14-6.
2000-01 Winnipeg DF Manitoba defeated Saskatchewan 2-1, outscoring Huskies 9-8.
2002-03 Saskatoon DF Saskatchewan defeated Manitoba 2-0, outscoring Bisons 10-3.
2004-05 Saskatoon DF Saskatchewan defeated Manitoba 2-0, outscoring Bisons 10-6.
2005-06 HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALBERTA vs CALGARY SASKATCHEWAN vs MANITOBA
(Alberta won series 4-2-0) (Sastatchewan won series 5-0-1)
Oct. 21 Calgary 0 at Alberta 5 Oct. 21 Manitoba 2 at Saskatchewan 6
Oct. 22 Alberta 0 at Calgary 2 Oct. 22 Manitoba 1 at Saskatchewan 4
Jan. 6 Alberta 4 at Calgary 2 Nov. 25 Saskatchewan 4 at Manitoba 0
Jan. 7 Alberta 3 at Calgary 1 Nov. 26 Saskatchewan 5 at Manitoba 2
Feb. 16 Alberta 2 at Calgary 4 Feb. 3 Saskatchewan 4 at Manitoba 4 (OT)
Feb. 17 Calgary 2 at Alberta 5 Feb. 4 Saskatchewan 4 at Manitoba 1
HARVEY REMOVED FROM CONFERENCES’ ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR
Saskatchewan Huskies goaltender Jeff Harvey has been removed from the Canada West Hockey all-freshman team due to an administrative error.
Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and Canada West Hockey regulations concerning the eligibility of players for the all-freshman team state that a player must be 21-years-old or younger as of December 31, 2005.
Although in his first season of CIS eligibility, Harvey, who tied for the goaltending position on both the Canada West Hockey first all-star team and all-freshman team with University of Alberta Golden Bears goaltender Aaron Sorochan, was born on January 30, 1983 and was 22-years-old at the time of the deadline.
“It was an oversight on our part”, stated Canada West Hockey Statistician Steve Knowles, who tabulates the balloting for the conference’s annual all-stars and awards. “Both Dave Adolph (Saskatchewan head coach) and I gave no thought to the technicality regarding the age of Harvey, as he is in his first season of eligibility, but once it was discovered, we acted according to the regulations.”
CANADA WEST HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior forward WARREN McCUTCHEON of the University of Manitoba Bisons has been named the Canada West Hockey Player of the Week for the week ending February 26, 2006. The 6’4", 215-pound Agriculture student from Carman, Manitoba topped all scorers in the first week of the Canada West Hockey playoffs as he scored five goals and two assists in the Bisons’ series victory over the University of Regina Cougars in the Great Plains Division semi-final on Friday-Sunday, February 24th to 26th. The third-year left winger opened the best-of-three series scoring two of Manitoba’s three goals in a 4-3 overtime loss on Friday. McCUTCHEON scored twice more, including the game winning goal, and added an assist for a three-point game in Saturday’s 7-1 win, and then registered his third multiple-point game of the series with a goal and an assist on Kevin Saurette’s game winning powerplay goal in the series clinching 6-2 victory on Sunday. With his seven point series, McCUTCHEON has now scored a team-leading 24-32-56 in 39 games overall and is second in the conference behind only Dean Beuker of the University of Saskatchewan, who tops Canada West Hockey with 27-33-60 in 35 games.
