Alberta clinches first place overall with sweep at Lethbridge
By Steve Knowles
Canada West Hockey Statistician
Two road wins over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns has clinched first place in the Canada West Hockey combined standings for the University of Alberta Golden Bears. Alberta skated to 5-2 and 8-2 victories over Lethbridge on Friday-Saturday, February 10th-11th to secure top spot in the conference standings for the sixth consecutive season (2000-01 to 2005-06) and for the seventh time in the last eight seasons dating back to 1998-99.
In Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba Bisons clinched second place in the Great Plains Division and secured home ice advantage in the first round of the post-season with 3-2 and 7-4 wins over the visiting University of Regina Cougars. With the two victories, Manitoba will now host Regina in the best-of-three division semi-finals which open on Friday, February 24th.
At Calgary, the series between the University of Calgary Dinos and University of British Columbia Thunderbirds ended in a stalemate with both teams winning once in overtime. The Dinos took the series opener with a 4-3 overtime victory on Friday night and the Thunderbirds kept their hopes alive for a second place finish with a 5-4 win in overtime on Saturday.
The result of the series split sees Calgary and UBC battling it out for second place in the Mountian Division heading into the final week of the conference schedule. With two games remaining, Scott Atkinson's Dinos hold a three point lead over UBC and need only two more points to secure second place. The task will not be easy for Calgary as the Dinos finish the season with a home-and-home series against Alberta and UBC ends the campaign with two home games against Lethbridge.
If the season ends with Calgary and UBC tied, then the Thunderbirds would earn the higher placing. The teams are 2-2-0 in their four-game seasonal series, but the Thunderbirds would win the second tie breaker, having outscored the Dinos 16-15.
ALBERTA REACHES 20 WIN MARK WITH SWEEP OF LETHBRIDGE
The number one ranked Alberta Golden Bears reached the 20-win milestone for the eighth consecutive season (1998-99 to 2005-06) and for the 20th time in team history with its two wins at Lethbridge.
Ben Thomson scored twice in a five minue span in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and lead Alberta to a 5-2 win in the series opener. Defencemen Chris Ovington and Perry Johnson gave the Golden Bears a 2-0 first period lead before Shaun Norrie scored twice for Lethbridge to tie the score 7:43 into the third period. Charlie Mattersdorfer, who leads the Pronghorns in scoring with 10-9-19, earned assists on both of Norrie's goals.
Thomson broke the tie at 11:24 and then netted the game winner at 16:42 before Jonathan Hobson finished the scoring at 18:20. Hobson had an assist on Ovington's goal in the opening period for a two-point night. Joff Kehler earned assists on both of Thomson's goals and finished the game with three assists to lead all scorers, while freshman Dylan Stanley chipped in two assists of his own.
Aaron Sorochan made 19 saves to register his conference leading 17th win in overall play and 14th in conference action.
Saturday's 8-2 win saw seven players twinkle the twine for Alberta as Tim Krymusa led the way with a two-goal game and a three-point night as he also earned an assist. Krymusa was one of six Golden Bears to register multiple point games in the victory. Fifth-year assistant captain Brad Tutschek had four assists to top all scorers and he was joined by Krymusa (2-1-3), Ben Kilgour (1-2-3), Gavin McLeod (1-2-3), Stanley (1-1-2) and Thomson (0-2-2).
Joff Kehler, Curtis Rich and Harlan Anderson added single goals for the Golden Bears, who were a perfect five-for-five on the powerplay. Both Rich and McLeod netted their first goals of the season.
Darcy Miller and Dustin Gilbert accounted for the Pronghorns scoring, with Miller also scoring his first goal of the season.
DENISET LEADS THE WAY AS MANITOBA CLINCHES SECOND PLACE
Fourth-year senior forward Paul Deniset led the way for Manitoba as the Bisons clinched second place with a sweep of Regina. The Manitoba assistant captain accounted for seven of the Bisons' 10 goals scored in the series and was involved in eight of the 10. After scoring twice and adding an assist in the series opening 3-2 win of Friday, Deniset scored a career-high five goals in Saturday's 7-4 win.
With the five goals, Deniset becomes just the 15th player, and second Manitoba Bison, in Canada West Hockey history to score five-or-more goals in a game. It marked the first time since University of Alberta forward Kris Knoblauch scored five times in the Golden Bears' 12-0 win versus the Brandon University Bobcats on November 17, 2000 that a player had registered a five-goal game in conference play. DENISET joins Herb Pinder as the only two Bisons to score five times in a game. Pinder accomplished the feat on the road in a 9-1 win against the UBC Thunderbirds on January 16, 1970. Four of DENISET's five goals came on the powerplay, tying him for the conference record for most powerplay goals in a game. He is the fourth player in conference history to register four powerplay goals in a game and it is the first time in 12 seasons that the feat has been done. Brandon's Simon Olivier was the last player to score four powerplay goals in a game (February 11, 1994 in a 9-3 win versus UBC).
Deniset and linemates Kevin McCutcheon and Kevin Saurette accounted for the majority of the Bisons offence in the series sweep as the trio combined to score a total of 20 points. Saurette was the top point producer with 7-1-8 in the two games, while Saurette had 1-6-7, including five assists on Saturday, and McCutcheon tallied 1-4-5.
McCutcheon was involved in all three goals in the series opener, scoring once and adding two assists. Saurette assisted on five of Deniset's seven goals, including four in the 7-4 win in the series finale. Rob Smith and Dustin Hughes each added three assists for Manitoba, with two of the helpers coming on Saturday.
Chad Anderson scored three times for Regina, netting the game's first two goals in the series opener and the first goal on Saturday. Josh Garbutt had a goal and two assists in the series finale, while Scott Haggarty added two assists. Pat Baum had two helpers for Regina on Friday night.
Krister Toews played all but 7:13 of the series to finish the season with a 12-13-3 record. The sophomore netminder started all 28 conference games for Manitoba and finished the conference schedule with a 3.15 goals-against average, a .901 save percentage and two shutouts. He topped Canada West Hockey in games and minutes played with 1599:59 in 28 games.
OVERTIME DECIDES BOTH GAMES OF CALGARY - UBC SERIES
Overtime was required to determine both games of the UBC at Calgary series as the Thunderbirds and Dinos battle down to the wire for second place in the Mountain Division and home ice advantage in the first round of the post-season.
Calgary entered the series with a three-point lead over the visiting Thunderbirds and moved to within a single win of clinching second place following a 4-3 win in the series opener on Friday. Brett O'Malley scored his 14th goal of the season only 70 seconds into overtime to secure the win.
Steve Bunney had sent the game into overtime, tying the score at 3-3 10:56 into the third period. Alex Lalonde, Trevor Galan, with his first point in conference play, and Tyrel Lucas scored single goals for Calgary, while Kyle Bruce and Lance Morrison replied for the Thunderbirds. Neither team held more than a one-goal advantage throughout the tight checking game.
Scott Talbot was stellar in goal for the Dinos as the second-year goaltender made 32 saves in registering his 14th win of the season. Seventeen of the saves came in the third period, when UBC outshot Calgary 18-4, but could manage only Bunney's tying goal.
O'Malley's overtime goal on Friday, saw UBC's hopes of hosting a playoff series for the first time since 1970-71 fade, but the Thunderbirds rallied in the series finale to keep their hopes alive. Ashley Todd was the hero of the night, scoring the game winner 2:53 into overtime. It was the third overtime win of the season for UBC, who is now 3-1-1 in extra time.
UBC jumped into a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Dustin Paul and Peter Hay, and the Thunderbirds extended their lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes of play on a second goal by team captain Paul and Jordan Beirnes. Both Hay and Paul tallied three points in the win as Paul ended the game with two powerplay goals and an assist and Hay tallied 1-2-3.
Down by three entering the third period, the Dinos rallied to tie the score with three goals in a span of a minute and 49 seconds. Paul Gentile began the Calgary comeback at 9:32 and Lucas netted his second goal of the series with a powerplay marker at 10:38. Colin McRae evened the score with his 17th goal at 11:21. Defenceman Wade Davis earned assists on both Gentile's and Lucas' goals.
Entering overtime for the second consecutive game, UBC needed the win to keep the possibility of hosting a playoff series alive. A win and it would come down to the final week of the schedule. A loss, and third place was the best they could do.
Todd's slapshot from the hash marks beat Talbot high and gave theThunderbirds the victory. Brad Zanon and Chris Curran earned assists on the game winner. It was the second assist of the game for Curran and the second of the series for Zanaon.
Goaltending also played a key role in the UBC win as Gerry Festa made 36 saves. UBC was outshot 40-31 in the game and Festa proved his worth in the third period, making 17 saves as the Dinos peppered the Thunderbirds netminder with 20 shots.
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
The 2005-06 conference schedule concludes with three series. Provincial rivals begin the week on two fronts on Thursday, February 16th as Alberta visits Calgary and Saskatchewan travels to Regina. The home-and-home series will conclude on Saturady, February 18th at Edmonton and Saskatoon as the Golden Bears and Huskies host the second game of the series. In Vancouver, UBC will host Lethbridge on Friday-Saturday, February 17th-18th.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The final week of the 2005-06 Canada West Hockey conference schedule sees all six playoff teams finalized, with the only item left to resolve being who will finish in second place in the Mountain Division. Entering the final series of the season, the Calgary Dinos and UBC Thunderbirds are still in contention for second place and the right to host the first round of the conference playoffs.
GREAT PLAINS DIVISION
SASKATCHEWAN: The Huskies have already clinched first place in the Great Plains Division and a bye in the first week of the playoffs. Saskatchewan concludes its conference schedule with a home-and-home series against the Regina Cougars and the Huskies receive a bye in the first round of the post-season.
Remaining Games: 2 (1 Home, 1 Away)
Home: vs Regina (Feb. 18)
Away: at Regina (Feb. 16)
MANITOBA: The Bisons clinched second place in the Great Plains Division with a sweep of the Regina Cougars at Max Bell Arena in Winnipeg last weekend. With the wins, the Bisons will have home ice advantage when they open the playoffs by hosting the Cougars in the best-of-three division semi-finals on February 24th-26th.
Remaining Games: 0 (0 Home, 0 Away)
Home: None
REGINA: Following their two losses at Manitoba last week, the Cougars will end the season in third place in the Great Plains Division. Following this week's home-and-home series with Saskatchewan, the Cougars will travel to Winnipeg to take on the Bisons in the best-of-three division semi-finals on February 24th to 26th.
Remaining Games: 2 (1 Home, 1 Away)
Home: vs Saskatchewan (Feb. 16)
Away: at Saskatchewan (Feb. 18)
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
ALBERTA: Alberta clinched first place in the Canada West Hockey combined standings with its two road wins at Lethbridge and has secured home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
Remaining Games: 2 (1 Home, 1 Away)
Home: vs Calgary (Feb. 18)
Away: at Calgary (Feb. 16)
CALGARY: Its going down to the wire for the Dinos and UBC Thunderbirds. Calgary holds a three-point advantage over UBC entering the final weekend of the conference schedule and the Dinos need only two points to clinch second place in the Mountain Division. The two points may be hard to come by as Calgary concludes the season with a home-and-home series against the Alberta Golden Bears.
Remaining Games: 2 (1 Home, 1 Away)
Home: vs Alberta (Feb. 16)
Away: at Alberta (Feb. 18)
BRITISH COLUMBIA: UBC is looking to secure home ice advantage for the post-season for the first time since 1970-71 and the Thunderbirds have their work cut out for them. With only two games remaining, the Thunderbirds need to sweep both games of this week's series versus Lethbridge and hope that Calgary does not secure more than a single point in its series with Alberta. If UBC and Calgary were to end the season tied, than the Thunderbirds would win the tie breaker. The Thunderbirds and Dinos split their four-game seasonal series with two wins apiece, but UBC has outscored Calgary 16-15.
Remaining Games: (2 Home, 0 Away)
Home: vs Lethbridge (Feb. 17-18)
Away: None
LETHBRIDGE: Although eliminated from post-season contention two weeks ago, the Pronghorns can still play a part in the Mountain Division playoff race. Lethbridge travels to Vancouver to conclude the season with two games against the UBC Thunderbirds and can deny UBC a second place finish in the division standings with a win on the coast.
Remaining Games: 2 (0 Home, 2 Away)
Home: None
Away: at UBC (Feb. 17-18)
CANADA WEST HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Fourth-year senior forward PAUL DENISET of the University of Manitoba Bisons has been named the Canada West Hockey Player of the Week for the week ending February 12, 2006. The 5'11", 187-pound Physical Education student from Winnipeg, Manitoba scored seven goals and an assist to lead the Bisons to a series sweep of the visiting University of Regina Cougars on Friday-Saturday, February 10th and 11th. With the two victories, Manitoba clinches second place in the Great Plains Division and secures home ice advantage in the opening round of the Canada West Hockey playoffs, which begin on the weekend of February 24th-26th.
DENISET had a part in eight of Manitoba's 10 goals in the series versus Regina. The Bisons' assistant captain accounted for the game-winning goal in each victory and registered his second hat trick of the season with a five-goal game. DENISET opened the series with a three-point game in Manitoba's 3-2 win in the series opener on Friday as he scored twice and added an assist. In Saturday's 7-4 win, DENISET became the 15th player, and second Manitoba Bison, in Canada West Hockey history to score five-or-more goals in a game. It marked the first time since University of Alberta forward Kris Knoblauch scored five times in the Golden Bears' 12-0 win versus the Brandon University Bobcats on November 17, 2000 that a player had registered a five-goal game in conference play. DENISET joins Herb Pinder as the only two Bisons to score five times in a game. Pinder accomplished the feat on the road in a 9-1 win against the UBC Thunderbirds on January 16, 1970. Four of DENISET's five goals came on the powerplay, tying him for the conference record for most powerplay goals in a game. He is the fourth player in conference history to register four powerplay goals in a game and it is the first time in 12 seasons that the feat has been done. Brandon's Simon Olivier was the last player to score four powerplay goals in a game (February 11, 1994 in a 9-3 win versus UBC).
With his eight-point weekend, DENISET has moved into a tie for seventh place in the Canada West Hockey scoring race with 20-9-29 in 20 games. His 20 goals are second only to Dean Beuker of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, who tops the conference with 22-25-47. Overall, DENISET has scored 24-18-42 in 27 games.
