Bisons Host #3 Saskatchewan

February 1 - The men’s hockey team (10-12-2) host the #3 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies (15-6-3) on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4. Game time both nights is 7:05 p.m.

Saskatchewan is in first place in the Great Plains Division with 33 points while the Herd is in second place in the Great Plains Division with 22 points and two points ahead of Regina.

Manitoba has already clinched a playoff spot and is fighting for home-ice advantage in the first round of Canada West playoffs. The Bisons are unbeaten at home since the start of the second half. They won two non-conference games versus SAIT in early January and captured a win and a tie in two conference games against Lethbridge in mid-January.

The two teams have met four times in conference action this season with the Huskies holding a 4-0 lead. In late October, Saskatchewan won 6-2 (Oct. 21) and 4-1 (Oct. 22) at Rutherford Rink. At the end of November, the Herd hosted at Max Bell and lost 4-0 (Nov. 25) and 5-2 (Nov. 26).

Goalie Krister Toews has started all four matches with backup Billy Flett playing in three matches. Paul Deniset scored two goals in Nov. 26 game and Chris Falloon had one goal and one assist in Oct. 21 match.

In the 2005-06 season, the Bisons are tops in Canada West penalty killing at 88.9% and have given up only 12 power play goals in the last 105 chances. Manitoba has the second best power play in the conference at 19.3%. The Herd has scored third most goals with 69 and has fired 849 shots (35.3 per game) for the highest total in Canada West. The Herd has given up 78 goals for fifth best in the conference.

Head coach Mike Sirant is closing in on his 175th career Canada West victory – fifth highest in conference history. His Canada West record is 172-142-46 and his overall Bison career is 258-221-50.

The team is led in scoring by Warren McCutcheon (11g, 17a) with 28 points and stays at third in conference scoring. Kevin Saurette (8g, 19a) is second on the team and fourth in Canada West with 27 points.

Rob Smith leads the Bison defensemen with 13 points (6g, 7a) and tied for fourth best in the conference. Six Bisons have at least six goals or more.

Goalie Krister Toews is sixth in Canada West with a 3.13 Avg. and seventh in Canada West with a .904 Save Pct. while starting in all 24 conference games. Toews has played the most minutes among all conference goalies at 1362.

U of M