Preview: December 30, 2025 & January 2, 2026: MANITOBA at U.S.A.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zf2cvV1V/Manitoba-2025-head-brown-73x73.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/9M5cNk8H/Nebraska-Omaha-black-2024-73x73.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/C1q99B9T/Minnesota-Duluth-2024-maroon-73x73.jpg)
MANITOBA BISONS (6-9-1, 11-14-1, OHT35 #21)
NEBRASKA-OMAHA MAVERICKS (3-7-0, 7-11-0, NCHC #8)
MINNESOTA-DULUTH BULLDOGS (7-5-0, 14-6-0, NCHC #3)
Tuesday, December 30th at 7:00 CDT at Baxter Arena, Omaha
Friday, January 2nd at 7:00 CDT at AMSOIL Arena, Duluth
Live Links:
➤ Video: CanadaWest TV (http://www.canadawest.tv) - none
➤ Hockey Tech Game Centre: none - see host links below
Manitoba Links:
➤ GoBisons: Team Website (http://gobisons.ca/index.aspx?path=mhockey)
➤ CW: Stats (https://men.canadawest.hockeytech.com/stats/player-stats/5/117?playertype=skater&position=skaters&rookie=no&sort=points&statstype=standard&page=1&league=1) ∞ Schedule/Results/Links (https://men.canadawest.hockeytech.com/stats/schedule/5/117/all-months/homeaway?league=1&gametype=-1)
Other Links:
➤ UNO: Schedule & Results & Live Links (https://omavs.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/schedule)
➤ UMD: Schedule & Results & Live Links (https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/schedule)
➤ Video: 1997 Complete Game: Manitoba at Omaha (https://revelation.unomaha.edu/_video/UNO0021_301%2ehtml)
➤ USports: Men's Hockey Page (https://en.usports.ca/sports/mice/index) ∞ Top 10 (https://en.usports.ca/sports/mice/2025-26/releases/2025-12-01_Top10)
➤ USports: Schedule/Links (https://en.usports.ca/sports/mice/2025-26/schedule) ∞ Standings (https://en.usports.ca/sports/mice/2025-26/standings)
➤ CW: Home Page (https://www.canadawest.org/sports/mice/index) ∞ Season Schedule (https://www.canadawest.org/sports/mice/2025-26/schedule)
➤ CW Hockey Tech: Daily Schedule (https://canadawest.hockeytech.com/men/stats/daily-schedule)
➤ CW: Stats (https://men.canadawest.hockeytech.com/stats/player-stats/all-teams/117?playertype=skater&position=skaters&rookie=no&sort=points&statstype=standard&page=1&league=1) ∞ Schedule/Results/Links (https://men.canadawest.hockeytech.com/stats/schedule/all-teams/117/all-months?league=1&gametype=-1)
Last series:
➤ Oct 6/24: UMD 7 UM 2: Boxscore (https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/stats/2024-25/university-of-manitoba/boxscore/9987)
➤ Dec 29/24: UNO 5 UM 0: Game Report (https://omavs.com/news/2024/12/29/hockey-scores-five-unanswered-in-exhibition-win.aspx)
Merry Christmas, everyone!
The holiday exhibition season is upon us. The Viking Cup has no CW teams, but its return to the hockey calendar is nice for those of us who remember the old days. It starts on December 28th.
The Bisons faced both Minnesota-Duluth and Omaha last year. Minnesota-Duluth was part of an early season trip which included St. Thomas (who they also played this year in a "scrimmage"), and Omaha was part of a holiday quartet of games, which also included Minnesota State, North Dakota, and Bemidji.
There are no preview stories on either Bison game just yet.
ELSEWHERE IN THE CW
(https://i.postimg.cc/X7jN9grH/Briercrest-B-blue-50x50.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/g0bPjCWj/Regina-2025-body-on-green-50x50.jpg)
BRIERCREST CLIPPERS [5-7-0, [color=#80808]6-12-0[/color], ACAC #5)
REGINA COUGARS (2-14-0, 3-16-2, OHT35 #33)
Links:
➤ Briercrest: Team Website (https://www.gobriercrest.ca/sports/mens-sports/hockey)
➤ UofR: Team Website (http://www.reginacougars.com/index.aspx?path=mhockey&)
➤ UofR: Cougar Rewind: Dec. 5/6 (https://cougarsandrams.com/news/2025/12/8/mens-hockey-cougar-rewind-dec-5-6.aspx)
Briercrest was once an ACAC doormat, but in recent seasons have become a contender. They have slipped a little this year. The Banjo-Cats are simply playing spoiler this season, so a non-conference game is as "important" as any other.
(https://i.postimg.cc/SNw4xxrc/Calgary-2013-red-no-words-50x50.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/PqHk1V0x/Alberta-green-50x50.jpg)
CALGARY DINOSAURS (15-3-0, 19-4-1, OHT35 #3)
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (8-7-3, 11-10-3, OHT35 #13)
Links:
➤ UofC: Team Website (http://www.godinos.com/index.aspx?tab=hockey-men&path=mhockey)
➤ UofA: Team Website (https://bearsandpandas.ca/sports/mhockey?path=mhockey)
The current CW schedule format has the Edmonton-based teams playing the Calgary-based teams just one series per season the last two years. So it makes sense that these traditional rivals from Saudi Alberta would add a non-conference holiday game.
(https://i.postimg.cc/YCd8Bpqy/Macewan-2025-maroon-nowords-50x50.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/FHS6RMh2/NAIT-N-50x50.jpg)
MACEWAN GRIFFINS (7-8-3, 9-12-3, OHT35 #17)
N.A.I.T. OOKS (3-9-0, 6-13-0, ACAC #6)
Links:
➤ MacU: Team Website (http://www.macewangriffins.ca/sports/mice/index)
➤ MacU: U SPORTS Academic All Canadians: 77 Griffins student-athletes earn honours for 2024-25 season (https://www.macewangriffins.ca/general/2025-26/releases/20251210kmqws0)
➤ NAIT: Team Website (https://naitooks.com/sports/mice/index)
These former ACAC rivals meet in another Battle of Edmontown. Just before The Family Guys changed conferences, these were usually the top two teams in the ACAC. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 MacEwan finished 2nd to NAIT every year but won the championship final series. In 2020, NAIT was 1st and MacEwan was 3rd. MacEwan won their quarter-final series just before the season was cancelled by Covid. After many years of dominance, the Ooks have slipped in the ACAC standings to the point where they are now 6th out of 7 teams.
(https://i.postimg.cc/d11ZVJ2c/TrinityWestern-2010-no-words-gold-50x50.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/3RDXTyrQ/Victoria-2012-lightgold-50x50.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/Hkq3sdWM/Vancouver-Island-teal-50x50.jpg)
TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (3-14-1, 7-16-1, OHT35 #32)
VICTORIA VIKINGS (7-2-0, 10-3-0, BCIHL #2)
VANCOUVER ISLAND MARINERS (9-1-1, 10-4-2, BCIHL #1)
Links:
➤ TWU: Team Website (https://gospartans.ca/sports/mens-ice-hockey)
➤ TWU: Spartan Male Athlete of the Week I Connor Farren (https://gospartans.ca/news/2025/12/8/mens-hockey-spartan-male-athlete-of-the-week-i-connor-farren.aspx)
➤ UVic: Team Website (https://www.vikeshockey.ca/leagues/front_pagePlus.cfm?clientID=5461&leagueID=21094)
➤ VIU: Team Website (https://viuhockey.ca/)
The out-of-town scoreboard is a bit tentative right now.
It seems that the BCIHL teams developed a universal dislike for interlocking games after the schedules were announced. A host of games where they were to host ACAC teams in September were cancelled. Now I cannot find a listing for their previously announced games against Holy Trinity and the UQO Torrents from the RSEQ Division 2. Originally, four teams (TWU, UVI, UVic, and UQO) were to converge on Nanaimo in January. I will keep an eye out for some sort of an announcement.
(https://i.postimg.cc/MTTqQT3t/Mount-Royal-2017-lightblue-50x50.jpg)
The Bluegars don't play, but they have uploaded a few new links since their last game.
Links:
➤ MRU: Players Bench Athletes of the Week: Dec. 1-7 (http://mrucougars.com/news/2025/12/9/general-players-bench-athletes-of-the-week-dec-1-7.aspx)
➤ MRU: 85 Cougars Athletes Honored with U SPORTS Academic All Canadian Awards (https://mrucougars.com/news/2025/12/10/general-85-cougars-athletes-honored-with-u-sports-academic-all-canadian-awards.aspx)
➤ MRU: Vaughn Watterodt: Prairie tough beyond the ice (https://mrucougars.com/news/2025/12/23/general-vaughn-watterodt-prairie-tough.aspx)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J01GCDZ4/UBC-no-word-yellow-50x50.jpg)
The T-irds also have no games. However, their website links to a CW story about Sasha Mutala being WHL Grad of the Month. He's one of the big reasons for UBC looking stronger as the season has progressed.
Links:
➤ CW: Sasha Mutala named WHL Grad of the Month for November/December (https://canada-west.prezly.com/sasha-mutala-named-whl-grad-of-the-month-for-novemberdecember)
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Tue Dec 30 Manitoba at Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) 7:00 CST
Fri Jan 02 Manitoba at Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) 7:00 CST
Fri Jan 02 Briercrest College (ACAC) at Regina 7:30 CST
Fri Jan 02 Trinity Western v Victoria (BCIHL) (at Nanaimo) time TBA
Sat Jan 03 MacEwan at N.A.I.T. (ACAC) 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 Calgary at Alberta 7:00 MST/8:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 Trinity Western at Vancouver Island (BCIHL) time TBA
OUT EAST
OUA Conference Games
Sat Jan 03 Brock at Windsor 7:30 EST/6:30 CST
Sun Jan 04 Guelph at Toronto 2:00 EST/1:00 CST
Sun Jan 04 Brock at Windsor 4:00 EST/3:00 CST
AUS Conference Game
Sat Jan 03 Dalhousie at Saint Mary's 2:00 AST/12:00 CST
Non-Conference Games
Wed Dec 31 Guelph (OUA) at Niagara (NCAA) 2:00 EST/1:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 McGill (OUA) at New Brunswick (AUS) 2:00 AST/12:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 McGill (OUA) at New Brunswick (AUS) 2:00 EST/1:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 R.M.C. (OUA) at Union College (NCAA) 5:00 EST/4:00 CST
Sun Jan 04 McGill (OUA) at Moncton (AUS) 1:00 EST/12:00 CST
(https://i.postimg.cc/3RvwD0nk/RSEQ-50x50-blue.gif)
The RSEQ Division 2 All-Stars beat the CEGEP All-Stars 8-3 on December 14, 2025. All I saw was an Instagram picture of the Concordia players chosen for the game.
Links:
➤ OUA: Daily Schedule (https://men.oua.hockeytech.com/stats/daily-schedule/)
➤ AUS: Schedule & Results (https://www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/sports/mice/2025-26/schedule?jsRendering=true)
OUT WEST
(https://i.postimg.cc/JzsTdbJp/2026_Viking_Cup_50x50.jpg)
Viking Cup
Sun Dec 28 Midland University v SJHL All-Stars 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Sun Dec 28 Czechia University Selects at Augustana 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Mon Dec 29 Midland University v S.A.I.T. 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Mon Dec 29 Czechia University Selects v SJHL All-Stars 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Tue Dec 30 Czechia University Selects v Midland University 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Tue Dec 30 S.A.I.T. at Augustana 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Wed Dec 31 SJHL All-Stars at Augustana 2:00 MST/3:00 CST
Thu Jan 01 S.A.I.T. v Czechia University Selects 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Thu Jan 01 Midland at Augustana 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Fri Jan 02 S.A.I.T. v SJHL All-Stars 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 3rd v 4th 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 1st v 2nd 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
(https://i.postimg.cc/jq75kXgc/ACAC-white-on-blue-50x50.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/65Lf81dz/BCIHL-2017-yellow-50x50.jpg)
The only ACAC holiday season exhibition games are the NAIT and Briercrest games against the CW noted above, and the Viking Cup games for SAIT and Augustana.
The BCIHL games, as explained, appear to have been scrubbed.
Links:
➤ ACAC: Schedule & Results (https://www.acac.ab.ca/sports/mice/2025-26/schedule-all)
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results (https://www.bcihl.ca/leagues/schedules.cfm?clientID=3692&leagueID=11139)
➤ BCIHL: YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@bcihl)
December 27, 2025: C.W. SCHEDULING AND IMPACT OF S.F.U.
(https://i.postimg.cc/YCtSW8jD/CW-2017-black-red-73x73.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/FsYRwkk1/SFU-2023-red-73x73.jpg)
With Simon Fraser planning an application to join U-Sports and the CW, effective 2027-28, the impact on hockey scheduling has to be considered.
In my opinion, the addition of Simon Fraser is inevitable. They would likely have to introduce a timetable for adding a women's program. No problem, Calgary did it a few years back.
I have previously posted about the current CW divisional scheduling format, which rotates. I do not care for it. Especially since next year the Prairie teams and BC teams are due to form a division, thus ending the supposed cost savings which motivated this format. In any event, 2026-27 would end a 3-year cycle and allow for a fresh start with a 10-team conference in 2027-28.
I have devised a six-year rotation which would do away with divisions, and would also lean into lower cost travel arrangements.
The league would be divided into four segments (not divisions) for scheduling purposes:
BC: UBC, Simon Fraser, Trinity Western
Edmonton: Alberta & MacEwan
Calgary: Calgary & Mount Royal
Prairies: Saskatchewan, Regina, & Manitoba
With ten teams, there would be no byes, This would free up time for non-conference play. The CW would continue to play weekend double-headers.
Each team would play the other teams in their segment four times per season, and the teams in the other segments either twice or four times per season.
The "interlocking" segments would work like this:
- BC and the Prairies would play either the Edmonton teams 4 times, and the Calgary teams 2 times or vice versa, then rotate the following season.
- Within Alberta, each Edmonton team would play one Calgary team 4 times, and the other 2 times, the rotate the following season.
- The BC v Prairies interlock would work on a 3-year rotation, i.e. 4 games against one opponent and 2 games against the other two opponents each season.
The teams would play four games against five opponents, and two games against four opponents. It is easy to make a schedule where the first five series on the schedule and the last five series on the schedule would be against the "four games" opponents. Also the middle four series would be against the "two games" opponents. (If interested, I could send out a draft schedule.)
I have entered this onto a chart:
(https://i.postimg.cc/0Q7J4x7j/CW-3-YEAR-SCHEDULE-FORMAT-SFU.jpg)
The teams can, of course, be shuffled within their segment, e.g. switch Manitoba and Saskatchewan, or Simon Fraser and UBC, or Calgary and Mount Royal, etc. Also, the Edmonton and Calgary segments could be switched.
For the 2027-28 season, you look at the number in the upper left box. So for Regina, they would play four games against Trinity, Alberta, MacEwan, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (the first five and last five series on their schedule, though not necessarily in that order) and two games against each of UBC, Simon Fraser, Calgary, and Mount Royal (which would be the middle four series on their schedule).
In the 2028-29 season, you look at the middle number is the first column, etc. as outlined in the guide box at the bottom of the chart.
In the CW, the women's schedule is always the inverse of the men's schedule. If on a given weekend Alberta is at Saskatchewan in men's, Saskatchewan is at Alberta in women's. So this format works for both.
This works out surprisingly easily.