Best of the Bisons in 2018

With 2018 soon in the books, the University of Manitoba Bisons have a chapter of their own packed with highlights and accomplishments from the last 12 months. Here are just a few.

Women’s Hockey best in the nation

The Bison women’s hockey team captured hearts near and far after piecing together a playoff run that led to the ultimate prize, the U SPORTS National Championship, for the first time in program history.

Bisons win Canada West Championship, next stop: Nationals: 

In front of a packed house at the Wayne Fleming Arena on March 3, the number one ranked Bison women’s hockey team captured the Canada West Championship for the third time in program history and for the first time on home ice. Read more.

Women’s Hockey gets the job done

The University of Manitoba Bison women’s hockey team was crowned 2018 U SPORTS Champions after shutting out the Western Mustangs 2-0 on March 18 in London, Ont. 

This was the first time the Bisons were seeded number one at a women’s hockey national championship in their sixth appearance. With the win, the Bisons earned their first national championship in the program’s 21-year history. Read more.

Bison goaltender coach called up as relief goalie for Stanley Cup champions

As numerous sports media, CBC the Winnipeg Free Press and ChrisD.ca reported:

A University of Manitoba hockey coach got called up to the big league when he was added to the roster of the Stanley Cup champions for a game against the Winnipeg Jets Wednesday evening. Read more.

Bison swimmer Kelsey Wog making waves and collecting hardware

Third year Agricultural and Food Sciences student-athlete Kelsey Wog topped off last season with a collection of gold medals at the U SPORTS National Swimming Championships. Wog has continued to dominate into the 2018-19 season with a solid performance and record-setting swim at the Canada West championships this past November.

Bison Kelsey Wog scores multiple medals at U SPORTS Swimming Championships

During the U SPORTS Swimming Championships at University of Toronto, Bison women’s swimmer Kelsey Wog earned four individual medals with gold in 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke and silver in 200m individual medley (IM). Read more.

Bison swimmer Kelsey Wog dominates at Canada West Championships

After the third and final day of the 2018 Canada West Swimming Championships in Calgary, the Bisons saw a phenomenal weekend conclude for third-year Agricultural and Food Sciences student, Kelsey Wog.

The Winnipeg native finished her weekend with a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke, setting a new conference record in the process. Her 2:22.28 broke the old record, set in 2012 by Martha McCabe (UBC). Read more.

Bison hockey forward Venla Hovi captures Olympic bronze medal for Finland

Manitoba Bison women’s hockey star, Venla Hovi, had a highly successful Olympic run in PyeongChang with Team Finland, capturing a bronze medal on Feb. 21 against the Olympic athletes from Russia team with a 3-2 win. Read more.

Former hockey coach wins Stanley Cup

The party was on for the Washington Capitals and, for Barry Trotz, it’s a hockey journey fulfilled — one that started at the University of Manitoba. While the Capitals ended a long championship drought by finishing off a 3-1 Stanley Cup Final series win over the Vegas Golden Knights, it’s Trotz’s first cup since becoming an NHL head coach in 1998-99. Read more.

Bison basketball head coach and 2018 athlete-of-the-year win Commonwealth silver medal

Team Canada men’s basketball program, led by Bison head coach Kirby Schepp and former Bison start Justus Alleyn faced Australia in the Commonwealth Games final and brought home a silver medal. Read more.

Bisons soar to new academic success record

At the completion of the 2017-18 season, 123 of the 340 University of Manitoba student-athletes qualified for U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status.

This accomplishment of 123 Bison student-athletes represents the most ever in one season, previously set last season (2016-17) with 117. It’s the eighth straight season that 85 or more Bison student-athletes have achieved this national recognition. Read more.

Bison year-end awards recognize talent, volunteers and community leadership

More than 350 student-athletes, coaches and special guests gathered in the Manitoba Room on Saturday, March 24 for the annual Brown and Gold Awards Banquet to recognize the achievements of the University of Manitoba Bisons during the 2017-18 season. Read more.

Bison women’s hockey endowment fund aims to keep dreams alive

Carla Sharman understands the importance of giving back.

In November 2005, her uncle David (T.D.) Einarsson started the Bison women’s volleyball endowment fund by generously donating $360,000, a gift that was matched by the province of Manitoba as part of the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI). Read more.

Bisons get into the spirit of the season

As a university student-athlete, balancing schoolwork, practice, training and other life responsibilities can be challenging. Finding spare time to volunteer can further test limits but somehow the Bisons manage to get it done at an exceptionally high level. Read more.

Video: Bison highlights for fall 2018

This fall has been an exciting time for all Bison teams. Take a peek at the highlight video top plays from Bison athletes so far this season.

UM TODAY STAFF