Playoff picture for all Manitoba Bisons teams

If you’re feeling a little warm, it’s probably because Canada West playoff fever has taken over campus, as men’s basketball and women’s hockey are hosting post-season games this week.

The U of M men’s basketball squad hosts the University of Regina Cougars on Feb. 16-18  in the Canada West Play-In best-of-three series with game times slated for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday (and, if necessary, a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on Saturday). All games at Investors Group Athletic Centre at U of M campus.

The Wayne Flemming Arena will be the setting for the U of M women’s hockey opening round playoff games, as the herd hosts Mount Royal on Feb. 17-19 in the Canada West Quarter-Final best-of-three series. Game times are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (and, if necessary, 4 p.m. puck drop on Sunday).

Currently ranked #1 in the nation, The U of M men’s volleyball team is in the post-season as they are in first place in Canada West with a 21-1 record. The Bisons complete the conference regular season after a conference bye by playing second place Trinity Western Spartans (18-2) on the road on Feb. 24-25 and with a road split will clinch first place and host the conference Final Four on March 10-11. The Bisons will host a playoff series this year as they finish in Top 4 in Canada West at end of regular season.

Below is a rundown of the 2017 playoff picture for the University of Manitoba Bisons teams.

Men’s Basketball

Currently unranked in the nation, Manitoba finished as the fifth seed in the Canada West with a 12-8 record and fifth in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI) rankings at end of the conference regular season. The Bisons host 12th seed Regina Cougars (9-11) on Feb. 16-18 at home in the Canada West Play-In best-of-three series with game time 7:30 p.m. CT on Thursday and Friday and, if necessary, 7:30 p.m. CT tip-off on Saturday. All games at Investors Group Athletic Centre at U of M campus.

Women’s Hockey

Currently ranked #4 in the nation, Manitoba finished in third spot in Canada West holding a 16-7-3-2 record in the conference regular season. The Bisons host sixth place Mount Royal (10-13-1-4) on Feb. 17-19 at home in the Canada West Quarter-Final best-of-three series with game time 7 p.m. CT on Friday and Saturday and, if necessary, 4 p.m. CT puck drop on Sunday. All games at Wayne Fleming Arena at U of M campus.

Men’s Volleyball

Currently ranked #1 in the nation, Manitoba is in the post-season as they are in first place in Canada West with a 21-1 record. The Bisons complete the conference regular season after a conference bye by playing second place Trinity Western Spartans (18-2) on the road on Feb. 24-25 and with a road split will clinch first place and host the conference Final Four on March 10-11. The Bisons will host a playoff series this year as they finish in Top 4 in Canada West at end of regular season.

Men’s Hockey

Currently unranked in the nation, Manitoba finished in fifth spot in Canada West holding a 14-12-2 record in the conference regular season. The Bisons will travel on the road against fourth place Mount Royal (15-11-2) and play on Feb. 17-19 in the Canada West Quarter-Final best-of-three series. Game time 8 p.m. CT on Friday and Saturday and, if necessary, 8 p.m. CT puck drop on Sunday. The playoff series can be watched on live webcast at: canadawest.tv (fee req’d).

Women’s Volleyball

Currently unranked in the nation, Manitoba is currently tied for tenth place in the Canada West standings with a 6-16 record with two games remaining in the conference regular season. Manitoba still has a chance to capture the final playoff spot as Top 7 make post-season in Canada West. The Bisons end the conference regular season by playing at second place Trinity Western Spartans (17-3) on the road on Feb. 24-25. The Herd would play the Canada West Quarter Final best-of-three playoff series on the road during the March 3-5 weekend.

Women’s Basketball

The Bisons (4-16) finished tied for 14th in the conference standings and did not qualify for the post-season in the 2016-17 season.

Swimming

The Bison women’s team is currently ranked number seven in the latest U SPORTS Top 10 ranking. The Bisons have qualified four swimmers (Kelsey Wog, Gio Wickett, Anthony Iliouchetchev and Alex Shogolev) for the 2017 U SPORTS Swimming Championships held at the University of Sherbrooke on Feb. 24-26.

Track and Field

The Bison women’s team is currently ranked number ten plus the Bison men’s team is currently ranked number six in the latest U SPORTS Top 10 ranking. The Bisons will qualify numerous track and field athletes in individual and relay teams for the 2017 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton from March 9-11 (Alhaji Mansaray has already auto qualified in the men’s high jump). There are a couple T&F meets during February for Manitoba athletes to still qualify for the nationals while the Canada West T&F conference championships will be held at University of Regina from Feb. 24-25.

For more information, please visit gobisons.ca

Chris Zuk