CALGARY – It has been an off-season of transition for the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey program after missing the playoffs for the first time since 1985 a year ago.

With one last chance at a playoff spot after a frustrating season in which the Dinos had slogged through a 1-11-1 midseason stretch, the UBC Thunderbirds shut them out on Calgary ice to keep them away from the post-season for the first time in 24 years.

However, with struggles come change, and the Dinos are recharged and ready to make amends after their forgettable 2008-09 season.

Head Coach Mark Howell takes over the Dinos after most recently coaching the Westside Warriors of the BCHL, and has assembled quite the supporting cast in bringing in former NHLers Cory Cross and Brad Isbister to coach the defence and forwards, respectively. The new coaching staff is given a team that certainly underachieved in last year, but one that has plenty of pieces to work with.

The Dinos certainly do not lack in offensive firepower, as Canada West top 10 scorers Torrie Wheat and Brock Nixon lead a group of forwards that have the potential to light the lamp on any given shift. Reid Jorgensen, Kyle Annesley and Brett O'Malley each posted 19 points or better, and will all be looked upon to shoulder the scoring load once again for Calgary.

On defence, the Dinos do have question marks after losing second team All-Canadian defencemen Travis Friedley, who completed his studies at UC. Returning blueliners Dan Ehrman and Ryan Gillen will be joined by a host of new faces on the blue line, as Graham Potuer and Luke Egener are among Howell's defence-heavy recruiting class.

Another member of Howell's recruiting class is forward Tylan Stephens, who figures to be a solid piece for the Dinos after a strong 57 point season with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL in 2008-09. Stephens elected to forego his 20-year-old season in the WHL, deciding to focus on his studies.

In goal, last year's starter Jeff Weber returns for his final season with the Dinos but will be pushed hard by 2008-09 Canada West All-Freshmen team goaltender Dustin Butler and fourth-year netminder Nathan Deobald.

Despite the challenges of any changeover, Howell is happy with his new team's progress thus far.

“The reality is that any time a new coach comes in, you never know how guys, especially the veterans, are going to respond,” said Howell, who played CIS hockey with the University of Alberta. “But all the returning guys have been great so far. They've been receptive and have been giving a really honest effort in trying to make the transition seamless.

“Everyone is really working hard, and while we haven't had many games to really assess where we're at, we have some exhibition games in the States that should really help in getting us ready for the season,” he continued.

In a non-conference trip to Colorado to take on a trio of NCAA Division I schools in Colorado College, Denver, and Air Force, the Dinos were competitive in 4-2, 3-2, and 3-1 losses, respectively. But now the games matter, and it all starts for real this weekend when the Dinos hook up with the Alberta Golden Bears in a home-and-home series.

The Bears opened Canada West play last weekend, earning a two-game sweep of the Regina Cougars at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton with impressive 9-2 and 5-3 victories.

The series opens Friday night at Father David Bauer Arena and ends Friday night in Edmonton. Next weekend, the Dinos play another home-and-home series against a provincial foe, this time Lethbridge.

-UC-