CALGARY - The University Calgary Dinos made a brief appearance in the Canada West postseason in 2009-10 after a one-year hiatus, and have no plans on giving up their spot anytime soon.

Under the leadership of head coach Mark Howell, the Dinos made significant strides in 2009-10, returning to the playoffs after a one-year absence with a record of 13-9-6. While Calgary bowed out of the postseason in the first round, the Dinos return virtually every key cog from last year's team and have added solid depth with their recruiting class.

Notably absent this season will be the departed Brett O'Malley, who graduated after a stellar five-year career, along with team captain Aaron Richards. Richards will be sidelined for the season with a serious medical issue, but he will continue to work with the team as an assistant coach.

A second-team conference All-Star and the recipient of the UBC Hockey Alumni award for Sportsmanship and Ability in 2009-10, Reid Jorgensen enters his fourth year for Calgary and leads the attack up front for the Dinos. Jorgensen ranked fourth in Canada West in assists last season with 23, and that total has no reason to drop with nearly every playmaking Calgary forward returning in 10-11.

Among them, Torrie Wheat enters his fifth year with the Dinos, and adds a strong and steady level of play to the Dinos front-line.  Sixth in the conference in goals at 13, the Nanaimo, B.C. native will be counted on both for his calming influence on the ice as well as his penchant for finding the back of the net.

Fellow Manitobans Brock Nixon and Teegan Moore return for their third and fourth years respectively, where both will take a leadership role on offence, while forward Jevon Desautels returns to the lineup after a medical redshirt season in 2009-10.

Dustin Butler remains the de facto starter in net for the Dinos after a solid 12-win campaign last season, but will be pushed by rookie Kris Lazaruk and veteran Nathan Deobald.

The questions for the Dinos are perhaps on defence, where there are only two players in their third year or more, those being Jerrid Sauer and Joel Eisenkirc. Sauer had 16 points for the Dinos last season and will be looking to replicate that success on the blueline this upcoming year.

Rearguards Cory Pritz and Eric Frere impressed in their first seasons a year ago, while rookie defenseman Kodie Curran had a fantastic pre-season over the past few weeks.

Other rookies who impressed in exhibition play are hard-working defenceman Colton MacPherson and speedy forward Breyden DeCock.

The Dinos open their season against the Alberta Golden Bears on October 1st and 2nd, a team they lost to in exhibition action at the Father David Bauer by a score of 4-1.

The Bears, the three-time reigning Canada West champions and University Cup finalist in 09-10, return their Canada West MVP Chad Klassen, as well as Derek Ryan, Eric Hunter and Sean Ringrose, all four of whom were top-ten conference point getters last year.

-UC-