CALGARY – The Canada West men's and women's hockey leagues move to identical eight-team, 28-game structures in 2012-13, the conference announced Wednesday,

On the men's side, the Dinos and provincial rival Lethbridge will open the conference schedule on Thursday, Sept. 27 in Southern Alberta, followed a day later by the return date at Father David Bauer Arena. One week later, the women's schedule opens – also with the Dinos taking on the Pronghorns in a home-and-home series.

Hayley Wickenheiser and the defending Canada West and CIS champion Dinos hit the ice on Friday, Oct. 5 – the night they will raise their 2012 national championship banner at Father David Bauer Arena. The 28-game season will be the longest in program history, an increase from the 24 played to this point.

2012-13 SCHEDULES:  MEN  -  WOMEN

Both the men and women expand to eight teams with the addition of Mount Royal to the mix, and the new crosstown rivals will play four times apiece over the course of the season. Those home-and-home series go Thursday-Friday, Nov. 22-23, then close the season Thursday-Friday, Feb. 7-8.

Other highlights for the women include the rematch of the Canada West final against the Alberta Pandas on Nov. 2-3 at Father David Bauer Arena, while the men will try to exact some revenge on the Saskatchewan Huskies after a heartbreaking triple-overtime loss in the deciding game of the Canada West championship series last season. The Dinos and Huskies will face off Nov. 16-17 in Calgary, then again Feb. 7-8 in Saskatoon.

Thursday and Friday night home games will face off at 7 p.m., while Saturday nights the puck will drop at 6 p.m. All games will be played at Father David Bauer Arena.      

The top six teams in both men's and women's hockey will qualify for the playoffs – status quo on the men's side, but an increase over the four teams that have traditionally made the playoffs in women's hockey. The conference champion plus host Saskatchewan qualify for the men's CIS University Cup March 14-17 at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, while the two conference finalists in women's hockey will earn berths to the national tournament hosted by the University of Toronto March 7-10.

Ticket packages for the 2012-13 season will begin July 1 with the launch of Dinos Gold Card sales. For just $100, enjoy access to all regular season home games in all sports, discounts and deals from Dinos sponsors, the opportunity to purchase discounted parking, and much more. For more information, visit www.goDINOS.com/tickets.

-UC-