CALGARY – The No. 10 University of Calgary Dinos will be in tough this weekend as they continue their playoff-run in the Canada West Semi-Final at Edmonton's Clare Drake Arena; home of No. 2 University of Alberta Golden Bears.
 
Calgary reaches round two of the postseason for the third-straight year after knocking off the UBC Thunderbirds in a three-game series last week. After the first two contests held at the Max Bell Centre were split, the series shifted to the Father David Bauer Arena for the deciding game. In Game 3, the Dinos displayed their best performance of the season as they outshot the T-Birds 31-8 en route to a 4-1 victory.
 
It was the second consecutive year Calgary had beaten UBC in the Canada West Quarterfinal, with the 2012 edition also going three games.
 
“Game 3 was as good as I've seen us play in the four years I have been here,” stated Dinos' bench boss Mark Howell. “Our commitment to the game plan and commitment to being very good on the right side of the puck was a real key to Sunday night. It gives us confidence that if we follow the game plan, then we can be that good.”
 
“We can't change our game too much,” echoed assistant captain Blake Clement. “We have to play our systems and not worry too much about what they are doing.”
 
If the Dinos hope to advance to the conference finals, they will have to do something that only one team has done all season long: beat the 'Bears in their own barn; luckily for them, they are that lone team. On Jan. 26, Calgary came out on top 3-2 against their northern rivals as Spencer Edwards scored the shootout winner on Kurtis Mucha.
 
One of the keys to victory in the opening round for the Dinos was the performance their got from their top line. The trio of Brock Nixon, Corey Banfield and Taylor Stefishen combined to score 13 points as they kept their opposition guessing all series long. While Nixon and Stefishen were regular contributors throughout the year, offence from the fifth-year Banfield could be considered a surprise. In 19 games during the regular season, Banfield had 10 points. In 3 playoff games, the Calgary native already has six.
 
With a week off, the Golden Bears are refreshed and are ready for their 2013 postseason debut. Alberta is armed with eight players who scored at least 20 points, a core of talented defencemen and two strong netminders. Through the regular season, the Golden Bears scored 117 goals while only allowing 46; both totals that lead the conference.
 
“We know they are a really good team, we do respect them because they are one of the best teams in the nation, but we know we can beat them if we play our game and stick to our system.”
 
The last time Alberta and Calgary got together during the playoffs was in the 2011 Canada West final. With both teams already guaranteed spots at nationals, the 'Bears defeated the Dinos in two straight games.
 
“Every year changes, our guys just want to keep going no matter who they play and give themselves a chance to win a championship,” explained Howell. “This is just the next step in the playoff journey we have in front of us.”
 
Next weekend, the winners of this week's series will battle in the Canada West final. If Alberta wins, they will automatically host the championship series. If the Dinos come out on top in Edmonton, then they will travel to face the winner of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.