CALGARY – As the 2017-18 season opens for the Dinos men's hockey team, the goal is simple – to win the Canada West championship and advance to the U SPORTS national championship for the first time since 2015. They will embark on the journey this weekend, as they prepare for a home-and-home with the Lethbridge Pronghorns. Calgary will welcome the Pronghorns on Friday night, before travelling to Lethbridge on Saturday. 

The Dinos are no strangers to the Canada West playoffs, having qualified for the post-season for eight consecutive years, dating back to the 2009-10 season. As the season approaches, Head Coach Mark Howell explains that the team is ready.

"Our guys are excited to get going here," said the ninth-year head coach. "We played eight pre-season games and that was enough and our guys are chomping at the bit to play for real points now."

The excitement in the locker room could partially be attributed to the 12 new recruits the Dinos are welcoming for the 2017-18 season. Among the dozen, defenseman Ryan Gagnon, and forwards Riley Sheen, Tim Vanstone, Garrett Forster, and Dane Gibson will be looking to make an immediate impact with the team. 

Although the Dinos did not lose any significant pieces on the defensive end, key offensive players in Elgin Pearce, Dylan Walchuk, Parker Bowles, and Danny Gayle have moved on from the program. However, as Howell notes, the 12 new additions to the roster has really bolstered the Dinos' depth.

"Up front, I think we have an opportunity to be really deep. I think we got players that can play as deep as our fifth line."

One player up front that will look to have a big year is fifth year forward Chris Collins.

"Chris Collins has come back looking as good as ever," explained Howell. "I think he is motivated to have a year like he did his first and second year where he was really dominant."

On the blue line, the Dinos return key defensive pieces in fourth-year Dylan Busenius, fifth-year Drydn Dow, and fifth-year Dan Gibb, who will once again be serving as the team's captain. Fifth-year Brayden Sherbinin and second -year Jared Hauf round out the crop of returning defenseman. A key addition to the Dinos blue line this year is freshman Ryan Gagnon, most recently of the Victoria Royals.

"Ryan just steadies our group back there, and gives us six really good defenseman, which is really important," said Howell.

With respect to goaltending, the Dinos will look to sophomore Matt Greenfield to have a big year. Greenfield started nine of the 28 regular season games last season, and was also the starter for the Dinos throughout the playoffs. Joining Greenfield this season are two new recruits, Jordin Papirny from the Swift Current Broncos and Tyler Gutenburg form the Neepawa Natives. 

The 2017-18 season opens at home Friday at 7 p.m. at Father David Bauer Arena, before shifting to Lethbridge on Saturday. Both games can be streamed live on CanadaWest.tv.

The Dinos will be on the road the following week, Oct. 13-14, as they travel to B.C. to face the UBC Thunderbirds, before returning to Alberta for a home-and-home Oct. 20-21 against the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

-UC-