CALGARY – The building is sold out, the stage is set, and one of the great spectacles on the annual university sport calendar in Canada will return to the Scotiabank Saddledome Thursday.

The University of Calgary Dinos and the Mount Royal University Cougars will face off in a hockey doubleheader at the Scotiabank Saddledome Thursday in the sixth annual Crowchild Classic, looking to set a new U SPORTS attendance record. The puck drops at 4 p.m. for the women, followed by men's action at approximately 6:45 p.m.

The event is sold out, and no tickets will be available at the door. The Dinos and Cougars are committed to providing a safe and fun atmosphere at the Saddledome for all attendees and remind fans to be respectful of themselves, the building, and fellow fans.

EVENT INFORMATION

In 2016, 12,859 fans jammed the Saddledome to set a new national attendance record for university hockey. With more than 14,000 tickets gone for the 2018 edition, the Dinos and Cougars will look to break that record yet again Thursday night.

While they're at it, there are two hockey games on tap with significant meaning for all four teams involved as the Canada West regular season winds to a close. After Thursday night's games, the teams return to their campus arenas with women's action at Flames Community Arenas and the men's tilt at Father David Bauer Arena Friday night with both games set to get underway at 7 p.m. And there are just four games left in the season after this weekend wraps up, with both Dinos teams currently on the outside looking into the Canada West playoff picture.

Currently in the seventh spot in Canada West, the Dinos women are looking to sneak back into the playoff picture, and they can do so with a win and Regina Cougars loss the following night. Meanwhile Mount Royal sits in fifth, four points ahead of Calgary, and a single point ahead of Regina.

The big stage presents a golden opportunity to alleviate a slump to start the new year. While Kelsey Roberts has been her usual self in goal, the team in front of her hasn't been able to score in the last six contests.

Despite the offensive struggles, Roberts remains confident in her team heading into Thursday.

"We've had a couple good practices this week and we're all pretty excited," said the second-year netminder, who has a sparkling .953 save percentage on the season. "We have been in a bit of a slump, but there's no better game to come out of it."

The last time these teams played, the Dinos put up a 4-0 shutout win, which marked their highest offensive output of the season. The following night on Nov. 10, the Cougars squeaked out  a 2-1 victory in a shootout.

"It's going to be a tough game no matter what, we just have to come in with a good attitude," added Roberts. "Anything can happen, so we have to be ready."

On the men's side, the last two Crowchild Classic contests have been decided in double overtime, with the Dinos taking the win on both occasions – and they could certainly use another victory this time around.

In 2016, Max Ross scored a double overtime winner to secure a 2-1 win. Danny Gayle was the overtime hero last year, following his goal with a now-iconic Superman celebration at centre ice as the Dinos won 5-4.

"Playing in front of that atmosphere and winning the way we did last year with Danny scoring that goal has to be one of my top hockey moments," remarked Dinos forward Drydn Dow, who will play his fifth and final Crowchild Classic Thursday.

"Playing in these games is exciting every year. It is definitely a day that you mark on your calendar."

The Dinos currently find themselves in seventh place, four points out of the final playoff spot, and eight points back of the fifth place Mount Royal Cougars. As if playing in front of a sold-out Saddledome is not sufficient motivation, the Dinos truly are entering the do-or-die stretch of their season. 

"This will be the most important weekend of games for us this season," explained rookie Ryan Graham, who joined the Dinos at the holiday break after playing with the ECHL's Jacksonville Icemen. "We are four points out of the playoffs with only six games remaining. Our backs are against the wall. We are preparing for the games against Mount Royal with a playoff mentality."

Points against the Cougars this weekend are imperative, with the remainder of the Dinos' schedule seeing them play the last place Regina Cougars, followed by the third place Manitoba Bisons.
Despite the high stakes, the Crowchild Classic always produces an electric atmosphere, with raucous fans from both institutions supporting their schools.

"I'm really looking forward to playing in my first Crowchild Classic," said Graham. "Being two teams from the same city there is a rivalry there and the stakes are going to be high for both teams. I can't wait to hit the ice Thursday."

WOMEN'S HOCKEY
DETAILS
Dates: Thursday, Jan. 25 and Friday, Jan. 26
Start times: 4:00 p.m. MT Thursday and 7:00 p.m. MT Friday 
Venues: Friday – Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary; Saturday – Flames Community Arenas, Calgary
Stream: CanadaWest.tv

HEADLINES
•    This is the sixth installment of the Crowchild Classic. Last year, the Cougars defeated the Dinos, 3-1, with Mount Royal forward Shawni Rodeback scoring the game winner
•    Overall in the Saddledome games, the Dinos have won 3 of 5
•    Dinos sit just four points back of the Cougars in the standings, as both teams are competing for a playoff berth

CALGARY DINOS (6-14-0-2)

• Last Week: Saskatchewan Huskies – Friday 2-0 L; Saturday 1-0 L.
• Expected starter: Kelsey Roberts (6-13-1) - Roberts has played in all but two games for the Dinos this season, second in CanadaWest with 5 shutouts as well as a sparkling .953 SV% 
• 4-way tie in team scoring – Sage Desjardins, Delaney Frey, Laine Grace and Rachel Paul each have five points.

MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (6-13-3-0)

• Last week: Manitoba Bisons – Friday 1-0 L; Saturday 2-0 L.
• Expected starter: Zoe DeBeauville (7-11-0) – The rookie goaltender has shined for the Cougars, posting a solid 1.93 GAA and a .921 SV%
• Forward Rachel Piitz leads the Cougars in scoring with 10 points (4G, 6A), while defenders Channia Alexander and Mairi Sorenson each have six

MEN'S HOCKEY
DETAILS
Dates: Thursday, Jan. 25 and Friday, Jan. 26
Start times: 6:45 p.m. MT Thursday and 7 p.m. MT Friday
Venues: Thursday - Scotiabank Saddledome; Friday - Father David Bauer Arena

HEADLINES

• The first meetings of the season between these teams in November provided some fireworks. After the Dinos defeated the Cougars 5-1 at Mount Royal, the Cougars rebounded to defeat the Dinos at FDB in a 3-2 thriller. 
• After losing the first three editions of the Crowchild Classic game, the Dinos have won the last two with thrilling 2OT wins.
• The Crowchild Classic series is an ongoing competition between Calgary and MRU in the sports of basketball, hockey, soccer, and volleyball. Every year, the school that wins the most games in the series is awarded 'The Medal' - a 68-kilogram cast iron City of Calgary manhole cover. The Dinos have won the overall series every year since its inception, with the exception of a tie in 2014-2015.

CALGARY DINOS (6-13-3)  
Last week: Saskatchewan Huskies - Friday 4-1 L; Saturday 2-0 L
Next week: @ Regina Cougars

• Fifth-year seniors Dan Gibb, Drydn Dow, Brayden Sherbinin, Adam Kambeitz and Chris Collins will all be participating in their final Crowchild Classic games of their careers. 
• After scoring a combined seven goals in their weekend series against the Alberta Golden Bears, the Dinos struggled offensively last weekend. Mitch Cook was the only Dino able to find the scoresheet against the Huskies.

MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (11-10-1)
Last week: Saskatchewan Huskies - Friday 4-1 L; Saturday 2-0 L
Next week: vs UBC Thunderbirds

• The Cougars are climbing the Canada West standings, currently sitting in fifth place with 23 points. Alberta and Saskatchewan have the top two spots locked up with 37 points apiece, but the Cougars only trail the third ranked Manitoba Bisons by three points.
• Coming out of the Christmas break, the Cougars reeled off consecutive series sweeps of Regina and Lethbridge, before splitting last weekend's games against Manitoba.

-UC-