CALGARY – The only thing standing between the University of Calgary Dinos and a trip to the 2019 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS University Cup is the defending national champions as they travel to Edmonton to take on the Alberta Golden Bears.

The series gets underway on Friday night with the first two games of the series beginning at 7 p.m. from the Clare Drake Arena. If necessary, Game 3 would start at 6 p.m.

HORNS DOWN
For the first time since 2003, the Dinos faced the Lethbridge Pronghorns last weekend in a playoff series. Calgary took the opener convincingly with a 5-1 win at home before facing a stiffer test in Game 2. Chris Rauckman scored the series-winning goal at 3:44 of double overtime to secure a quarter-final sweep. While the Dinos advanced to the second round of the Canada West playoffs, the Pronghorns are now preparing to host next month's national championship.

BATTLE OF ALBERTA
While Calgary-Alberta games have developed some instant classics in recent seasons, this year's season series did not fall in the Dinos' favour. The country's top ranked team won all four matchups during the regular season, including a 5-4 double overtime victory during the final game before playoffs. Calgary has faired much better against their rivals in non-conference play where they have two 1-0 wins.

CANADA WEST ALL-STARS
Four members of the Dinos were honoured Wednesday by Canada West, as men's hockey all-stars and all-rookies. The first-place Saskatchewan Huskies had three players named conference first teamers, while the Golden Bears had a pair. The only player stopping a Sask-Alta first team sweep was Riley Sheen, who used a 34-point season to earn a first team spot at forward. Calgary captain Dylan Busenius landed a spot on the second all-star team, while Brandonites Schoonbaert and James Shearer were named all rookies.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS
Series Info Friday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. (If necessary) – Clare Drake Arena, Edmonton
2018-19 Record 24-3-1-0, second in Canada West
2018-19 Leading Scorer(s) Luke Philp (21g, 24a)
Expected Starting Goaltender Zach Sawchenko, 16-2-1-0, 1.46 GAA, 0.926 SV%

NOTES 

• This is the first Calgary-Alberta playoff series since the 2017 Canada West semifinal won by the Golden Bears 2-0.
• Five of the conference's top scorers come from the Golden Bears.
• The Golden Bears scored a conference-best 134 goals this season.
• Zach Sawchenko has played in only one Canada West playoff game but saw more time during last year's national championship tournament.
• This weekend's games will be head coach Ian Herbers first playoff games with Alberta since leading them to back-to-back University Cup titles in 2014 and 2015.

UP NEXT
The winner of this series will advance to the Canada West Final while also securing a spot at the 2019 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS University Cup.

-UC-