CALGARY – With a trip to the U SPORTS national championship on the line, the University of Calgary Dinos host a Canada West women's hockey semifinal series against a familiar opponent this weekend at Father David Bauer Arena.

The Mount Royal Cougars, fresh off their first-ever playoff series win in Canada West, head up the road for a best-of-three series beginning Friday night at 7 p.m. Game 2 goes Saturday at 6 p.m., with a third and deciding game, if necessary, Sunday at 6 p.m.

DINOS' DREAM SEASON CONTINUES
Chosen in the preseason poll by the Canada West coaches to finish last in the eight-team conference, the Dinos surprised everyone with their 18-7-3 record – their best since the days of Hayley Wickenheiser back in 2012-13 – and a first-round playoff bye. Now, they find themselves just two wins away from a trip to the national championship in Charlottetown, P.E.I. – but they'll face a hungry Cougars squad looking to put its stamp on the national tournament for the first time ever.

CROWCHILD CLASSIC MATCHUP
The teams have met in the playoffs before, back when both were members of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. The 2008-09 season was the last time the Dinos played on the provincial circuit, and they left in style as ACAC champions after knocking off Mount Royal in a five-game series. Fast forward a decade, and the two squads will go head-to-head in a playoff series once again, this one coming just three weeks after they set a U SPORTS women's hockey attendance record with more than 10,000 fans at the Scotiabank Saddledome back on Jan. 30.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Dinos took 10 of a possible 12 points out of their four-game series with the Cougars this season, winning 3-1 and 1-0 in November, followed by a 4-1 win at the Saddledome. Mount Royal got a measure of revenge in the rematch a night later, however, picking up a 2-1 double-overtime win.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS
All season, the Dinos have continued to impress. Strong lines like Sarah Craven, Delaney Frey, and Elizabeth Lang have been so vital to the Dinos production being in the top 10 of scoring in Canada West. Kelsey Roberts has continued to be lights out in net, giving her team the chance to win every night.

ALL-STARS
The series will feature four Canada West all-stars, as announced by the conference Wednesday morning.

Calgary netminder Kelsey Roberts was voted to the first all-star team, along with sophomore forward Elizabeth Lang, while senior defenceman Paige Michalenko was named to the second team. For Mount Royal, leading scorer Anna Purschke landed on the second all-star team, while the Cougars also posted a pair of freshmen on the all-rookie team: goaltender Kaitlyn Ross, and defenceman Emma Bergesen.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS
Series Info
Game 1: Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m.
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.
2019-20 Record 14-14-0, 4th in Canada West
Leading Scorer Anna Purschke (11g, 7a)

NOTES

• The Dinos have advanced to the semifinals for the first time since the 2014-15 season where they were swept by the University of Alberta Pandas.
• Mount Royal advanced to the semifinals by sweeping the University of Regina Cougars in the CW Quarterfinals.

UP NEXT
The Winner of this best of three series will move on to the Canada West Final, and will face off against the winner of the Alberta-UBC series semifinal series. The winner also advances to the national championship, with Canada West sending two teams to Prince Edward Island March 12-15.