CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team (3-6-1) will host the University of Manitoba Bisons (3-7) for a pair of games this weekend. The action begins Friday at 7 p.m, and Saturday's game will begin at 3 p.m. Both games will be played at Father David Bauer Arena.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. STILL STANDING(S) – Both teams enter this weekend's matchup separated by only one point in the Canada West standings. Calgary currently holds the sixth and final playoff spot, but there is plenty of hockey left to play this season. The Dinos are only five points out of fourth place and the Bisons are only six. If either team can sweep this weekend, they could jump up the ranks.
2. SEEN YOU ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE – The Dinos and Bisons will face off for the 50th time in conference play when the puck drops on Friday night. Manitoba holds the edge over Calgary with a 30-19 record in the Bisons' favour. Historically the Dinos have played better on home ice where the matchup is much closer, the Bisons narrowly hold the lead at 14-11. Dating back to 2019 these two teams have squared off seven times with the Bisons winning four and dropping three.
3. PENALTY PUNISHERS – Bisons third-year forward Kate Gregoire has scored three of her four goals on the power play this season. Gregoire's three PPG rank second in the conference. On the other end of the ice, Dinos fifth-year forward
Alli Borrow has scored both her goals via the power play this season, which ranks sixth in the conference.
4. KEEPING HER TEAM IN IT – Although the wins have not been there yet, Dinos goalie
Gabriella Durante is doing an outstanding job of giving her team a chance each time she touches the ice. Durante has been an iron woman for her team thus far, appearing in all but one game for Calgary. Durante has already amassed 279 saves to go along with a .930 save percentage, including two shutout performances – second-most in Canada West this season.
5. LEADING THE WAY IN MAKING PLAYS – Dinos forwards
Elizabeth Lang and
Sydney Mercier each have four assists to their name this season. Lang leads Calgary in total points with seven, while the rookie Mercier has shown off her playmaking ability, twice tallying multi-assist games. For the Bisons, second-year forward Ashley Keller has been the primary playmaker. Keller has three assists in eight games played.
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