By Brian Schultz
The University of Manitoba Bison men’s hockey team is in a battle with Alberta this weekend for a berth in the CIS Finals.
The Herd travels west for a three-game playoff series on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary) against the Golden Bears.
The Bisons clinched the fourth and final playoff spot on the last day of the regular season with a 13-9-6 record for 32 points.
Blair Macaulay was the Bisons’ top scorer during the regular season, scoring 13 goals with 20 assists and 33 points, while Kyle Howarth ended up in second with 24 points.
The winner of this series will earn a berth into the 2011 CIS Men’s Hockey National Championship at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton from March 24-27.
Earlier this week, 19 Bison men’s hockey players and four Bison women’s hockey players were awarded $1,000 each as part of the Mike Ridley Awards. The awards are given to players who exhibit superior athletic ability with good academic standing and a high level of leadership as a full-time student.