Bison Brief

Romer Bautista, Staff

The U of M Bisons men’s hockey team had their second straight road sweep of the season over the weekend, going to the west coast and taking two games from the No.4-ranked UBC Thunderbirds.

On Friday, Nov. 2, the Bisons scored three unanswered goals in the third period to come back and beat the Thunderbirds 4-3. Nick Cowan got things rolling in the period with a short-handed marker two and a half minutes in. With less than three minutes left in the game, the Bisons finally evened the score with Chris Falloon’s third goal of the season. With momentum fully on their side, Manitoba completed the comeback when Mark Olafson banged in the game-winner with just 1:24 left on the clock. Krister Toews was sparkling for Manitoba in making 34 saves for the win.

The two teams locked horns again the following night, this time with the Bisons winning 3-2. Manitoba used two quick goals from Rob Smith and Olafson midway through the first period then got the game-winner from

Kyle Nichols as the second period was winding down. Toews (30 saves) did the rest, shutting down the UBC attack in the third period to preserve the win.

For his part in backstopping the Bisons to the two wins, Toews was named the Canada West male hockey player of the week. This is the second time that Toews has won this honour this year, taking the award for the week ending Oct. 7 as well.

The Bisons (5-3) will look to continue their road success this weekend, when they travel to Lethbridge for a pair of games against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.

The U of M Bisons women’s hockey team split its two game homestand with the University of Regina Cougars. The Bisons took the first of the two games with a 3-2 win on Friday, Nov. 2. But the following evening saw Manitoba lose for the first time this season, as the Cougars edged them 1-0.

In Friday’s game, the Bisons got out to a quick three-goal lead. Tammy Brade, Stephanie Messner, and Sarah Stebeleski each pocketed a goal in the first period. The Cougars battled to get back into the game with two goals in the second period, but Bisons netminder Stacey Corfield put a kibosh on the rally, making 19 saves in the final two periods for the win.

Saturday’s game was a battle between the teams’ two goalies, Dana Hoogsteen for the Bisons, and Alyssa MacDougall for the Cougars. After two scoreless periods, the Cougars scored the game-winner in the third by taking advantage of a Bison penalty. Regina’s Karissa Swann converted on the powerplay by burying a pass from Julie Paetsch. MacDougall made 22 saves in her winning effort. Hoogsteen also made 22 saves.

The Bisons (7-1) will look to bounce back from the loss when they host the Alberta Golden Pandas for two games this weekend.

Karli Colpitts and Stephanie Rurak of the U of M Bisons soccer team were each rewarded with their great seasons by both being named to the Canada West Second All-Star team. Colpitts was named to the team as a striker, while Rurak got the nod at the halfback position.

Colpitts tied a Bisons record with her 10 goals this season. She finished the season second in the conference in goals but was first in the conference in game-winning goals with five.

Rurak had eight points during the season; the fourth-highest total on the Bison’s team. Her six assists set a new team record and were good enough for third best in Canada West.

This was the first time for each to be named as conference all-stars.

Simon Patrick of the Bisons football team and Ashley Forbes of the Bisons soccer team have been named as Bisons Sports Athletes of the Week for the week ending Nov. 4.

Patrick is a member of the Bisons defensive line that mauled the University of Calgary Dinos’ offensive line by stuffing the run, and causing nightmares for their quarterbacks. The play of the defensive line was the key to the Bisons’ 27-5 victory.

Forbes backstopped the Bisons soccer team to its first ever playoff win, a 3-2 shootout victory over the University of Alberta Pandas. Forbes also played great in the Bisons’ semi-final loss to the University of Victoria Vikes, making nine saves in the 1-0 game.