Hockey

The men’s hockey team participated in an exhibition series last week, playing in honour of the late Jim Johnson, former president of Thunderwolves Hockey at Lakehead University. The TBayTel Varsity Cup Challenge pitted the last two Varsity Cup winners against each other in back-to-back games of nonconference play from Dec. 29-30. Lakehead won this year’s tilt taking both games from the Bisons by scores of 6-3 and 8-2. Returning to regular season play the men’s hockey team is coming out of the break sitting second in the conference with a 9-3-1 record.

The women’s hockey team competed in the 42nd annual Concordia-Theresa Humes Women’s Hockey Tournament running from Dec. 28-30. In three non-conference games the Bisons went 1-2, first defeating the University of Guelph 1-0 before falling to both York and McGill by scores of 2-1 and 4-2 respectively. Returning to regular season play the women’s hockey team is also sitting second in their conference with a 10-2-0 record.

Basketball

The women’s basketball team completed a three game Concordia non-conference tournament last week finishing with a record of 1-2. The brown and gold won 71-68 against McMaster but lost the two games after to Concordia and McGill. Returning to regular season play the women’s basketball team currently occupies the seventh seed in the Prairie Division with a record of 3-6.

The men’s basketball team also completed their own three game series, competing in the 43rd annual University of Winnipeg Wesmen Classic non-conference tournament. The Bisons earned a trip to the consolation final going 1-1 after a 78-70 win over the Wesmen but were defeated by Minot State by a score of 100-81. Returning to regular season play the men’s team also sits in seventh place in the Prairie Division with a record of 3-6.

Volleyball

The men’s volleyball team swept their non-conference series against Grand Canyon University over Dec. 30-31. The Herd won the first game 3-1 and less than 24 hours later took another victory from GCU by a score of 3-0. Returning to regular season play the men’s team is coming out of the break sitting sixth in the conference with a 5-4 record.

Cheerleading

Bison Cheer attended the University and Open National Cheerleading Championships and placed in the top three of all four categories that they entered. In the tumble competition, Bison Alexandra Regier placed first and in the all-girl quad competition the Bisons tied for second place with the University of Montreal.
There were two partner stunt routines entered by the Bisons. Alex Bloch and Mackenzie Gmiterek placed first, defeating the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. In the routine category the team came in third in the collegiate large coed division.
This was the one of the Bisons’ biggest cheerleading competitions ever and they ranked fourth out of all 21 collegiate programs. Nadia El Gabalawy, one of the Bison Cheer coaches is very pleased with the competition results: “This is such a huge accomplishment for us and we are so proud to be one of the big three in Canada now. Large coed is considered the most difficult division and we are now one of the best,” she stated.

Football

Linebacker Thomas Hall was awarded the prestigious Russ Jackson Award. The award recognizes Hall as an outstanding football player, a successful student and a dedicated member of the community. This award was established in 1986 and Hall is the first Bisons football player to receive the award.

Swimming

The Bisons swim team has been busy smashing records. Jenna Houssin broke a Bison team record in the 50 meter breaststroke by .72 seconds with a time of 32.72. Braeden Taylor also broke two provincial records as well as three Bisons team records. The women’s team finished 10th in the CIS standings and the men’s team finished 15th.

Upcoming home games

Friday, Jan. 8:
Women’s hockey, Manitoba vs. Lethbridge, 7 p.m. at Max Bell Arena
Women’s volleyball, Manitoba vs. Thompson Rivers, 6 p.m. at Investors Group Athletic Centre
Men’s volleyball, Manitoba vs. Thompson Rivers, 7:30 p.m. at Investors Group Athletic Centre

Saturday, Jan. 9:
Women’s hockey, Manitoba vs. Lethbridge, 7 p.m. at Max Bell Arena
Women’s volleyball, Manitoba vs. Thompson Rivers, 6 p.m. at Investors Group Athletic Centre
Men’s volleyball, Manitoba vs. Thompson Rivers, 7:30 p.m. at Investors Group Athletic Centre