CANADA WEST - The Calgary Dinos roared to their first Canada West championship in 27 years last season, winning an epic conference final against the arch rival Alberta Golden Bears. Those two clubs promise to be in the thick of things again this season, as they top the 2023-24 CW pre-season coaches poll.
The Dinos took top spot in the ranking after garnering six first-place votes, followed close behind by the Golden Bears who picked up two first-place votes of their own. UBC came in third, while Saskatchewan rounded out the top four. The Huskies have added seven new forwards and four new defence to the 2023-24 roster, while also maintaining a solid group of returning players from the previous season. With a roster comprised of experienced veterans and some exciting new recruits, the Huskies will rely on a balanced attack with speed and skill at the forward position, size and mobility on the back end, and a solid goaltending tandem in the net this season.
All eyes will be on Calgary after a program record 25-win season, which included an incredible 23-game win streak. Dinos head coach Mark Howell believes his team has what it takes to repeat, saying the club will return the nucleus of last year's championship squad while also inserting recruits that should be able to contribute right away. The Dinos will be led by third-year forward Riley Stotts, coming off a 36 point season - fourth most in Canada West.
Alberta will look to navigate some roster turnover in their attempt to knock off their provincial rivals. The Golden Bears return leading scorer Josh Prokop, the former Calgary Hitmen product who racked up a team leading 18 goals and 37 points in 28 games last season. His 124 shots, four game-winning goals, and seven powerplay goals were all tops in Canada West.
On the west coast, UBC's Sasha Mutala will look to lead the Thunderbirds back to CW glory. The hometown Vancouver product led the Thunderbirds in assists (25) and points (35), the first T-Bird rookie to do so in eight years.
The action gets underway Thursday with MacEwan visiting Calgary and Manitoba hosting Saskatchewan. Other opening weekend series include Regina taking on Mount Royal, while Alberta travels west to take on UBC.
Key Performer: Liam Keeler
"Led the Huskies in rookie scoring and was third overall in team scoring. Liam brings a combination of speed, skill, grit and leadership to the Huskies forward group. He will be looking to build upon a highly successful rookie season," - Head Coach Brandin Cote
Home Opener
The Huskies start their season on the road, heading to Winnipeg to take on the Manitoba Bisons on Thursday, September 28 at 6:00 PM, followed by an afternoon matchup on Friday, September 29 at 1:30 PM. Games can be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV or listen live at HuskieFan.ca.
They'll open their season at Merlis Belsher Place on Friday, October 6 at 7:00 PM, and Saturday, October 7 at 5:00 PM against the MacEwan Griffins. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com.
